ANSC 307 freshwater fish 1 and 2 exam 2

major classes of fish 

kingdom: animalia

phylum: chordata

classes: Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous), Agnatha (jawless), or Osteichthyes (bony)

what fish will ANSC 307 be focusing on

bony because those are the fish that are normally kept in tanks

how are fish classified

• diet preference

• temperature

• behavior

• reproduction

• activity

• size

diet preference classification

• omnivores

• may have more carnivore or herbivore tendencies

temperature classification

• cool or warm water 

• ranging 60 to 80 degrees F

behavior classification

• solitary vs shoaling 

• hardy vs fragile 

• docile vs agressive 

reproduction classification

• egg laying 

• live bearing 

activity classification

• high vs low energy 

• day vs night

• top vs bottom of tank

size classification

• small 

• medium 

• large 

• 1-12+ inches in length

what fish have a more carnivorous preference

• betta 

• oscar 

what fish have a more herbivorous preference

• angel fish

• molly 

• pleco 

• tiger barb

what fish have a more of a no preference

• tetra

• goldfish 

• danio 

• guppy 

• platy 

will oscars eat small fish

yes, they are aggressive and competitive

are fish opportunistic eaters

yes

cooler water fish (60-80 degrees)

• zebra danios

• goldfish

• barbs

• tetras

• minnows

warmer water fish (70-80 degrees)

• gourami 

• cory catfish

• plecos 

• platies 

• mollies 

• neon tetras

• guppies 

• betas 

• oscars 

solitary behavior

like to be alone

ex: betas 

shoaling behavior

like to stay in groups 

ex: danios 

hardy behavior

handle change and variety well

ex: goldfish 

fragile behavior

sensitive to change and specific conditions

ex: tetras 

docile behavior

peaceful with other fish 

ex: guppy

agressive behavior

bother or eat other fish

ex: oscar 

can other beta fish be house together

yes in a large tank with lots of hiding space

how can you have multiple oscars in a tank together

they must be around the same size or the larger one will eat the smaller one

egg laying fish

• cory catfish 

• barbs 

• goldfish 

• tetras 

• danios 

• betas 

• angelfish 

• gourami 

• oscar 

live bearing fish

• guppies 

• mollies 

• platys 

• swordtails 

what are baby fish called

fries

example of higher energy fish

barbs

example of lower energy fish

plecos

what is an example of a surface dwellers

mollies

what is an example of a middle dwellers

tetras

what is an example of a bottom dwellers

cory catfish 

first step in finding a fish

do your research

• look into species of fish that best suit your interests and desired level of maintenance 

second step in finding a fish

calculate stocking level

• how many fish do you want to keep together

stocking guidelines

• 1 inch per gallon rule

• surface area rule

• 6 times the length rule 

1 inch per gallon rule 

need at least 1-2 gallons of water for every inch of full-grown 

• issue: doesn’t consider surface area / swimming space (horizontal vs. vertical tank) 

surface area rule

12 square inches of tank for every 1 inch of fish

• surface area = width x length 

• issue: this rule doesn’t consider volume… a tank with an appropriate surface area could be very shallow which is not ideal for schooling fish  

6 times the length rule

the tank should be 6 times the length of one fish’s maximum growth potential and at least 2 times the maximum size for width and depth 

third step in finding a fish

select tank location

• now that you know the size of the tank where do you put it?

should you place a tank next to a window

no, it would cause temperature fluctuations which would be hard on some fish

should you place the tank in the kitchen

no, because of temperature changes and for sanitary purpose

tank location considerations

• consistent temperature 

• noise level 

• activity level 

• visibility 

• accessibility 

• electrical sockets available

• sturdy base  

fourth step in finding a fish

purchase supplies

• what supplies will you need to set up the appropriate habitat for your fish

supplies needed

• substrate

• decor

• air stone

• thermometer and heater

• filter

• water conditioner

• ammonia

• nitrifying bacteria and water testing

• tank lid and light source

• additional items

• fish food

substrate

• options include gravel, ornamental stones (glass), smooth rocks, sand, etc 

• if using colored glass stones, ensure that color will not chip off the stones 

• if using gravel, it needs to be at least the size of the fish’s mouth (to avoid ingesting) 

  • recommendation is 1 pound of gravel for each gallon of water 

  • rinse the gravel with water before adding 

what size does the substrate need to be 

same size or bigger than the mouth 

will substrate be digested

no

do not want to use ____ rocks

jagged, it can cause injury

decor 

• many options, use a variety of plants (fake or real), hiding places, and items to explore

