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Fighting fish better known as betta
Betta Splendens

All of this information is helpful for the basic needs of the Betta but I have got a great book that goes into great detail on how to have the Betta thrive in your tank and possibly if you wish have is breed in your tank, for the book Click Here!

It belongs to the family anabantidae

Click here to learn more about Anabantoids, and what makes them unique.

Cost: $2-3

Origin:
Malayan peninsula and Thailand

Description:
General shape, slender-bodied, compressed sides that give it a skinny look. Fins, long,broad anal fin, with a long and tall dorsal fin. It has narrow, pointed, and elongated pelvic fins. Gets up to 2 ½” (6cm)

Color:
Many variations.

Sexual distinction:
The females look much plainer then males.

Tank Conditions:
Temperature 77-86 degrees Fahrenheit (25-30 Celsius.) The higher temperature is for breeding only. Ph and water hardness are not really that important. It’s recommended, that if possible, that softer water be used. The tank needs moderate to good lighting. The tank should be sooted with medium to thick vegetation. The water level should be a little on the low side to prevent the fish from jumping out. The substrate should be soft with a thin layer of humus. A well covered tank with some floating plants will finish this magnificent fish’s living space.

Food:
Mostly live food such as brine shrimp or I use guppy fry, but a high quality dry food will be fine.

Behavior:
The males are extremely aggressive and will compete in vicious battles.

Sexual maturity and reproduction:
Builds bubble nests among the plants and decorations in the tank. They use the bubbles to support the eggs. After the spawning process has finished the female will need to be removed, the male will look over the new brood. Once the eggs begin to hatch (24-30 hours later) the male will need to be removed.

Compatibility:
Do not keep the males of the same species together in the same tank. Best if just kept in specie tanks.

FireMouth Cichlid
chichlasoma meeki

It belongs to the family Cichlidae

Click here to learn what a cichlid is.

Cost: $5-45, with the wild caught specimens costing more.

Origin:
Guatemala Yucatan (Mexico)

Description:
Typical cichlid shape, but with a larger head. Upper body more arched then lower one. About 6 inches (15cm).

Color:
Consists of many different colors, the basic solo is a bluish gray with a nice purple sheen. The back tends darker, while the belly is a yellowish olive, the throat an lower jaw define what the fish is called because they are a magnificent brick red. A black line that is often divided in to spots, starts at the top edge of the gill cover and extends all the way to the bas of the tail. In the middle of the body there is a large gray-edged patch.

Sexual Distinction:

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Female will be duller in color, while having less pronounced spines of the anal and dorsal fins.

Tank conditions:
Temperature 68-73 degrees Fahrenheit (20-23 Celsius). Ph and hardness rating that too important, middle ranges with soot this fish best. Does not do well in planted tanks.

Food:
Live food, with a little plant food.

Behavior:
A relatively peaceful fish. Does better with other cichlids.

Sexual maturity and reproduction:
Reach a sexual maturity at around 3 inches (8cm). Pair forming, and when trying to breed you can raise the tank water to 75-79 degrees Fahrenheit or (24-26 Celsius).

Compatibility:
Should be kept with other cichlids. Become territorial.

Red-bellied piranha
pygocentrus nattereri

For more information on Characins click here.

Cost:
Before I tell you how much the Red-bellied piranha cost let me just lay down a few facts. The price will vary on these factors; specimen size, maturity and supplier. Now that you understand the variable the common price for the Red-bellied piranha is $7-15.

Short Bio:
The popular opinion about the Red-bellied piranha is the they are bloodthirsty beasts, well this is not the normal case. The Red-bellied piranha is actually a very timid fish when kept in small numbers in the home aquarium, with the younger specimens are actually spooked rather easily. The bloodthirsty beast side of the Red-bellied piranha is only applied to the large school found in the wild and that side is still greatly exaggerated. Even though I just tried to make you think twice about the ruthless nature that is so commonly associated with Red-bellied piranha think carefully before purchasing any.

