Hypostomus plecostomus are a part of the family Loricariidae. This is the largest family of catfish with close to 700 individual species and growing annually. The Greek translation of plecostomus, like most species names, can be broken down into two parts. Pleco means pleat as in a fold in fabric. Stoma is mouth. Combine the two and you have, “folded mouth.”

Plecostomus are native to Central and South America. The name plecostomus refers to a single species of what are known as common algae eaters. This statement is scientifically accurate but somewhat misleading. There are over 50 officially classified species of armored catfish native to this region of the world. The species name plecostomus has evolved to encompass all of the algae eaters in the family Loricariidae because of their similarity in appearance. This unofficial grouping is further shortened to plecos or simply plecs by aquarium hobbyists.

Plecos are inarguably one of the most popular choices among freshwater aquarium owners. Their unique, almost pre-historic, features undoubtedly contribute to their popularity. These features are not coincidental. Fossil records of Loricariidae date as far back as the Miocene period. It is, however, their dietary habits that have won them a home in so many aquariums around the world.

One of the most readily distinguishable traits of algae eaters is their wide, suction-cup like mouths. This is a highly specialized feeding apparatus for what in essence is a bottom dwelling scavenger fish. In addition to its most obvious application, this suction mechanism’s secondary function can best be demonstrated by watching a plecos cling seemingly effortlessly to the side of an aquarium. This same ability helps to keep these fish anchored securely in place in the most torrential floodwater run offs the rainy season has to offer. A plecos will emerge from even the most severe rainy season in the feeding grounds it has become accustomed to, where other less adaptable species have been swept countless miles downstream. Their distinctive and highly developed mouths have also won them the nickname, suckermouth.

The name plecostomus applies to a single species of armored catfish. This is a very large fish and should only be housed in an aquarium of adequate size. The terms plecostomus, plecos, and algae eater, on the other hand, have become generic labels in the aquarium trade industry. They encompass a variety of Loricariids all of which are breeds of armored catfish. The adult size of these individual species varies considerably. This information is usually included as part of the product description both on the internet and in local retail stores. If the information is not present, ask. Choosing the right size maintenance fish for the right size aquarium will save you from future headaches down the road. Some species will only grow to a maximum length of two inches while other will out grow a small aquarium before you know what happened.

Armored catfish are excellent additions to any community tank. They are bottom dwellers by nature. Bottom dwellers as a rule tend to ignore the activities of their fellow tank mates. When they venture up from their substrate domain to clean the interior walls of your aquarium they will remain focused on the task at hand rather than the fish swimming passed them.

A plecos’ indifference toward the presence of fellow tank mates does not apply to its perceived domain. It is exceedingly rare for bottom dwelling fish of any species to peacefully coexist with each other. Most will vigorously defend their territory to the point of violence. Unless you have thoroughly researched the subject you should not attempt to keep more than one bottom dweller in an aquarium.

Loricariids are a nocturnal family. They are active at night and will instinctively seek out shelter to sleep in during the day. Providing your plecos with a place rest in during the day will help it acclimate to its new surroundings. While this is not strictly necessary, it is recommended. Plecos will rest on the substrate during the day in an unadorned aquarium.

The label “algae eater” is somewhat misleading. Scavenger fish are omnivorous. Most of a plecos’ daily dietary intake is from consuming the decomposing matter off the aquarium floor from the food scraps missed by other fish. This is every bit as beneficial to an aquarium owner as is their obvious affinity toward algae.

Plecos are one of the most self sufficient fish you can have in an aquarium. This is easy to take for granted. It is inadvisable to assume that foraging will provide your plecos with enough nutrients to keep it healthy and fit. This is especially true if you own a larger member of the plecos family.

Putting sinking wafers or pellets in your aquarium at night when the other fish are less active will help make sure your plecos’ dietary needs are being meant. Loricariids are not finicky eaters. They will eat the same vegetables humans do. They eat a wide variety of vegetables. Vegetables can be cooked or served raw, leafy like spinach or bulky like zucchini, broccoli, and cauliflower. Having driftwood in your aquarium is also recommended. Plecos love to nibble on drift wood. This would seem to indicate that wood provides a needed source of fiber.

Plecos are not known to spawn in captivity. Most species that do not breed in captivity are captured to support the thriving aquarium industry. This is typically not the case when it comes to plecos. Central and South America natives have turned the harvesting of plecos eggs into an industry all its own. The eggs are collected from drying streams and riverbeds and then sold to fish farms where they are hatched and raised for eventual resale. Many plecos sold in fish stores were harvested just this way.

A pleco is the perfect addition to any freshwater aquarium. Unless of course you enjoy scraping algae off the side of your tank. To get more informative facts about freshwater aquarium fish visit the fish buying guide.

