You? Operating an aquarium?

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Have you considered: You? Operating an Aquarium? Following is how I started and how I operate a small aquarium.

Starting Out

I Graduated from a small one and a half gallon vase-type aquarium for a beautiful Betta fish named Jewel, to a not-large 5-gallon aquarium. That fish tank held my two Dwarf African Frogs, Henri and Marty, and my Nerite Snail, Tigger. Definitely I prefer the five gallon. That is still quite small since many people have much much higher volume fish tanks. However, this fits my lifestyle best. And my three little ‘guys’ did just fine together. An hour a week is about all the time I needed to keep my little fellows in good spirits and for my small aquarium operation.

When I started with Betta fish, unfortunately, they did not last much longer than six months with my limited knowledge on how to operate an aquarium. Even with using scalding water to rinse all the preparatory bowls and utensils for changing their water, my Bettas did not do well for any good period of time. Best I had watched a few videos on “how to set up a fish tank” or “aquarium care for beginners”.

Dwarf African Frogs and Nerite Snails

So I switched to Dwarf African Frogs and Snails. I still make sure to rinse all their utensils with only very hot water for water changes before using and after using them to safeguard my creatures. Also I now use Mini Catappa leaves to float in their water (also called Indian Almond Leaves) to aid in keeping any nasty critters appearing in their tank.

I have found, too, that they love to ‘hide’ or sleep under these leaves.

Fish Tank Operation & Maintenance

Water Conditioning

Making sure I test their water every change, I do switch out the old leaves for new weekly. And, of course, I condition their new water with tap water conditioner, a 1/4 teaspoon of Aquarium Salt, and a few measured drops of API’s Stress Coat . Use of a turkey baster to clean their water weekly of any debris, mostly old food particles, works well for me. You can go to API for some great aquarium products and testing equipment. API is one of our good USA-made pet product manufacturers.

Aquarium Equipment

I do have a temperature gauge that affixes to the side with a magnet to ensure their tank temperature is good, between 72 – 78 degrees or you can find a small digital gauge that adheres to the outside. And making sure to keep them out of drafts helps. When summer heats up I usually disengage their heater until Fall really kicks in. For equipment you might try Marineland, another USA manufacturer.

A small filter keeps their water moving for infused fresh air, and it definitely needs to be rinsed every water change to operate properly.

Critter Care

The only other practices I use are to make sure they are in bright light aka sunlight during the day and surrounded in darkness via a homemade cloth at night to keep out all the artificial lights we have these days. So they do get good sleep!

The longest I have had a Nerite Snail at present is six years. That is several years longer than their life expectancy. And my very first Dwarf African Frogs (Georgy and Buddy) stayed with me for a good four years. I lost a few frogs rather rapidly before and after Henri and Marty. One crashed headlong into the side of the tank or a jagged rock possibly. One was rather large and hopped out without me noticing until too late. And one just simply disappeared…still a mystery.

I did purchase some floating leaf rectangles so they can catch themselves and they worked well.

Another note about the possibility of losing your power in the cold winter months, please read “No Power – Me and My Aquarium Critters“.

Treats and Extras

The frogs love once-a-week treats, frozen Mysis Shrimp. And you can find these at your local pet store. I defrosted these for Henri and Marty and provide a dried algae treat for Tigger. My snail also has a small piece of bird Cuttlebone for calcium placed at the bottom of the tank to keep her shell healthy. Normally I feed my snail with one mini algae wafer 5 days and 2 twice weekly. I fed a number of dried Bug Bites and Frog Bites for my frogs every day.

Froggies do love to sleep up in the ‘tree’ branches or under a bridge, the snail also. I did find a great log for my frogs to use for sleeping and climbing on also. It is available thru Zillarules.com. They are all quite fun to watch. The frogs are little acrobats. It is fun to see them float too. The snail moves rapidly. I had never before seen a snail swim. And, as for eating, Tigger never seems to stop. He will eat the froggies’ food also or some of it. This tiny little snail, not larger than the end of my thumb, will tear his one and a quarter by 3-inch weekly treat (dried algae sheets cut into small squares) down from a water clip in just 2 days.

If you feel operating an aquarium might be fun for you, get some helpful tips from your local Pet store or Fish Pet store and give it a go. How do you feel now about You? Operating an Aquarium?

For particulars on hot summer care, see “Freshwater Aquarium Summer Care“. And see some tips on how to handle cold, cold winter for your aquarium critters.

See more USA-made aquarium products and info here.

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