• rinse all artificial items with water prior to placing in tank

• ensure that the decor does not have sharp edges that could potentially injure fish

• for lighter weight items (like fake plants), use substrate to wiegh the item down so that it strays in place 

air stones

• used to increase the oxygen potential of water by circulating waste and toxic gas to the surface 

• the bubbles contain oxygen, but fish do not get oxygen directly from the bubbles. the oxygen is dissolved by water and fish use the water to obtain the dissolved oxygen 

• setup includes air stones, tubing, and a small air pump 

• air stones come in different shapes and sizes to accommodate different tank size 

what do air stones do

increase oxygen potential of water 

thermometer and heater

• it is good practice for all aquariums to include a water thermometer (standard or digital) to avoid fluctuations in water temperature 

• fish that thrive in warm water (tropical) will need a heater and can be sensitive to temperature change 

• larger tanks require a heater with a higher wattage to similar tanks (check box for recommended wattage) 

filter 

• aquariums needs a filter to help remove debris and toxins from the water 

• the filter cartridge facilitates growth of beneficial bacteria needed to break down ammonia and nitrite 

since the cartridge house beneficial bacteria, should you replace  it on regualr basis?

• only replace the cartridge when it is literally falling apart 

• rinse a cartridge in discarded water that has been removed from the tank (during water change) and then put it back in the filter

should you clean the cartridge in tap water?

no it will kill bacteria

water conditioner

• fill the tank with water so that only 1-2 inches remains above the waterline 

• water that we drink is treated with chlorine to kill bacteria so we dont get sick from drinking it 

• we actually want to grow bacteria (the good kind) so we need to remove the chloride using water conditioner 

ammonia

• can be added through fish food that will eventually decay (larger process) 

• can use a concentrated source of ammonia (for aquariums) 

• need to test ammonia after a few days 

  • if no ammonia, nitrifying bacteria will not have anything to eat 

nitrifying bacteria and water testing

• need to add a source of nitrifying bacteria to turn ammonia into nitrite 

• use a commercial product that contains bacteria for aquariums 

• test the water a few days later to ensure that nitrite can be detected (ammonia level will be lower)

tank lid and light source

• the lid is important so fish dont escape and it prevents other pets and materials from getting in the tank 

• a light source stimulates night and day for fish for circadian rhythm 

additional items

• a fish net is needed to transport the fish safety

  • ensure that it is large enough for the adult fish 

• a gravel pump can be used to suck up uneaten food and waste that get trapped at bottom of tank 

• can also be a great tool for water changes if you have a bucket or if the hose can reach a sink

• container/bucket to hold water 

Fish food

• should be specific to your type of fish 

• options include flakes, pellets (floating and sinking), algae wafers, dried shrimp, meal worms 

• important to know where your fish eats in the tank

what is the first thing you have to do with your tank

cycle it

nitrogen cycle

protein in → waste → ammonia (NH3) → nitrites (by nitrifying bacteria) → nitrate (by nitrifying bacteria) → accumulate in aquarium → removed by regular water changes 

nitrate is great unless 

it accumulates, will kill fish in high concentrations 

why is the classic fish bowl bad

too small, no lid

what is wrong fish tank kits

too small

how long does it take for the nitrogen cycle to activate 

2-6 weeks 

do you have to wait for the nitrogen cycle to activate before you add the fish

yes

what should you determine first before you get a fish

whether the tank size or species/number of fish matter more

• normally limited by tank size 

Nitrogen cycle must be ________ and _______ in a tank in order to maintain fish health

activated and functioning well

Tank location is important and all supplies should be purchased to set up the tank before or after adding fish​

before

types of fish mouths

• superior mouth/surface-feeders

• inferior mouth/bottom-feeders 

How much should you feed fish per day?

The amount equal to the size of two of the fish's eyeball

• essential 2 pellets in morning, 2 at night

One of most common mistakes fish owners make is

overfeeding

if overfeeding the food will

go to the bottom, decay, and release ammonia

• will mess up nitrogen cycle

we can add fish

when all supplies are in tank and nitrogen cycle is activated (2-6 weeks)

cut, pour, plop method

pour fish into a net over a bucket to get rid of water from bag and plop it in the tank

should you add multiple fish at once

no

what should you do when adding new fish to a tank with fish already present 

quarantine the fish