Neon tetras or Paracheirodon innesi are members of the family Characidae. Characidae are commonly referred to as Characins. Neons are natives to southeastern Columbia, eastern Peru, and western Brazil, including the tributaries of Solimoes. They can be found in black water or clear water streams.

Neons are one of the most popular choices among freshwater aquarists. They only grow to a little over an inch in length. This makes them perfect for smaller applications like the thin-line wall mounted aquariums and desktop nano tanks that have become so popular in recent years.

Neon tetras have translucent bodies. Their nearly see through bodies don’t stop them for being one of the most colorful fish you can buy for a freshwater aquarium. Juxtaposed against the bodies is a dual set of color extravaganza. A luminescent blue racing stripe runs from head to tail. Underneath the metallic blue, a brilliant red stripe begins at mid-body and travels back to the base of their tail fin.

If the visual drama color brings to an aquarium is the ultimate objective, you may wish to consider an even more colorful species. Neons are closely related to cardinal tetras. At first glance they may appear virtually identical. There is in fact only a single distinguishing feature that identifies them as two separate species. The intense red stripe that runs half the length of a neon’s body runs from head to tail on a cardinal. This trait diminishes the fish’s translucent quality, but makes for an overall more colorful addition to your aquarium. You may wish to consider the fact that cardinals are much less likely to breed in captivity than neons before making a final decision.

Neons are timid creatures. They should not be housed with more aggressive species. They are also very small as far as fish go. Don’t house them with larger species unless you don’t mind waking up with one less fish in your aquarium. You will also want to make sure provide them with plenty of hiding places. Lots of plants and rocks or aquarium decor will help them fell more secure in their new accommodations.

Neons are a shoaling species. Shoaling fish are meant to be raised as a community. They are not well suited to environment devoid of other members of their species. Social habits are an important factor to consider before buying any new species for your aquarium. Many shoaling species simply will not survive the adjustment to their new environment if they fish themselves suddenly deprived of other members of their species.

There is yet another factor to consider when deciding whether these fish are right for your particular aquarium. Tetras are notorious fin nippers. The more neons you have together, the higher the likelihood that this will become a problem. Long, flowing fins like those found on a betta fish or a fancy tailed guppies will most likely prove to be a taste treat to tempting to pass up.

Neons are one of the easiest fish to take care of. They are a robust species. These omnivores will fare well on common fish flakes. Their diet can be further supplemented with a variety of frozen or freeze-dried products formulated for omnivores. The average life expectancy of a neon tetra in the wild is 10 years. They will commonly live in excess of five years in an aquarium.

The aquarium trade is a relatively young industry. Goldfish were virtually unknown in the United States until their public debut at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. After the conclusion of WWII, massive fleets of transportation and cargo vessels were now free to pursue commercial interests. Neon tetras were one of the very first tropical species to be introduced to the burgeoning fish hobby industry. They are very much responsible for helping to transform this hobby into the global enterprise it is today. Part of this globalization included the development of commercial fish hatcheries. The vast majority of neon tetras sold in the world are raised to support this industry rather that caught in the wild.

Neon tetras don’t need a lot of room. Any desktop nano tank. is large enough to keep an entire family of them in. They don’t take up much space and they make great accent pieces to your dcor. To uncover more interesting facts on freshwater aquarium fish check out our online fish guide.

Community Tank Opinions are wide a varied concerningthe compatibility of angelfish with other fish. As a general rule angelfish will get along with gouramis, platies, tetras, danio, loaches, plecostomus, mollies and swordtails. Furthermore, the volume of the fish tank can have an impact on compatibility. A crowded tank will stress fish and cause them to be more hostile.

Everyday Angelfish Diseases The common wise saying an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is without doubt spot on when is comes to raising angelfish. The crucial component is good water quality Regular water changes will lessen the probability of any outbreak that might occur in your fish tank. In addition, the most common reason why angelfish expire is due to elevated levels of ammonia. The reason for high levels of ammonia is due to a jam-packed fish tank or from sporadic water changes. Make normal water changes and your angelfish ought to be healthy.

Fin rot, dropsy, worms, mouth rot, constipation and hole in the head are universal angelfish diseases. All can be treated with appropriate medications. But maintaining high water quality will prevent most of these diseases from ever infecting your angelfish.

Breeding Breeding Angelfish is not necessarily complicated and can be a truly rewarding experience. A fish hobbyist’s success in breeding angelfish can depend on many factors, including the fish themselves. Many angelfish have been so inbred that they have lost much of their rearing instincts. This often results in parents eating their young.

Angelfish can lay between 400 to 1100 eggs in a typical spawn. The total will fluctuate based on a number of conditions. After fertilized you should become aware of movement in the eggs at about day 3 and fry will develop in about 7 days.