Origin:
South Brazil, Amazon River Basin.

Sexual Distinctions:
The male Red-bellied piranha will be slightly more slender and while in breeding condition will darken greatly.

Tank conditions:
Your tank should measure at least 60 x 24 x 24 inches (150 x 60 x 60 cm).
The temperature should be between 72-82 degrees Fahrenheit (22-28 Celsius).
Red-bellied piranhas are able to thrive in many different types of water conditions, just avoid very hard and alkaline water. The tank should be decorated with hidings spot amongst large pieces of bogwood. If you have a desire to use plants in that tank be sure to use more robust species the Red-bellied piranha may eat more delicate species.

The Red-bellied piranha should be housed in groups of at least four, try to keep an eye out for weaker ones in the group since you may need to remove the weaker one if fighting or bullying occur or it may end up as lunch.
The Red-bellied piranha prefers to occupy the middle of the tank and is best kept in a species tank.

Food:
There diet for the Red-bellied piranha should be split up into two parts.
First you have the frozen meaty foods, which includes but is not limited to, cockles, mussels, and fish. You can also feed the Red-bellied piranha larger live foods such as shrimp or fish, just make sure the live fish are not diseased.
The second part of the diet should consist of dried pellet foods. Almost all typed of dried food will work, the reason they need this type of food is that it contains many vitamins and minerals that may be lacking in their other foods.

Behavior:
Here’s the section that I’m sure many have been waiting for. The Red-bellied piranha is rather scatty when younger, and actually slow-moving and quite timid when mature. But none the less may still take bites out of tanks mates. With adequate feeding and hardy, larger sized tankmates the Red-bellied piranha can make a great addition to your home aquarium.

Breeding:
When breeding the Red-bellied piranha you will need a very large aquarium and the spawning will usually take place after a water change. The parents will protect their young.

Here are some books I recommend that give a great in-depth look at the Red Belly Piranha.

Silver Dollar
mytnnis argenteus

For more information on Characins click here.

Cost:
The price I am going to tell you is for younger Silver Dollars, the price for more mature/larger specimens varies considerably. So with you understanding that the younger one are cheaper then you should be able to find young Silver Dollars for sale for about $4-7.

Short Bio:
The Silver Dollar is closely related to the Piranha but unlike its cousin is almost entirely a vegetarian. When young the Silver Dollar is quite timid so make sure the tank is place in an area where the outside world activities will not spook the young Silver Dollar. The roundness shape of the Silver Dollar give the it a strong presence in the fish tank. The Silver Dollar is a great addition to any tank that has other large, peaceful fish. The Silver Dollar can also be tankmates with some larger species of cichlids.

Origin:
South America in rivers where vegetation is found both above and below the water.

Sexual Distinctions:
To sex the Silver Dollar look at the anal fins. The male Silver Dollar will have a slightly larger, more colorful anal fin then the female.

Tank Conditions:
The minimum tank size dimensions for housing the Silver Dollar are as follows:
48 x 18 x 18 inches (120 x 45 x 45 cm).
The temperature should be in the range of 75-82 degrees Fahrenheit (24-28 Celsius). The Silver Dollar will adapt well to most water conditions.

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In the wild though the Silver Dollar is found in water that is acidic to neutral. There are no special needs that the Silver Dollar has as far as decorations in the tank goes, but it does like to have a few large hiding places under some rocks or bogwood. Like its cousin the Silver Dollar should be kept in groups of at least four or more. The Silver Dollar tends to occupy the middle and lower parts of the tank.

Food:
In the wild it feeds almost solely on vegetation and seeds, which its diet should reflect in the aquarium as well. Feed the Silver Dollars pellet foods, and for younger/smaller Silver Dollars who can not fit pellets into its mouth feed herbivorous flakes, algae wafers, lettuce, cucumber, and plant matter. Even though I named these foods off for smaller Silver Dollars you should feed all of this the the adults as well.

Behavior:
The Silver Dollar is very peaceful and active, but will eat almost all plant aquarium plants.

