By the Koi Pond
Pictures, photos, and writings about all things fish from food to pets to art.
High speed snail chase ~by bouwmagearhart on Flickr
With late spring and summer come strong thunderstorms for most of the US. Learn what to do with your fish tanks when a storm knocks out the power here!
EDIT : Thank you so much, Mari! I must have been in a crazy rush when I did that.
Answer:
Yes. My Aqueon Pro heaters have been very reliable. They have to be as shrimp are more sensitive to temp changes than fish are. I find it helps to place them horizontally in the tank. It gives a more even distribution of heat.
You also have to remember that a change of 1F isn’t going to affect the fish much. The water temp isn’t 100% stable in the wild. Things like direct sunlight and rain will raise and lower it. What you want to guard against are large, rapid changes say from 70F to 80F in the matter of an hour. A couple of degrees over the day isn’t harmful.
Goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara)
… can grow as big as a Volkswagen and live more than 35 years! But as slow and curious swimmers in shallow water, they are easy prey for fishermen.
After nearing extinction, a catch ban helped them recover. Now, Florida is considering reopening the fishery and we believe it’s too soon. Take a moment to help this iconic Florida fish return to full abundance by taking this public opinion survey. Your voice can help make the difference… http://ocean.ly/13tLwaj
(via: Ocean Conservancy)
Origin of the Goldfish
The goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus) you see in pet shops are the result of centuries of selective breeding.
The ancient Chinese have been rearing wild Prussian carp (Carassius gibellio) as food fish for thousands of years. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), it was popular to raise carp in ornamental ponds. Natural genetic mutation produced individuals that had a yellowish hue to them, which was preferred over the natural silver coloration.
By the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the domestication of goldfish was established. Further genetic mutations caused for stronger oranges, reds and yellows to appear. Because these fish were kept in the safety of a pond, the conspicuous metallic colors did not disadvantage their survival.
The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) saw the raising of goldfish indoors. This led to the development of many fancy strains, greatly changed from their wild shape. Protruding eyes, double tails and many unusual traits were emphasized through selective breeding, leading to many unique varieties of the one species.
Goldfish are still being developed today, with around 300 breeds recognized in China. Some varieties have been so physically changed that they are unable to survive outside of the aquarium. If introduced to the wild, domesticated goldfish can hybridize with certain species of carp. Within three generations, the hybrid fish revert back to their original coloration.
Images: Viridiflavus, Piet Spaans, Adityamadhav83, ぱたごん on Wikimedia Commons
(via freshwaterfish)
