Once they have hatched, you will want to sort through the fry by size and remove a few in order
to prevent cannibalism.
The Dwarf of Green Panchex
Dwarf of Green Panchax, a close relative of the Tooth Carp is also referred to by some as
Panchax Parvus. Normally the fish is found in the seas surrounding Ceylon and India and is part
of the Aplocheilus Blocki group.
The mature Green Dwarf is 1 3/4" in length which makes it a perfect aquarium fish. The fish is
green-yellow in color and has rows of yellow and red markings. Tank water is great for this fish
as its native home waters are warm.
They will usually eat both live and dried foods. When you want to breed the Dwarf, make sure
the water is 78 degrees.
The best way to successfully breed Dwarfs is to use two males and a small harem of females in
the process.
Geisha Girl Medaka
From further to the East, in Japan, comes the cousin of the Dwarf of Green Panchax, the
Geisha Girl Medaka, whose scientific name is Oryzias latipes. It is also nicknamed the Ricefish
or Japanese Medaka due to it's country of origin. It is a fish that is almost colorless like the rice
that is the main staple of Japan, which may also help explain the nickname Ricefish. The fish is
about 1/2 inch long.
The females are smaller and rounder than their male counterparts, with rounded fins which
make them easy to spot. Slightly acidic waters are the best for the Medaka.
If you have acidic water, it is suggested that you mix about 1 teaspoon of salt in 3 gallons of
water to improve the pH balance.
The Geisha Girl Medaka can live in waters that are as cool as 75 degrees or as warm as 80
degrees. However, the optimal temperature is 78 degrees.
As for their diet, the Geish Girl medaka is not a picket eater. She will eat just about anything.
Catfish Aquarium And Fish Care
Catfish come in many different species and from many different places around the world. Here
are some basic facts about the catfish and how to care for the fish in captivity.
The Catfish, known to scientists as the Siluridae, has several different types. The Glass Catfish
from Asia, and India in particular received its name from the clear coating that covers it's body
and it's virtually clear body. while there are other varieties of catfish, they are not as desirable as
the Glass catfish for the purpose of being in an aquarium. The fish is about 3 1/2" inches long
and has the obvious "whiskers" on it's upper lip which lend it the name catfish. These whiskers
are also called barbells.
The Glass Catfish is not a terribly social animal, choosing to bend into the background and not
move around a whole lot. Catfish normally feed at the surface of the water and tend to eat prefer
living organisms. They are not typically very picky eaters and have a reputation for being
scavengers, making them a very helpful fish. They are a hardy fish and are not affected very
much by water temperature or alkalinity or acidity.
Catfish not only eat other decomposing fish, they also feed on many other decomposing
materials. Their diet also includes many photo-synthetic organisms like algae. Having a fish like
this around will help prevent the build-up of algae in your tank.
A unique feature of catfish is that their skeletal system is made of bone, instead of cartilage like
many other fish. Instead of the fleshy fins many other fish possess, the catfish has bones.
Again, unlike many of its aquatic neighbors, the catfish does not have scales. The whiskers that
it has not only respond to touch, but also help it smell and taste.
The Upside down Catfish comes from the Begian Congo. The fish can become 2 inches long as
an adult. What makes this fish unique that it looks like it swims upside down. This is because
the eye is actually below the mouth while the whiskers are attached to the chin and point
upward. Though it looks like it swims upside down, it actually swims right side up. This catfish is
great for cohabitation with other fish in a tank because of it is a scavenger and will help keep the
amount of algae in your tank to a minimum.
Another very interesting species is the Electric Catfish. While it can become 10 feet long in open
waters, it will only grow to two feet in length in an aquarium. This fish is found around lakes,
rivers and streams in the west and central parts of Africa. The body of this fish is cylindrical and
though is possesses no dorsal fin, it compensates for that with a sizable and strong adipose fin.
It will give off an electrical shock to anyone who would come near and therefore is not good for
including with other fish in your aquarium. The shock is similar to that of an electric eel but is not
nearly as strong or severe. The shock is stronger than that of the Mormyridae however.
The diet of the electric catfish consists mostly of meat, worms, and fish smaller than itself. It is
famous for being a nocturnal animal will eat a whole lot.
As with many other species of catfish water temperature and pH are not a big issue. As long as
this guy has lots of food and water, he is happy.
