How do I make Repashy gel food?Gel food for aquarium fish is a unique addition to the hobby that goldfish aficionados, catfish enthusiasts, and fish breeders have come to love. Read this article to find out how to make a batch of Repashy gel food in only 7 minutes.
How to Make Gel Fish Food in 7 MinutesMost fish foods fit into one of four categories: dry (e.g., flakes and wafers), freeze-dried, frozen, and live foods. However, gel food for aquarium fish is a unique addition to the hobby that is sold by companies like Repashy Ventures. It comes in a jar of powder that you mix with hot water and let solidify into a jello-like consistency. When dropped into a fish tank, the gel food quickly sinks to the bottom and is easy for both small and large fish to nibble on. Unlike many other fish foods...
5 High-Quality Fish Foods That You Have to TryWhen it comes to prepared fish foods, what do you feed? Are you a die-hard fan of Team Hikari or a DIYer on Team Repashy? Or are you like me, who has a serious case of fish food collectoritis and a fridge door filled with half-empty bottles? In today’s world of fish keeping, we have the luxury of choosing from hundreds of fish foods produced by companies all over the world, so when I test out a new product, I generally look for: Ingredients – What is the food made out of and what nutrients d...
What should I feed wood-eating catfish?Only certain genera of loricariid catfish are known to munch on wood: Panaque spp. such as Panaque maccus (clown pleco) and P. nigrolineatus (royal pleco) Hypostomus cochliodon group Because of the lack of wood-digesting microbes in their gut and fast digestion time of less than 4 hours, scientists believe that these catfish are not actually digesting the wood. Instead, they are digesting the microorganisms, microbal byproducts, algae, fungus, and other organic matter found on the rotting...
What do puffers eat?Most puffer fish have four, continually growing teeth in the front of their mouths that form a “beak,” enabling them to chomp through the hard shells of crustaceans and mollusks. To prevent their teeth from becoming too long, you must grind them down by feeding all sorts of crunchy foods, such as bladder snails, ramshorn snails, freeze-drilled krill, clams, and oysters. While it may take a bit of training, some hobbyists have successfully fed Repashy gel food mixed with crushed oyster shells ...
Selecting The Right Algae Eater For Your AquariumAlgae eaters are a staple inhabitant in many aquariums, serving a vital purpose within the ecosystem and often adding unique character to the community. These fish and invertebrates are constantly nibbling on algae, keeping your plants and hardscape clean, and they also tend to pick up food that is dropped by other fish. There are many different types of algae eaters to choose from, and adding the right clean up crew to your tank can be very rewarding! Setting Expectations Before we dive int...
Top 5 Popular Catfish to Enjoy in Your Next Community AquariumCatfish are an amazing type of aquarium fish because of their special, cat-like whiskers and useful clean-up abilities. However, many catfish are known for having bottomless appetites that will swallow anything that can fit inside their big mouths. If you like community fish tanks as much as we do, you may want to avoid ginormous species like the redtail catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) or striped Raphael catfish (Platydoras armatulus). Instead, check out these popular (and much small...
Top 5 Aquarium Fish with Crazy Good Value for BeginnersContrary to popular belief, aquarium fish are not necessarily the cheapest animals at the pet store. By the time you buy the fish tank, heater, filter, and decorations, you may find that you have a limited budget for the actual fish themselves. The last thing you want to do is get a fragile animal that is difficult to care for or won’t last very long. To help you narrow down the huge selection of fish at the pet store, we’ve compiled our top 5 freshwater fish that are not only affordable but ...
Care Guide for Assassin Snails — Natural Way to Get Rid of Pest SnailsIf you have a freshwater aquarium that is infested with bladder snails, ramshorn snails, or Malaysian trumpet snails (MTS), it may seem impossible to get rid of them. It’s hard to root out every single egg or baby snail hiding amongst the plants and substrate, and chemical pesticides can often have a negative impact on the other living creatures in your fish tank. Luckily, there is a little helper you can employ that will happily sniff out any pest snails — the amazing assassin snail. Learn h...
