husbandry of aquarium fish

Question 1

history of aquaria

Answer 1

• china and japan: carp and koi
• 1850s: UK kept fish as hobby
• victorian england; fresh and marine species
• 1870s tropical

Question 2

how many species of fish

Answer 2

20 000 -30 000

Question 3

how are fish divided

Answer 3

jawed and non jawed

Question 4

which fish is most commonly kept

Answer 4

teleosts
(jawed –> bony –> ray finned fish —> teleosts)

Question 5

the nitrogen cycle

Answer 5

• nitrogen introduced as fish food and from plants
• ammonia excreted by fish and from decomposing material
• nitrosomas bacteria convert ammonia into nitrite
• nictorbactor bacteria convert nitrite into nitrate
• plants use nitrate as fertilizer
• cycle continues

Question 6

water quality is determined by

Answer 6

• source
• changes
• filtration
• temp

Question 7

town water is

Answer 7

high in chemicals : chlorine, copper and fluoride

Question 8

what should you do to water before adding to tank

Answer 8

always test it

Question 9

for a fresh water tank what should you do before adding fish

Answer 9

• let water stand for 12 hours
• use an airstone to agitate water and release gases
• commercial tank preparations

Question 10

how should you prep a marine water tank

Answer 10

• let water stand for 12 hours
• use an airstone to agitate water and release gases
• commercial tank preparations
• add proprietary marine salt
• aim for specific gravity 1.023-1.027

Question 11

for marine tanks what is the aim for specific gravity

Answer 11

1.023-1.027

Question 12

why do you do water changes

Answer 12

to remove nitrates

Question 13

how much water should you remove during water changes

Answer 13

4-10% weekly using a siphon

Question 14

what is the purpose of water filtration

Answer 14

to filter the water to remove solid waste and chemicals

Question 15

water filters can be:

Answer 15

• internal or external
• physical (straining)
• chemical (water flows through activated charcoal)
• biological (ceramic beats coated w nitrosomas and nitrobacter)
• all of above

Question 16

what is new tank syndrome

Answer 16

100% water change; removes all the bacteria, when fish excrete waste ammonia spikes up and fish die

Question 17

aquariums need to be ____ and marine tanks need to be _____

Answer 17

heated, cooled

Question 18

what is water hardness

Answer 18

concentration of dissolved minerals in the water

Question 19

when monitoring water quality, what parameters should you look at

Answer 19

• temp
• pH
• ammonia
• nitrites
• nitrates
• hardness

Question 20

aeration refers to

Answer 20

dissolved oxygen

Question 21

what is aeration reduced by

Answer 21

decaying food, too many plants, high temps

Question 22

what is aeration increased by

Answer 22

ripples on water surface via air stones, spray bars

Question 23

in terms of lighting ____ cycle is important

Answer 23

diurnal

Question 24

what does light do in tank

Answer 24

• grow plants
• hormone production in fish

Question 25

1 L of water = ___ kg

Answer 25

1

Question 26

when choosing location of tank, what should you avoid

Answer 26

temperature extremes
- direct sunlight can produce too much heat and algal growth

Question 27

high numbers of fish in a tank increases

Answer 27

• oxygen consumption
• waste
• spread of disease

Question 28

what is the determining factor for stocking density

Answer 28

surface area (air-water interface determines oxygenation)
measure SA and measure adult body length

Question 29

compatibility means that a group of fish

Answer 29

• don’t eat each other
• share similar environmental requirements
• share similar dietary requirements
• share similar behaviour

Question 30

some normal behaviours of fish include

Answer 30

• hiding
• resting on bottom
• aggression
• competition
• preference for water levels
• schooling