Fish
Fish are the oldest vertebrates of the world. The first fish is supposed to be found about 500 million years ago. These are the aquatic vertebrates, typically ectothermic (cold-blooded). Their body is covered with scales and provided with two sets of paired fins and many unpaired fins. Most fish have a bony skeleton, except rays and sharks have cartilaginous skeleton. Fish breathe using the gills, which perform an exchange of gases between the fish’s blood and water. Most fish feed on small plants, while some fish such as shark feed on other fish.
There is a huge variety of fish, differing in size, shape and color. Their sizes highly range from 8 mm long stout infant fish to 16 m whale shark. There are over 28,000 known species of fish found throughout the world. Out of them, almost 27,000 species include bony fish. Remaining 970 species include rays, sharks and chimeras and 108 lampreys and hag fishes. Fish are found in all types of water bodies all over the globe. Fish can be kept in an aquarium as the pets or used to prepare wonderful recipes.
The coelacanth was believed to have been extinct for nearly 90 million years, but it still exists today. The fish can attain a length of about6 feet (1.8 meters) and a weight of 180 pounds (82 kg). It has strong teeth, thick spiny circular scales, and a powerful flat tail. The first living specimen was caught in 1938 about 3 miles (4.8km) off the coast of South Africa.
- A name loosely applied in popular usage to many animals of diverse characteristics, living in the water.
- An oviparous, vertebrate animal usually having fins and a covering scales or plates. It breathes by means of gills, and lives almost entirely in the water. See Pisces.
- The flesh of fish, used as food.
Types Of Fish
African Butter Catfish
The African butter catfish (Schilbe mystus) is a species of fish in the Schilbeidae family. It is native to all major river systems in Africa. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes and rivers.
The African butter catfish possesses a compressed body and very small adipose fin. It can grow up to 40 cm. As a predator it feeds on invertebrates and fish. There are various types of fish, depending upon their habitats and characteristics. Some major types of fish are freshwater fish, tropical fish, marine fish, cold water fish, aquarium fish, etc.
African Cichlid
Cichlids (pronounced /ˈsɪklɨd/) are fishes from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. Cichlids are members of a group known as the Labroidei alongside the wrasses Labridae, damselfish Pomacentridae, and surfperches Embiotocidae.The family Cichlidae is both large and diverse. There are at least 1,300 scientifically described species,making it one of the largest vertebrate families. Numerous new species are discovered annually, and many species remain undescribed. The actual number of species is therefore unknown, with estimates varying between 1,300 and 3,000.
African Snakehead
Snakeheads (Channidae) are a family of freshwater fish native to Africa and Asia. These predatory fish are distinguished by a long dorsal fin, large mouth and shiny teeth. They have a physiological need to breathe atmospheric air, which they do with a suprabranchial organ: a primitive form of a labyrinth organ. There are two extant genera, Channa in Asia, and Parachanna in Africa, consisting of 30-35 species.
Akar betta
Betta is a large genus of small, often colorful, freshwater ray-finned fishes in the gourami family (Osphronemidae). The type species is B. picta, the spotted betta.[1] By far the best known Betta species, however, is B. splendens, the Siamese fighting fish.
Albino Cory
The Albino Cory are quite hardy and adaptable, very peaceful, and they help keep the bottom of the aquarium clean by eating up leftover foods.
They are very suited for a small aquarium. The Albino Cory is a small member of the Callichthyidae family of catfish, with a full grown adult only growing up to 2.5 inches (7 cm).
Though the Albino Cory are not often bred in home aquariums, they will breed rather easily and it is very interesting! The female will drop a few eggs and catch them with her ventral fins, carrying them about to deposit them here and there about the plants and decor in the aquarium.
Amiet's Lyretail
Fundulopanchax amieti (Amiet's Lyretail) is best kept in a very well planted aquarium with floating plants. The aquarium should be densely planted from bottom to surface. Fine leafed species such as Indian fern, java moss, java fern, hornwort and riccia are ideal plants to use.
Fundulopanchax amieti (Amiet's Lyretail) is best kept on live food. They will however accept commercial foods. Frozen Mosquito larvae are recommended if live food isn’t an option.
Asian Arowana
The Asian arowana comprises several varieties of freshwater fish in the genus Scleropages. Some sources differentiate these varieties into multiple species,while others consider the different strains to belong to a single species, Scleropages formosus.They have several other common names, including Asian bonytongue, dragon fish, and a number of names specific to different varieties.
Native to Southeast Asia, Asian arowanas inhabit blackwater rivers, slow-moving waters flowing through forested swamps and Wetlands. Adults feed on other fish, while juveniles feed on insects.
