With it's long flowing fins and vibrant colors, it's easy to see why the Betta Splendens or Siamese Fighting fish is a favorite fish for fresh water aquariums. Often seen in tiny little bowls in the pet store, this male of this species is fiercely territorial and must be kept in separate bowls or aquariums or they may fight to the death.

These interesting fish are equipped with a tipped up mouth that enables them to get air from the surface of the water and, therefore live in small bowls or those plant vases that are so popular today. If you want to have a long lived healthy fish, however this method of keeping him, is not recommended.

Is your gun shy dog in danger? Does he or she run and hide, escape, or destroy your furniture during thunderstorms? Here are six dog safety tips to help you protect your fearful pet.

Most people have heard of gun shy dogs. It's really a misnomer, because they aren't afraid of guns as such. They're afraid of any loud noises that resemble a gun being shot. This includes vehicles backfiring, fireworks, thunderstorms and, of course, gunfire.

Many gun shy dogs have been seriously injured and even killed when fireworks displays have scared them. Their first instinct is to run and, unfortunately, that often means running into the path of an oncoming vehicle.

Keeping a fish tank is a wonderful and relaxing hobby, but it can turn stressful if your fish start to die off. The most common cause of fish disease is poor water quality so it is vital that you perform regular maintenance on the tank, making sure you do a partial water change periodically and clean out any waste or uneaten food so it does not decay and poison the water.

Many fish disease can be halted if you provide treatment as soon as you see any signs of your fish being sick. Therefore, it is important that you monitor your fish each day to see if there are any signs of illness.

Some common symptoms of disease are listed below.

If you have taken the plunge an decided to keep a salt water aquarium setup and are feeling a bit over whelmed the article below will help you out and get you started by giving you some simple tips that in the end will make your saltwater aquarium setup better.

How To Setup Saltwater fish Tanks Fast And Easy

Level Your Tank- Make sure that when you place your tank in its final location you check to make sure that it is level with the floor. An un level tank can fail prematurely and has the possibility of tipping over if bumped hard. To level the tank just tank a standard construction level and check the tank side to side and front to back. Add a taped wood shim under the corner of the tank that needs adjustment. Double check it after it is full to make sure it did not settle.

Aquarium fish combinations allow fish tank enthusiasts to create the most beautiful and most natural ecosystem in their own homes. By grouping together fish that are compatible but fill different niches, you can maximize the health and color of your tank. This article covers three fabulous aquarium fish combinations for a small tank.

Aquarium fish Combinations - All Level Swimmers

Create varieties of fish that exist and swim at all levels of your aquarium or fish tank. This will not only help them eat all the food you put in and thus keep the water clearer, it will increase the interest of your tank.

Consider getting quick-swimming danios to zoom around the upper levels, more placid tetras or barbs for the middle levels, and cory catfish for the bottom. There are many great combinations to choose from.

Starting a saltwater fish tank is a fun and exciting hobby that can add beauty to any room in the house. But not all marine aquariums are successful and fail shortly after they are set up. This can be avoided by asking your self a few questions and doing some simple research.

Pets not only provide us with companionship by making us feel accepted secure and happy, but they act as an anchor that helps us cope with the stresses of everyday life.

You might never think about it, but did you know that having a fish tank can actually make you healthier? If you suffer from stress, high blood pressure, insomnia or if your nerves are on edge, keeping an aquarium may be good therapy for you.

Lowered blood pressure is one way to measure the reduction in stress. Many ailments are associated with high stress in our daily lives, including heart attacks, sleep disorders and ulcers. When we watch fish swimming, we are hypnotized by their peaceful and serene nature. For a few moments, they create a calming effect in our hectic lives.

If you are looking for a gorgeous fish for a new aquarium set up, you'll find that the discus is a natural and lovely choice. The discus is a large cichlid from South America, and in many ways, they resemble small, brightly colored disk. They are very lovely fish and will be quite striking no matter what aquarium setting you use.

Selecting the Right Tank

When you are looking for the right display tank for your cichlids, make sure that you have one that is no smaller than 120cm X 40cm X 50cm. They do better in large tanks. Make sure that you leave the tank in a relatively undisturbed area of your home, as discus fish are rather shy, and try to put the tank up high, because movement above them tends to stress them out. Finer gravel is a good choice for substrate.

fish tank owners enjoy decorating their tank as much as picking out fish. Free aquarium backgrounds such as those listed below can help you design a fish tank worthy of your efforts without the high costs of purchased backdrops. With a bit of ingenuity and effort, these free aquarium backgrounds will be ready to use in no time.

Free Aquarium Backgrounds - Paper Styles

Use a variety of paper as an aquarium background for a quick and easy decoration. You can use plain colored paper in blue, black, or any other shade, or take a little more time to paint or draw an aquatic scene on the paper before applying it to the fish tank back. Another quick and easy option is to use aluminum foil.

OKAY - it is time to set up your decorative tank. Put your floor surface down, add your decoration (remember to wash or soak) and plant and fill the container 3/4 full with cool water. Let it stand a couple of hours to adjust to room temperature and you are ready to add your fish. Is that simple enough?