The Barbs Aquarium: Everything About Natural History, Purchase, Health, Care, Breeding, and Species Identification

by Elson, Gary; Lucanus, Oliver; Earle-Bridges, Michele; Earle-Bridges, Michele

• ISBN13: 9780764121166
• ISBN10: 0764121162
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-08-01
• Publisher: Barrons Educational Series Inc

Summary

Aquarium owners find these colorful tropical fish exceptionally active, with correspondingly huge appetites. Their several varieties are native to southern and southeast Asia. Titles in the extensive Complete Pet Owner's Manualsseries provide pet owners with basic information on keeping healthy, contented, well-cared-for animals. The series includes approximately 175 titles and covers pets of every kind: dogs, cats, and birds of many breeds, as well as fish, reptiles, rabbits, hamsters, and just about any other animal that people keep as a pet. Facts and advice cover all aspects of pet care, which include proper feeding, housing, health care, grooming, training, and much more. The text in each manual is supplemented with many vivid, full-color photos, and with instructive, anatomically accurate line art. Each manual has been individually written by a breeder, trainer, veterinarian, or experienced animal specialist.

Table of Contents

An Intriguing Family	5	(8)
What Are Barbs?	5	(1)
Classification of Barbs	6	(1)
Barbs Are Carp	7	(3)
Classification System	10	(3)
The Barb Aquarium	13	(12)
Barb Behavior	13	(1)
Size of the Tank	13	(1)
Shape and Height of the Tank	14	(1)
The Stand	14	(1)
Heating	15	(1)
Lighting	16	(1)
Stocking Barb Tanks	17	(1)
The Traditional Community Tanks Versus the Biotope Aquarium	18	(4)
How-To: Running a Healthy Aquarium	22	(3)
Water	25	(8)
Water Chemistry	25	(1)
Water Hardness	26	(1)
Filtration	26	(7)
Aquascaping	33	(4)
Setting Up the Tank	33	(1)
Setups for Different Fish	34	(3)
Plants	37	(8)
Types of Plants	37	(8)
Feeding Your Barbs	45	(4)
Overfeeding	45	(1)
Types of Food	45	(2)
How Much and How Often to Feed	47	(1)
Vacations	47	(2)
Health and Fitness	49	(12)
The Retailer	49	(2)
When You Are Ready to Buy	51	(1)
Making Sure Your Fish Stay Healthy	51	(3)
Common Diseases	54	(2)
Precautions	56	(2)
How-To: Breeding Barbs	58	(3)
Barbs Groups	61	(32)
Asian Barbs Species	61	(9)
African Barbus	70	(2)
Danios	72	(6)
Rasboras	78	(7)
Loaches	85	(2)
Stonesuckers	87	(1)
Algae Easters	87	(3)
The Giant Barbs and ``Sharks''	90	(2)
Conclusion	92	(1)
Information	93	(1)
Index	94