Ghost shrimp (aka glass shrimp) are one of the cheapest ways to get into shrimp keeping, but it’s not without its risks. “Ghost shrimp” is a name for a few dozen different varieties of shrimp, so it’s hard to say for certain how any particular ghost shrimp will do in an aquarium with other fish … Read more
Black beard algae is one of the harder types of algae growth to control in your freshwater tank. Very few fish will eat it – even among fish that eat algae. But there are a few that will eat it. The best black beard algae eaters are siamese algae eaters, florida flag fish, golden algae … Read more
It’s finally happened: Your tank is being overrun with hair algae. It started with just a little fuzz growing off of a few things. And before you know it? You’ve got tangles of ugly green hair algae growing all over everything. And what’s worse… …most of your standard algae eaters won’t have anything to do … Read more
Cherry barbs make a great addition to your aquarium. They’re colorful, relatively peaceful (for barbs, at least), and easy to take care of. But what will work with them in the aquarium? The best tankmates for cherry barbs are tetras, rasboras, otos, honey gourami, sparkling gourami, and rainbowfish. There are also a few cichlids that … Read more
Growing tropical plants can be difficult if you don’t get everything just so. Even if you provide the right amount of light and water, they often need a higher humidity level than the dry air the average house or apartment provides. Philodendrons prefer humidity in the 70-90% range, due to their tropical nature. Several varieties, … Read more
Corydoras are some of the best fish you can put in a freshwater aquarium. Peaceful, social, and big personalities. Plus, watching them swim together and bunch in to eat an algae wafer always makes for an entertaining time. (By the way, this is the brand of algae wafer I recommend for them and a bunch … Read more
Neon tetras are one of the most popular fish in the hobby – and for good reason. They do get picked off easily, though, so you have to be careful about what you put in with them. (We learned this the hard way when I was young and the local fish store convinced my parents … Read more
Quarantine is a crucial part of fishkeeping that is often overlooked by the more inexperienced hobbyists. There are many advantages to having a quarantine tank in your collection that will benefit your aquarium in the long run. However, those who don’t know how to quarantine properly or who just may not know a lot about … Read more
Betta fish are the colorful floaty fish that you often see sold in small cups in pet stores. Their scientific name is Betta splendens but they are also referred to as labyrinth fish and Siamese fighting fish. The fish are native to the continent of Asia and live in shallow waters and slow-moving streams. Like … Read more
If you love geckos or have a gecko you will notice from time to time that they shed. You will see a pale coating on their skin that starts to peel away, a lot like when you’ve had a sunburn and your skin starts to peel away. For newer reptile owners seeing this can be … Read more
