Part one (Bartelme, 2009) of this two-part series covered preventive tips on the subjects of quarantine, stress, handling and selecting specimens for your aquarium. We continue here with tips on the subjects of acclimation, nutrition, good habits for aquarists and more.…
One of the hallmarks of a good aquarist is practicing preventive measures. Experienced hobbyists usually realize how important these habits are to their long-term success. Prevention consists of more than merely quarantining newly acquired fish.…
Most saltwater aquarists are acutely aware of the subjects of Cryptocaryon irritans (saltwater ich) and Amyloodinium ocellatum (velvet) infections in tropical marine fish.…
In recent years, hyposalinity therapy has become widely popular for the treatment of Cryptocaryon irritans or what is commonly referred to as “saltwater ich.” Hyposalinity therapy consists of manipulating the salinity of the water and maintaining marine teleost fish in a hyposaline environment.…
Metabolism can be described as the collective term for the chemical processes that give life. Metabolism uses products called metabolites that include organic food and inorganic matter such as oxygen.…
Quarantine, stress and acclimation were discussed in part one of this two part series. Here we continue covering acclimation, recovery, the role of hyposalinity therapy, factors influencing feeding behaviors and some handy equipment for use during acclimation and quarantine.…
When I set up my first saltwater aquarium, in 1973, the hobby was still in its infancy. Over the years, we have seen many changes and improvements in the way that we care for aquarium inhabitants. We know more about water chemistry, filtration methods have improved and we have learned more about the specific needs of various species.…
Would you like your fish to have their brightest coloration and best possible finnage? Are you interested in the animal’s growth or reproduction? Do you want to keep your fish in excellent health?…
Stress in fish is an immensely complex subject. There is a great deal of mystery surrounding the subject of stress in fish and for many their concept of stress is vague. Most of what we know about stress in fish comes from research targeted to commercial fisheries.…
Improving the survival rates of fish during and after transport is of interest to hobbyists and ornamental fish business alike. While hobbyists want their new acquisitions to arrive in good condition and to survive, they are also interested in keeping their cost down.…