Top 5 Oddball Fish for a 40-Gallon AquariumIf you’re looking for something rare or unusual, oddball species are a great way to spice up your fish tank. Specifically, the 40-gallon breeder aquarium is very versatile and really opens up the world to medium-sized animals. Learn about 5 fantastical aquatic pets that are sure to make you stop and stare. 1. Humphead Glassfish Parambassis pulcinella The humphead glassfish is a bizarre sight to behold. Imagine a 3- to 4-inch (8–10 cm) schooling fish with big, googly eyes and a translucent nu...
Top 7 Warm Water Fish That Aren’t Afraid of a Little HeatDuring the hot summer months, it can be hard to keep your aquarium water cool enough for certain fish. Fortunately, there are some species that can survive in higher-than-normal temperatures. Just remember that warmer water cannot hold as much dissolved oxygen as cooler water, so reduce your risk of oxygen deprivation by adding an air stone, sponge filter, or other form of surface agitation. Also, look for aquatic plants that can tolerate higher temperatures, such as anubias, java fern, bacop...
Care Guide for Apistogramma Dwarf Cichlids — Housing, Breeding, & MoreHow would you like to have a small, gorgeous, and inquisitive fish to add to your community tank as a showstopper? Then you need to try the Apistogramma dwarf cichlids, commonly known as “apistos.” What are Apistogramma Cichlids? This genus originates from habitats all over South America and encompasses almost 100 species. The brightly colorful males tend to reach 3–3.5 inches (8–9 cm) and often come with impressive, extended dorsal fins, while females are a bit drabber and stay around 2–2.5 ...
Top 10 Pufferfish You Can Keep in Freshwater and Brackish AquariumsOut of all the oddball fish, we’ve always had a fascination with puffer fish because of their highly intelligent nature, helicopter-like maneuverability, and large, inquisitive eyes. Plus, they have unique defense mechanisms, such as inflating like a living water balloon and carrying the tetrodotoxin poison that discourages would-be predators. (Note to self: do not try to eat a pet puffer.) Most pufferfish are semi-aggressive to aggressive carnivores with ever-growing teeth like a beaver, so ...
Care Guide for Mystery Snails — Entertaining and Useful ScavengerMany aquarium hobbyists don’t like pest snails like bladder, ramshorn, and Malaysian trumpet snails because they can rapidly increase in population even if you only start with one. In contrast, mystery snails (Pomacea diffusa and P. bridgesii) are really cool, little pets that you can buy at your local pet or fish store for only $3–4. They cannot self-fertilize or change their sex, which makes it much easier to control their breeding, and unlike their larger apple snail relatives, they won’t ...
Care Guide for Otocinclus Catfish — Peaceful, Schooling Algae EaterIf you start getting algae in your new fish tank, most major pet stores will recommend that you buy a pleco or suckermouth catfish. The problem is that most plecos grow rather large, especially the common pleco that can reach up to 2 feet (60 cm). Instead, why not get their much smaller cousin, the otocinclus catfish? They are the perfect fish that have a peaceful personality and amazing cleaning skills. Learn how to keep these adorable algae-eaters and make sure they’re getting enough to eat...
Top 5 Tiny Foods to Feed Baby Fish for Healthy GrowthBreeding fish is such a fun and rewarding part of the aquarium hobby, but while it can be easy to get fish to spawn, raising their tiny babies is where the real challenge begins. High losses often occur in the newborn phase because of water quality issues, predation, or simply not feeding enough of the right foods. In this article, let’s talk about 5 miniscule foods that you can feed even the smallest fry to help them grow quickly and get past the first few weeks of their lives. 1. Baby Brine...
How to Make Gel Fish Food in 7 Minutes
Most fish foods fit into one of four categories: dry (e.g., flakes and wafers), freeze-dried, frozen, and live foods. However, gel food for aquarium fish is a unique addition to the hobby that is sold by companies like Repashy Ventures. It comes in a jar of powder that you mix with hot water and let solidify into a jello-like consistency. When dropped into a fish tank, the gel food quickly sinks to the bottom and is easy for both small and large fish to nibble on. Unlike many other fish foods...
5 High-Quality Fish Foods That You Have to Try
When it comes to prepared fish foods, what do you feed? Are you a die-hard fan of Team Hikari or a DIYer on Team Repashy? Or are you like me, who has a serious case of fish food collectoritis and a fridge door filled with half-empty bottles? In today’s world of fish keeping, we have the luxury of choosing from hundreds of fish foods produced by companies all over the world, so when I test out a new product, I generally look for: Ingredients – What is the food made out of and what nutrients d...