There are a number of variables that ought to be weighed when attempting to breed angelfish including aquarium size, water temperature, water condition, environment and lighting. Successfully breeding angelfish requires the appropriate blend of many factors that mimic an angelfishes normal environment. If you discover yourself to some extent puzzled in how to bring together the needed requirements there are a number of first-rate sources accessible to the fish hobbyist that will provide you the necessary tools and information to successfully breed angelfish.

Angelfish are a great aquarium fish. To discover more excellent tips on how to care for freshwater angelfish visit our site at http://angelfishbreeding.slhost3.com and sign up for our free email “Angelfish Breeding and Care” mini-course

Freshwater angelfish are one of the most easily recognized, and also one of the most beautiful fish that can be found in a fresh water aquarium.

They are prized for their unique body, color and behavior. A lot of hobbyists consider angelfish to be a highly smart fish, able to recognize their owners.

Oddly enough, the actually derived their name from the saltwater angelfish species, of which they are not related at all. Freshwater angelfish are originally from the Amazon basin South America. Angelfish are from the cichlid family. Cichlids are general known as an species of fish. Angelfish, however, are generally to overly aggressive but can be territorial during spawning, as are most fish for that matter.

Although angelfish are cichlids, their body configuration, specifically the elongated vertical body and triangular shaped fins, differ significantly from the standard cichlid shape most are used to seeing. This body design serves angelfish well however, since it permits them to be camouflaged among the tall roots and plants that makeup most of their natural habitat . In the wild angelfish eat both live food and plant life. They are ambush hunters and will stay hidden among the plants and wait for smaller prey to swim by.

Caring for Angelfish Angelfish, since they come from South America, thrive best in a warm aquarium, ideally about 79F. Angelfish have insatiable appetites and thus should be fed only moderate amounts of food several times throughout the day. If overfed they will become lethargic and are more likely to have health problems. When properly cared for angelfish can survive in an aquarium for up to 15 years. Angelfish, again since they are from the Amazon basin, will survive best if kept in a slightly acidic environment, with a pH below 7.0.

Although angelfish are generally more peaceful than their aggressive cousins, they are still members of the cichlid family, and they will attach and eat smaller fish if given the opportunity.

To find out more information regarding how to successfully Care for Angelfish ,go to the next link below and you be will taken a quick video concerning successful Angelfish Breeding.

An aquarium is as good as its filter and it is a well known fact by all aquarium enthusiasts. You will reap many advantages in the long run if you have a premium and an efficient filter like the FX5 canister filter in the Fluval range. You don’t have to clean your aquarium every now and then and the water remains free of chemicals and other products which are typically found in tap water. Also, your fish will highly benefit because they will stay healthy until they are too old. For their quality and efficiency, FX5 aquarium filters by Hagen are well known and highly recommended. Their superior features and ease of use these filters have also been applauded by many users.

Always Gets the Job Done

Maintaining a clean and healthy aquarium is a tough job. The primary reason is that your fish cannot speak and tell you about problems they face in your aquarium. The water may appear clean to you but it may be full of microscopic impurities which might jeopardize the very survival of your fish. The Fluval FX5 filter helps in filtering these microscopic impurities with ease. This filter is a multistage filter which can filter a high volume of water without any problems. Moreover, unlike the other multistage filters, these aquarium filters are quite easy to install and maintain.

The FX5 is a three in one filter that has the capacity and strength to filter several types of impurities including mechanical, chemical and biological–the basics of an ideal aquarium filter. Additionally, other unsavory conditions such as high ammonia content and other chemical combinations, that can create a hostile and toxic waste environment for your fish, are eliminated with the FX5 filter. It is the perfect aquarium filtration system.

Capable of Just About Anything

As far as their design and structure is concerned these canister filters are quite compact and this helps them fit into most aquariums easily. Ensuring an out put which is not just powerful but also utilizes the energy efficiently and economically, its hi tech electronic circuit board monitors and maintains the performance of the filter. These aquarium filtration systems are so convenient due to the fact that all you need to do is set it up and get it started. There is no requirement for any kind of manual siphoning unlike the other filters.

Other Interesting Facts

The FX5 comes with twin out put nozzles which help in circulating and filtering the entire water in the aquarium. This filter also has a valve drain which allows it to get rid of all the waste without opening the lid of the filter or moving the unit. The rim connector helps in holding the pipes and the entire equipment in place. These filters also come with three year warranty and guarantee which means that you don’t need to spend money on buying any additional guarantees or warranties. FX5 aquarium canister filters come with all the features that an aquarium owner would want in a filter. It is compact, easy to install, energy efficient and utilizes the most superior technology available. Once you install the FX5 in your aquarium, you can just sit back and relax and watch your fish swimming happily!

Trevor J Rockberry has had a keen interest in aquariums and aquarium care products for many years. For more details, particularly on the Fluval FX5 and other brilliant aquarium canister filters, check out his online resource page now.