Ichthyological terms, not general ones.
Commercially-produced, dried, food for fishes compressed into a hard, pelleted form. Usually comprises a combination of macro nutrients, trace elements and vitamins and may contain additional colour-enhancing, medicative or vegetable additives. Available in a range of grain sizes and brands.
Used in 56 profiles
Either of the pair of fins, also known as pelvic fins, attached to the pelvic girdle in fishes that help control the direction of movement. Correspond to the hind legs in higher vertebrates and vary in position depending on taxon. Sometimes absent entirely.
Used in 431 profiles
In zoological nomernclature, any name, available, unavailable, or vernacular, for a taxon other than its valid name. Also referred to using the Latin term nomen rejiciendum (nom. rej.).
Home-made device used to achieve uni-directional flow in an aquarium when inhabitants naturally occur in high-velocity rivers and streams. Typically, one or more powerheads are located at one end of the aquarium with intakes at the opposite end, these being connected via pipework located under the substrate. Though certainly beneficial, this should not be considered an essential requirement in hill stream-type set-ups, however.
Treatment against various parasites which involves briefly placing a freshwater fish in a solution of saline water with the salt concentration depending on the size of the fish and severity of infection. Similar to a salt bath in that parasites are killed via osmotic shock, but of much shorter duration.
Vernacular term applied to fish species which grow to large for the vast majority of home aquaria. Most commonly appear in the trade at a small, and therefore more saleable, size.
Used in 3 profiles
Invisible, continuous spectrum of light having a wavelength just shorter than the violet end of the visible spectrum but longer than that of x-rays.
A disease that can be transmitted from lower animals to humans or vice versa.
Cauldron-like volcanic feature usually formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption, sometimes confused with volcanic craters. Often fill with water to form lakes.
Used in 1 profile
Type of lake that forms in a rift zone or rift valley and often very deep with steep cliffs around the margins, also known as a rift valley lake, sag pond, or fault-trough lake. The largest freshwater lakes in the world are all of this type. Also used in the aquarium hobby in reference to the Rift Valley lakes of the East African rift.
Used in 32 profiles
Of, being, or relating to a median ventral cartilage or bony element located at the ventral point of a branchial arch, behind the tongue if the latter is present.
Speciation of a taxonomic group into several forms, each specialised to fill a previously vacant ecological niche, as exemplified by Rift Lake cichlids, for example.
Used in 60 profiles
Fatty ridge of flesh extending along the dorsal or ventral surface of the caudal peduncle in certain fishes, e.g., some Schistura spp.
Used in 7 profiles
A genus of rod-shaped, gram-negative bacteria found in fresh and salt water, soil, and sewage. Various species affect fishes while others are pathogenic to amphibians, reptiles, and higher animals including humans.
Series of water bodies mostly located in the East African rift including some of the oldest and deepest in the world, specifically lakes Victoria, Tanganyika, Malawi, Turkana, Albert, Kivu and Edward.
Loose term used to describe any type of crab useful in an aquarium because it eats algae and/or diatoms. In marine aquaria this would include Sally Lightfoot, Emerald and various species of hermit crab. In freshwater the micro-crab Limnopilos naiyanetri fills the same role.
Somewhat misleading vernacular name for the freshwater shrimp Caridina multidentata Stimpson 1860, a popular addition to freshwater aquaria due to its reputation for consuming algae, though in reality it is unable to survive on a diet of algae alone. Formerly referred to as C. japonica De Man 1892 (that name is now regarded as a junior synonym of C. multidentata) and also known as the Amano shrimp. Exhibits an amphidromous life cycle in nature and is thus difficult to breed in captivity, though it has been achieved.
A class of cold-blooded vertebrates, generally requiring water for reproduction.
Used in 32 profiles
A median, unpaired, ventral fin located between the anus and caudal fin, usually in the posterior portion of the body. Used to maintain equilibrium and stability.
Used in 764 profiles
Type of vivarium containing water. Normally transparent, made of glass, plastic or acrylic and used to display, breed or otherwise maintain ornamental fishes.
Used in 1,715 profiles