All Tropical Fish | Fish, Corals & Invertebrates

Messing About

A long time ago in this very office (or one quite like it the other side of town) a pair of fishkeeping hacks first discussed the concept of benign neglect and fishkeeping. The hacks were myself and Karen Youngs, my deputy, lately returned to PFK. What we were thinking about was the tendency of all…

Myth and Magic or Hard Facts?

One of my correspondents has aroused the rage of one or two fishkeeping web surfers by remarking that no-one edits the information on the WWW. Of course it's not altogether true - the inestimable Mark keeps everything together on this site, and there are controllers of one type or another on most of the commercial…

Ossie Vs Mr Plec

Those of us blessed with children would recognise the situation perfectly. Take two semi-adolescent children - brothers, sisters, one of each and put them on the sofa. One way or another a squabble begins and always ends in tears. Sometimes it's nice to come to work and leave all that behind... (more…)

Revolutionary or Reactionary?

It's easy to condemn old ideas in fishkeeping as old-fashioned and out-dated. Sometimes they're still sound, and with the benefit of new technology, can be spectacularly successful in a way they never previously were. One current debate in PFK concerns the effectiveness of "modern" and "traditional" marine filtration systems. The pace of progress is so…

Feeding Malawi Cichlids

If you've never been eaten out of house and home by a few fishes before - be prepared - as these little guys will do just that. They are greedy and will never miss a meal when offered. Most Malawi Cichlids are good feeders - so starvation with these creatures is rarely an issue -…

Fish Care and Feeding While on Vacation

If you are worried about leaving your fish behind when you go on vacation, there’s no need to, as long as you plan ahead of time. You should find time to get things in order so you can have a stress-free and relaxing vacation. Fish Feeding Fish can survive for several weeks without food. Some…

6 Healthiest Live Food Choices for Betta Fish

Bettas feed on a wide variety of fresh or frozen foods. However, they can also be notoriously picky. Luckily, there are many dietary options for betta fish that you can choose from. Bettas are carnivorous and thrive well on live tasty treats such as worms, crustaceans, and small insects. (more…)

Starting Fishkeeping

Another is to adopt the tactics I've followed in creating an equally-short beginner's guide in PFK this month (March 2000 issue). This contains a large variety of equipment and ideas with just short notes about them. The idea is not supply all the information the beginner needs, but to give them a really good idea…

Buying The Right Fish, Getting The Right Advice

A good aquatic shop is a joy to find. In my August editorial I talk a little about the changes we've noticed in our travels (by "our" I mean the editorial and advertising teams, not just me). The UK aquatic customer is enjoying a time when lots of high quality shops are either appearing or…

Rotating Biological Filter

As we took a long hard look at the range of external canister filters available in the UK it occurred to me that despite the huge improvements in old favourites like the Fluval and the excellent design of Interpet's prime series, little had really changed in the world of externals since their inception. (more…)

How to Combat Hydra Infestation

Hydras belong to Phylum Coelenterata, a group of aquatic organisms where jellyfish and corals also belong to. Hydra doesn’t just mysteriously appear in your tank. They are often introduced to the aquarium from an external source. Once inside the tank, the abundance of food sources will promote its growth and multiplication. (more…)

Getting To The Roots

There's a huge amount of interest in freshwater planted aquaria at the moment. We begin a new series in the January issue of Practical Fishkeeping looking at all aspects of planted tanks, and the author has some interesting and radical suggestions for setting up planted aquaria without necessarily using the full range of equipment -…

Aquaponics Guide To Aquarium Plant Care

Setting Up The Aquarium In Brief 1. Place heating cable, Substore Mix and gravel into the aquarium as per instructions. 2. Place filter, heater thermostat and CO2 system in position but do not turn on until aquarium is filled with water. 3. Decorate the aquarium using bog wood, inert rocks or ceramic ornaments. (more…)

How to Treat Sick Koi

Koi are known to be quite hardy however this does not exempt them from being vulnerable to infectious organisms and parasites, especially when they are constantly subjected to stress or poor water conditions. (more…)

How to Raise Healthy Kois

Kois make fascinating pets. If you are a newbie, raising Kois might seem to be a little daunting however you will soon realize that caring for these brilliantly-colored fish is definitely rewarding. (more…)

Labidochromis caeruleus

Labidochromis caeruleus is another example of the splendour to be found in Lake Malawi. There are a number of colour varieties of Labidochromis caeruleus - ranging from yellow, blue to white. This specimen pictured is a subdominant male and thus not showing off his true colours. Like most cichlids of this type they tend to…

Top 6 Betta Care Myths and Facts

Betta fish are fast becoming popular among aquarists. In fact, it is said bettas have overtaken the goldfish as the “ideal” fish bowl buddy for the home or office. This may be attributed to the bettas distinctly attractive colors, hardiness, and ability to thrive in smaller enclosures than most fish species. (more…)

Star Polyps and Clavularia – The Star Of The Show

FAMILY: CLAVULARIIDAEThe terms, Star Polyps and Clavularia may be rather unfamiliar to many marine aquarists but all marinists interested in invertebrates will have come across the many species of the these delightful colonies, if they do not already own one or two. Unfortunately, the family Clavulariidae, commonly known as Star Polyps, has long been confused…

The Micro Shrimp Tank

Most of my regular readers will already be aware that, on the whole, I do not condone small marine tanks; that is, tanks with a nett volume of less than 20 gallons (91 litres). They are usually very unstable as far as water parameters are concerned and subsequently exert considerable stress on fish and/or invertebrates.…

Mantis Shrimp – Thumb Splitters

In the sea a number of animals have earned the reputation of being harmful. Indeed, some denizens, such as sharks, stingrays, scorpionfish, sea snakes, and some jellyfish, can be potentially dangerous to swimmers or divers. In order to survive and reproduce, many sea creatures have evolved protective mechanisms against other predators. Some inject venom through…

Starting With Invertebrates

There's no doubt about it, a well arranged coral invertebrate aquarium can be one of the most impressive and satisfying sights you are likely to witness within the fishkeeping hobby. People seem to be drawn like a magnet to its exotic beauty and a certain disbelief that something so defying adequate description could possibly be…

New Marinists Are Welcome

Newcomers, beginners, novices, call them what you will, are the lifeblood of our hobby. They are often confused and discouraged by the ‘rocket-science’ offered by hobbyists at the other end of the scale (and THEY were all newcomers at one time don’t forget!). This is a pity, for without fresh input, our hobby would soon…

Cowries – The Hard Nuts

Family: Ovulidae It is probably true to say that cowries are of more value to shell collectors than to marine fishkeepers; for although they possess some attractive qualities such as the often beautiful shells, in the reef aquarium they are capable of causing considerable inconvenience. Still, they are popular with marine aquarists and I no…

Anemones – Flowers Of The Sea

Distribution and Form These ancient animals occupy all the oceans and seas of the world and species are to be found throughout the very coldest to the very warmest regions, such is their ability to diversify and adapt, albeit over aeons of time. (more…)

Dissolved Oxygen

It would be true to say that the majority of aquarists never test for dissolved oxygen (02). Nevertheless, oxygen is an extremely important gas and essential for the survival of the vast majority of livestock that we keep. This is, of course, most evident in fish, which draw oxygenated water in through their mouths, passing…

Blog