Category Archives: Fish Facts

Goldfish might not be the best choice for a child's first fish, but with some education and aquarium maintenance tips, the pet could possibly live up to 20 years.

admin    October 31, 2019   CATEGORY: Fish Facts

A Child’s First Fish: Why Goldfish Might Not Be the Best

It seems every child had a goldfish growing up. The child may have given the fish a sweet little name and fed it every day like clockwork – maybe even a little too much. The child likely loved the little pet right up until the day the fish took its final breaths … within about a week after bringing it home.

The fact that goldfish are a favorite first fish in many households is rather ironic. They may be inexpensive and easy to handle at first, but truly they are not the easiest to care for overall.

Why Goldfish are Not Ideal for Beginners

1. The common home for a child’s goldfish is often a little fish bowl, but that’s not ideal. Because many goldfish can grow to almost 8 inches long, the bowl will cramp the fish’s style quickly.

2. Fish bowls are difficult to keep clean. Because it is small, a fish bowl can become saturated with ammonia quickly, suffocating the goldfish. Depending on the age of the child, a parent or other adult will likely need to help the child keep the bowl clean.

3. Goldfish need more oxygen than some other fish, and that’s much more than homeowners may realize. At the same time, fish don’t enjoy living their lives in one spot and would prefer to be able to swim around. That means an ideal goldfish fish tank is wider than the surface of a fish bowl, which would enable it to move around freely while at the same time coming up for air when it needs to.

4. Water needs to keep moving in order to create the much-needed oxygen and keep the water clean. A fish bowl simply isn’t adequate for that type of environment, even if you do add plants and air stones into the water.

5. Goldfish secrete more waste than some other fish. For that reason, even keeping an adequate-sized fish tank clean would be a challenge.

Add all of these factors together, and it’s a recipe for disaster. But there’s a bright side.

A goldfish may be challenging to maintain for beginning hobbyists, but if your child's wish is to have a goldfish, the pet can live a long and happy life if the child learns proper fish tank maintenance skills.

A goldfish may be challenging to maintain for beginning hobbyists, but if your child’s wish is to have a goldfish, the pet can live a long and happy life if the child learns proper fish tank maintenance skills.

Species of Fish that are Good for New Hobbyists

With the proper education and care, your child’s goldfish doesn’t have to be another statistic. In fact, some goldfish can live up to 20 years! It could stay with your child well into adulthood.

If you would rather not deal with goldfish altogether, there are many other species of fish that are much better for beginners. Here are just a few.

  • White cloud minnows
  • Danios
  • Swordtail fish
  • Certain types of tetras
  • Certain types of bettas
  • Platies
  • Guppies
  • Pearl gouramis
  • Plecos

Contact us for more information about setting up a child’s first fish tank and additional facts about the ideal livestock for it.

Contact Seatech Aquariums for more information about how to keep a goldfish healthy.

 

TAGS: Aquarium Environment, Aquarium Maintenance, aquarium setup, Aquarium Water Quality, Fish Facts,

Black ghost knifefish originate from the dark rivers of South America, such as the Amazon Basin shown here.

admin    July 31, 2019   CATEGORY: Fish Facts

Black Ghost Knifefish: Smooth, Suave, and Sneaky

Fascinating doesn’t even begin to describe the black ghost knifefish, one of the most unique fish out there. And considering the thousands of different breeds and their traits, that’s saying a whole lot!

Characterized by its long, sleek body and lack of scales, the black ghost knifefish is perfectly camouflaged in the wild and is ready to protect itself when necessary. Word of caution: Because it is such a unique fish, it’s more ideal for experienced hobbyists.

Facts about the Black Ghost Knifefish

  1. A black ghost knifefish has no scales and can grow to almost 2 feet long.It has no scales. While that is not common, the black ghost knifefish is not alone in this trait. Other fish that don’t have scales include eels, catfish, sharks, rays, sturgeons, blennies, and lampreys.
  2. Similar to an eel, it is an electric fish that uses an electric organ and receptors to find food.
  3. It is a freshwater tropical fish.
  4. Typically, the fish is all black except for two white rings on its tail and a white speck or stripe on its nose.
  5. It can grow to almost 2 feet long, so it will need a large fish tank, preferably at least 150 gallons.
  6. Watching it swim is quite a sight. It uses a fin under its body to move, making it look like a flag waving in the wind.
  7. The temperature in a black ghost knifefish’s tank should be 73 to 80 degrees, and the pH level of the tank should be 6.5 to 7.0.
  8. You can buy a small one for less than $20.
  9. It’s on the shy side, so it likes to hide in gravel and within plants.
  10. It prefers meaty foods like earthworms and shrimp.
  11. An adult black ghost knifefish has a very large mouth. With that mouth, it can eat other fish whole.
  12. Black ghost knifefish originate from the dark rivers of South America, and in the wild, they are nocturnal. Because they’re so hard to spot, they’re associated with urban legends. … What urban legends, you ask? Well, let’s just say Jaws has nothing on them.
  13. It doesn’t really get along with other black ghost knifefish, and it could eat small fish of other breeds. Having other fish in the tank may also interfere with the signals it needs to survive. Additionally, some other types of fish might bully the shy knifefish. For all these reasons, it really should live alone.

Starting a Black Ghost Knifefish Aquarium

If you’re planning on obtaining one of these spectacular fish, you’ll need to take special care of the tank and watch what you place into it. Our professional aquarium installation and maintenance team can help you create the right home for this unique fish.

Contact us through our website or by phone at (602) 628-7270 for aquarium installation or more information about how to care for a black ghost knifefish.

TAGS: aquarium, Black Ghost Knifefish, freshwater fish, Knife Fish,