For beginning aquatic fancier looking to start out right with fish, Freshwater Aquariums by David Alderton is the ideal primer. A vertebrate that breathe primarily by means of gills and swim by means of fins is the author’s lead-in to the first chapter called “What are Fish?” Alderton builds the reader’s confidence by providing solid information about what fish are anatomically speaking, how they evolved, how they breathe, how they move, where they live, and how they behave. The new fancier’s aquarium begins in chapter two with instructions on setting up the tank, including selecting the right size, figuring out how many fish, setting the tank, equipment, substrate, heating, lighting, filtrations, plants, water chemistry, assembly, and more. Choosing the freshwater fishes that appeal to the reader is the subject of “Introducing the Categories of Fish,” which schools readers in seven categories: Cyprinids (e.g., goldfish, minnows, and barbs), Characins (e.g., tetras), Cichlids (e.g., oscars, angelfish, and discus), Anabantoids (gouramis, bettas/Siamese fighting fish, and paradise fish), Toothcarps (guppies, swordtails, platies, black mollies, and killifish), Catfish, and others (loaches and Chinese algae eaters). The purchasing, maintenance, and feeding of fish are described in considerable details, and the author gives a basic overview of breeding and keeping fish healthy as well. Resources, glossary, and index conclude the book.

Get Immediate Answers to All Your Freshwater Aquarium Problems •Basic Fish Anatomy - learn to distinguish between the different types by their body configuration. Planning Your Aquarium Furnishing your aquarium Then comes the fun stuff - how to select gravel, plants and other interior design elements and accessories. Water quality is very important - learn how to "keep it clean." Adding the fish - learn all about the most popular tropical freshwater fish - how many you should buy considering the tank size, should you have more than one species and how and where to buy your fish. Selecting aquatic plants for your aquarium and how to care for them to insure longevity. Do you want to add non-fish species like snails, shrimp or crab? Feeding your fish - what to feed and when. Be on the alert for disease - what to watch for and how to treat them. How to use antibiotics to control disease. Are medicated foods the answer? Cleaning your freshwater fish aquarium. Try your hand at breeding!

A totally fresh look at fish. Focus on Freshwater Aquarium Fish is a valuable reference for fishkeepers at all levels. The book features a wide variety of fish illustrated in a dynamic way and offers practical advice for their care. The book presents the fish based on their families or fishkeeping groups. These groupings consist of: American and African Cichlids: bold inhabitants Characins: from tetras to piranhas Live-bearers: includes guppies and mollies Killifish: short-lived beauties Anabantids: air breathers including Bettas Danios, Minnows and Rasboras Catfish: found in tropic and temperate waters Rainbowfish: tropical fish at home in tap water Sharks and Loaches: bottomfeeders and efficient algae eaters Barbs: active and gregarious Oddballs: pufferfish, low-voltage eels, elegant predators and more Goldfish: a wide variety of a perennial favorite. Each section opens with an overview that introduces the range of fish within that group and explores their adaptations. The images and text provide details of the mature size and main characteristics of each fish, its behavior in the aquarium and a brief look at how it breeds. The bright, colorful photographs display the fish swimming rather than as static side views. This evokes a clearer sense of the personality of each species. Freshwater fishkeepers will be delighted at the beauty and choice available.

Covers the latest aquarium gadgets Design a dazzling underwater environment with this bestselling guide! Setting up your first freshwater aquarium can be a daunting task. This friendly guide answers all your questions, from setting up your tank and selecting fish to the water, chemicals, plants, and much more. There's also expanded guidance on combining different species of fish, maintaining a tank, cleaning gravel, and dealing with common problems such as algae. Discover how to * Choose the right aquarium * Select the best fish * Get good deals on equipment * Maintain a clean, healthy environment * Handle tank pitfalls * Breed your fish

A comprehensive guide to setting up and maintaining a freshwater aquarium at home, including a listing of species, fish biology breeding and conservation, all about aquariums, fish nutrition and health, plants and more.