FishWiki

As we approach the holiday season, I'd like to share a friendly reminder about a well-meaning yet potentially risky gift idea: fish.

Before you dive into surprising someone with a finned friend, consider a few crucial points:

Fish Are Living Beings, Not Decorations

Fish have specific needs for water quality, temperature, and space. They're not just pretty ornaments; they're living beings with unique requirements. A fish should be placed in a tank with an established nitrogen cycle, and your family member might not have one!

Tank Talk

Setting up a proper fish tank involves more than a bowl and pebbles. It requires careful consideration of tank size, as different species need more space than others, equipment, and the establishment of a nitrogen cycle. All are expensive, and quite a bit can be very stressful, even without fish being put into the mix!

Stressful Transitions

Fish can get stressed when introduced to new environments. Plucking them from their cozy habitat and dropping them into a new tank without proper acclimatization can be harmful and straight-up deadly, especially without a nitrogen cycle being established!

Long-Term Commitment

Fish have a lifespan that's far more than just a few months; they need consistent care. This isn't just a holiday fling; it's a long-term commitment that extends beyond the festive season. Even the shortest-lived species tend to live 2 or more years.

Ensure Receiver's Willingness and Preparedness

Before you snag that Nemo or Dory, ensure that the person receiving the gift both wants the fish and has an appropriate tank setup. A willing and prepared recipient is crucial for the well-being of the fish. We see just how much people get stressed when they're thrown a cute little goldfish and learn that that goldfish needs a huge tank! Make sure that it's a species they want!

Alternatives for Joy

If you want to share the joy without the underwater responsibilities, consider fish-themed gifts like artwork or beautifully illustrated fish books. You could even throw in a fish-based video game like Fish Game on Steam for a splash of virtual aquatic fun!

Gift Ideas for Aquarium Enthusiasts

For those who already have a passion for fishkeeping, consider unique pieces like driftwood, rocks, and vibrant aquatic plants to enhance their aquarium without adding stress to the fish. You might also explore high-quality equipment to elevate their setup. Brands like Hygger offer top-notch lights, CO2 systems, filters, heaters, and unique decor to take their aquarium game to the next level.

Remember, responsible gifting makes for a merrier season! Let's ensure our finned friends aren't caught in the riptide of surprise. Happy holidays, and may your celebrations be thoughtful and fish-friendly!

If anyone plopped a fish on your lap and you didn't know what to do, please do not be afraid to message the moderator team or make a post with your questions. There are no stupid questions here!

This week we will take a look at the Glass Catfish (Kryptopterus vitreolus).

This species of Asian glass catfish is endemic to peninsular and southeastern Thailand where it is found living in tinted, slow-moving or still, waters that are slightly acidic. They have been misidentified for decades and only recently were differentiated from a few other similar species. Unfortunately the trade generally relies on wild-caught specimens, and there are concerns that this may be unsustainable due to the volume and its limited range. Unlike many other aquarium fish, it is not known to be bred commercially.

These small catfish are free-swimming rather than benthic and prefer to school in large groups. They have long barbels, transparent flesh with a slightly iridescent skin, and only reach a length of about 3 inches (8cm). It was also discovered that glass catfish have the ability to detect electromagnetic fields. In the aquarium they require other peaceful tankmates and should be given plenty of shaded areas to hide such as below floating logs and plants. They are slightly picky eaters that prefer live microfauna like daphnia, bloodworms, insect larvae, and even baby fish.

This week we will take a look at the Central Mud Minnow (Umbra limi).

It's a temperate freshwater fish that ranges across the Mississippi river basin up to the US-Canadian border. Some isolated populations can be found in Montana and Texas. Commonly found in slow moving streams, creeks, drainage ditches, and ponds with abundant vegetation. Its natural diet consists of benthic invertebrates (ostracods, copepods, chironomids, gastropods) and occasionally small fishes. They are quick, able to bury themselves in the mud, and form shoals to avoid predation.

These fish only live a few years and stay small (6in/14cm) and spawn in mid-April with the higher temperatures stimulating spawning. Females can produce up to 2,500 eggs in one season. Mud minnows are able to survive in very acidic, poorly oxygenated waters by breathing air with a modified gas bladder. This also allows them to survive the winter in bodies of water where most fish cannot- by breathing air from bubbles under the ice.