Acidic: A reading below 7.0 on the pH scale. Activated carbon: A manufactured form of carbon that is highly porous. Adipose fin: A small fin between the dorsal and caudal fins, most notable in tetras and other characoids.
Starfish are the best-known echinoderms, but the group also features feather and brittle stars, as well as sea urchins and sea cucumbers. While they vary in shape, all these creatures have an internal body structure formed from calcium and tube feet that enable them to move over the seabed.
There are few more diverse invertebrate groups than the mollusks. Marine gastropod mollusks possess a protective shell and a “foot” for locomotion, just like the land snails.
A marine aquarium, populated with stunningly patterned reef fish and invertebrates in crystal-clear water, makes a stunning centerpiece for any room.
Introduction to Pond Fish Maintenance Food and feeding Providing your fish with a balanced, healthy diet demands a little research. It is vital to establish not only the dietary preferences of each species but also the way in which it feeds. Some, for example, feed only on floating foods, while others will feed exclusively from […]
The breeding habits of tropical marine fish are not well documented because only a small number of species have reproduced in captivity. A few groups, however, such as clownfish, gobies, and sea horses, breed with relative ease. Others, such as angelfish, may spawn in aquariums, but their young are so poorly developed when they hatch that it is extremely difficult to raise them successfully.
This encyclopedia is divided into three main sections, covering freshwater aquariums, marine aquariums, and ponds. Each section includes practical advice on how to care for your fish, along with a directory of relevant species, organized into related groups.
Defining a fish is harder than it seems. To most people, it is an animal that lives and breathes in water. Some fish, however, emerge onto land, breathe air, and use their fins like legs. And many other animals, including amphibians, mammals, and invertebrates, live in water. To add further confusion, some creatures called fish—starfish, jellyfish, and cuttlefish—are not really fish at all.
