Feature :
Fish for a Pet
Keeping Fish
People eat fish almost every day,
but fish is not just for eating, they
can be pets too. There’re many
different
kinds
of
fish
that
make really
nice pets.
The most
popular
kinds of pet
fish
are
tropical fish and goldfish. Tropical
fish is very colourful and kept in salt
water. Goldfish, of course, is mostly
gold in colour. It is a fresh water
fish and even more popular than
tropical fish. If you have decided to
keep a fish as pet, you should take
good care of it. Here is what you
need to do:
~ buy two or more fish so that they
won’t be lonely (Does fish know
what loneliness is?);
~ feed them at fixed times and give
them enough food;
~ change the
water
often or
buy a filter
for
the
tank.
First you
1
need to buy equipment and
accessories to keep the fish healthy.
You need:
~ a fish bowl or tank and fill it with
water. (It’s used
to keep the fish,
of course);
~ a filter to keep
the water in the
fish bowl clear;
~ an oxygen
pump. It can help
to provide enough
oxygen for the fish;
~ some Hydrilla to provide
more oxygen and even food
for the fish.
Now that you have bought all
the things you need to keep the
fish, you can choose the kind of
fish you’d like to keep and
enjoy the fun of keeping fish!
By:
Cyrus CHENG
Alex FONG
Gardenia KWOK
Jessica TSANG
in Asia. They have a life span of
about 10 years. When Goldfish
return to the wild, they revert to
their natural colours (green to black)
in just a few generations. If kept in
an aquarium, a 2-inch long Goldfish
should have at least 2 gallons of
water. In general, at least one gallon
for each inch of fish is necessary or
the Goldfish will become stunted
and will have a shorter lifespan.
Anatomy: This brightly-coloured
fish has orange scales. The average
Goldfish
grows to be
about 3 to 5
inches (8 to 13
cm) long. The
largest
Goldfish are
roughly
10
inches (25 cm) long.
What type of fish to
keep?
1. For beginners:
The Common Goldfish
is a type of carp. These
hardy fish have been
kept in ponds and
aquariums for centuries
Diet: Like all carp, Goldfish eat tiny
plants and organisms found rotting
in the mud on the pond floor. If you
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keep it at home, feed it with regular
fish food bought in pet shops.
2. For the adventurous:
Try a shark - it
would really be fun!
“What? Keep a shark?” It seems
impossible. Still, I’d like to
introduce you to the killers of the
ocean… SHARKS! To keep sharks,
you need a really big aquarium,
1000 buckets of water (or more) and
millions of fish. For your shark, you
can hire a submarine
and catch one!
(Actually,
the
most
needed item is
money!)
1.
Measure the size of your shark;
buy an aquarium that your
shark can swim freely in it. (Be
careful when you measure the
size of your shark, it may bite
your hands off!)
2. Put in some sea-scape and pour
water in. (Remember it has to
be seawater!). Then, put your
shark into the aquarium.
3. Feed your shark every day.
Change the water in the
aquarium also.
 Sea-scape: sand ( bottom of the
aquarium), kelp (don’t put too much,
it may absorb all the oxygen), small
corals…
ordinary, therefore goldfish is
definitely not your cup of tea, but
sharks are too dangerous. Then try
marine fish, Killifish or tropical fish,
just to name a few. They are fun and
easier to
keep
than you
think.
The
Aplocheilus Lineatus, better known
as Golden Wonder Killifish, has an
elongated
and
robust body. The
maximum size of
the
Aplocheilus
Lineatus
is
4.5 inches but
it is sexually mature
at 3 inches long. Both males and
females are about the same size.
They are found in the wild in
streams, reservoirs, ponds, etc.
As they grow rapidly if well fed, a
big tank (at least 3 feet long) should
be used. They prefer a quiet place
with water plants. The ideal tank
temperature is between 23o C and
28o C. They eat insects, small fish,
brine shrimp, worms, chopped
chicken heart, flakes and frozen
food, etc.
You may also want to try keeping
marine fish. One such fish is the
Clownfish.
A Clownfish, or an
anemone fish, is a
small tropical fish.
They
have
an
external coating of
mucus that protects
them from being
stung
by
the
anemone. Lots of people like to
choose Clownfish when they are
new to keeping marine fish, as they
are inexpensive, colourful and have
an interesting swimming motion.
Fishy Jokes
Why is it so easy to weigh fish?
They have their own scales.
What does a killer whale have for snacks?
Fish 'N Ships.
Which fish go to heaven when they die?
Angelfish!
Why are dolphins cleverer than humans?
Within 3 hour they can train a man to stand at the side of a
pool and feed them fish!
What kind of money do fishermen make?
Net profits!
PHEW! What a job!
3. For the in-betweens:
So you would like to keep fish. You
are adventurous, and don’t want the
What do you call a big fish which makes you an offer you
can’t refuse?
The Codfather!
Where do fish wash?
In a river basin!
How does an octopus go to war?
Well-armed!
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Most importantly, they are tough
and won’t die easily. They are
usually found among tropical reefs
where there are sea anemones. So
your Clownfish might be happy to
have some sea anemones*. But
make sure you have more than one
anemone if more than one pair of
Clownfish are to be kept in the same
aquarium. Otherwise they will fight.
Starting a salt tank is no different
from starting a fresh water. Set up
the tank, add water and the fish.
Supplement
Remember, add salt water. The
greatest difference between salt and
fresh water is the salt, of course.
This is not just table salt and it is
easier said than done. You need a
special salt mix that you buy from
the pet store. Apart from salt, this
salt also has all the trace elements
that fish need. Add the amount of
salt according to the instructions on
the package. Another thing you have
to be careful about is the pH
(measure of acidity or alkalinity).
The pH of the oceans is very stable,
and your tank’s should be as well,
between 8.1-8.3. The temperature
should be between 25oC to 26oC
(77oF to 79oF). Change around 20%
of the water every two weeks to
keep the water clean. Feed them
with brine shrimp (a small hardshelled creature that lives in salt
lakes and brine pools), flakes or
small pieces of squid.
*To find out more about anemones,
check
http://www.cautiouscoral.com/
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