Breeding:
The Silver Dollar will breed in the aquarium but it needs a vary large aquarium and will also need soft water. When the male Silver Dollar is in spawning condition his colors will intensify greatly and various patterns will appear.

Giant Gourami
colisa fasciata

It Belongs to the family Belontiidae

Click here to learn more about Anabantoids, and what makes them unique.

Cost: $2-7+, with the adults being more expensive.

Origin:
Bengal, Burma, Thailand, Malayan Peninsula

Description:
A very compresses and elongated body, with long anal and dorsal fins. The pelvic fins are elongated like threads. Gets up to 4 ¾ inches (12cm0.

Color:
Highly varied, things that define the colors are provenance and breeding strain. It’s very colorful ads great color to any tank. Some are brown with a greenish sheen, and with several thin orange to red stripes that are slanting diagonally to the back.

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The back is a fairly dark brown, with the chest and belly being a blue to green color, also there is a purple sheen to both the back and belly. Usually you will see a beautiful blue-green spot placed on the gill cover.

Sexual distinctions:
Females will be duller in color, and will have rounded anal and dorsal fins. On the males these fins are elongated and come to a point on the male.

Tank conditions:
Temperature 75-82 degrees Fahrenheit (24-28 Celsius). Ph and water hardness not to important. Needs a well planted tank with plants that a feathery-leaved. The plants will need to take up from 2/3 to ¾ of the tank space. Besides having plants in the substrate you should have some floating plants as well, this will give the Giant Gourami some cover. Make sure though that the remains space is left for swimming. If you really want you can even add some humus to the bottom, a good addiction to a Giant Gourami tank but not totally necessary.

Food:
Omnivorous

Behavior:
The Giant Gourami is timid until it can fully adjust to your tank. But once is acclimated it is a lively fish.

Breeding:
It’s a bubble nest builder and is very productive.

Compatibility:
Peaceful and is easily kept with other fish.

Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra
gymnocorymbus ternetzi

For more information on Characins click here.

Cost:
The Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra is a common aquarium fish and its price remains pretty consistently between $2-4.

Short Bio:
The Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra is a fish that is very hardy and will be able to tolerate many different types of water conditions. When younger the Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra has black bands and like to school. As it ages the black fades to a washed-out gray, and it prefers to have its own space and no longer likes to school. The Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra is a very peaceful fish that will get along with almost all types of fish, but it will nip at long finned tankmates such as the guppy and the Betta a.k.a Siamese fight fish.

Origin:
South America in Paraguay and Guapore River Basins in the varied river environments.

Sexual Distinctions:
To tell the different sexes with the Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra you must look at the dorsal and anal fins. The males will have a pointed and narrow dorsal fin and a broader anal fin then the females.

Tank Conditions:
A community tank with no fancy tailed/finned fish. It will nip the fins and tails.
The Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra requires a minimum tank size of 24 x 12 x 12 inches (60 x 30 x 30 cm).

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The temperature should be in the range of 68-79 degrees Fahrenheit (20-26 Celsius). The Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra originates from soft-water areas and so prefers medium to soft, acidic water. Although it prefers this type of water it will however, adapt to, and live quite happily in harder water. To bring out the best of the Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra have a darker substrate and shaded areas. The Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra also likes areas that are planted with either real of fake vegetation. Even though at a younger age the Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra will school tightly together and as it ages will prefer to have its own space but no matter the age you should house about four Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra together in any one tank. Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra will stay in the middle to upper part of the tank.

Food:
In the wild the Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra eats small aquatic animals, seeds, and insect, and being omnivorous and opportunistic feed the Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra a variety of floating and sinking foods in the fish tank.

Behavior:
Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra is a peaceful fish that will school in groups with the males sparing every now and then but this is still normal behavior.

Breeding:
The Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra will breed in the aquarium. It just needs soft, acidic water with tannins from bogwood and or with blackwater which will all help to encourage breeding.