Selecting The Right Algae Eater For Your Aquarium
Algae eaters are a staple inhabitant in many aquariums, serving a vital purpose within the ecosystem and often adding unique character to the community. These fish and invertebrates are constantly nibbling on algae, keeping your plants and hardscape clean, and they also tend to pick up food that is dropped by other fish. There are many different types of algae eaters to choose from, and adding the right clean up crew to your tank can be very rewarding! Setting Expectations Before we dive int...
Top 5 Popular Catfish to Enjoy in Your Next Community Aquarium
Catfish are an amazing type of aquarium fish because of their special, cat-like whiskers and useful clean-up abilities. However, many catfish are known for having bottomless appetites that will swallow anything that can fit inside their big mouths. If you like community fish tanks as much as we do, you may want to avoid ginormous species like the redtail catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) or striped Raphael catfish (Platydoras armatulus). Instead, check out these popular (and much small...
Top 5 Aquarium Fish with Crazy Good Value for Beginners
Contrary to popular belief, aquarium fish are not necessarily the cheapest animals at the pet store. By the time you buy the fish tank, heater, filter, and decorations, you may find that you have a limited budget for the actual fish themselves. The last thing you want to do is get a fragile animal that is difficult to care for or won’t last very long. To help you narrow down the huge selection of fish at the pet store, we’ve compiled our top 5 freshwater fish that are not only affordable but ...
Care Guide for Assassin Snails — Natural Way to Get Rid of Pest Snails
If you have a freshwater aquarium that is infested with bladder snails, ramshorn snails, or Malaysian trumpet snails (MTS), it may seem impossible to get rid of them. It’s hard to root out every single egg or baby snail hiding amongst the plants and substrate, and chemical pesticides can often have a negative impact on the other living creatures in your fish tank. Luckily, there is a little helper you can employ that will happily sniff out any pest snails — the amazing assassin snail. Learn h...
Top 5 Oddball Fish for a 40-Gallon Aquarium
If you’re looking for something rare or unusual, oddball species are a great way to spice up your fish tank. Specifically, the 40-gallon breeder aquarium is very versatile and really opens up the world to medium-sized animals. Learn about 5 fantastical aquatic pets that are sure to make you stop and stare. 1. Humphead Glassfish Parambassis pulcinella The humphead glassfish is a bizarre sight to behold. Imagine a 3- to 4-inch (8–10 cm) schooling fish with big, googly eyes and a translucent nu...
Top 7 Warm Water Fish That Aren’t Afraid of a Little Heat
During the hot summer months, it can be hard to keep your aquarium water cool enough for certain fish. Fortunately, there are some species that can survive in higher-than-normal temperatures. Just remember that warmer water cannot hold as much dissolved oxygen as cooler water, so reduce your risk of oxygen deprivation by adding an air stone, sponge filter, or other form of surface agitation. Also, look for aquatic plants that can tolerate higher temperatures, such as anubias, java fern, bacop...
Care Guide for Apistogramma Dwarf Cichlids — Housing, Breeding, & More
How would you like to have a small, gorgeous, and inquisitive fish to add to your community tank as a showstopper? Then you need to try the Apistogramma dwarf cichlids, commonly known as “apistos.” What are Apistogramma Cichlids? This genus originates from habitats all over South America and encompasses almost 100 species. The brightly colorful males tend to reach 3–3.5 inches (8–9 cm) and often come with impressive, extended dorsal fins, while females are a bit drabber and stay around 2–2.5 ...
Top 10 Pufferfish You Can Keep in Freshwater and Brackish Aquariums
Out of all the oddball fish, we’ve always had a fascination with puffer fish because of their highly intelligent nature, helicopter-like maneuverability, and large, inquisitive eyes. Plus, they have unique defense mechanisms, such as inflating like a living water balloon and carrying the tetrodotoxin poison that discourages would-be predators. (Note to self: do not try to eat a pet puffer.) Most pufferfish are semi-aggressive to aggressive carnivores with ever-growing teeth like a beaver, so ...
Care Guide for Mystery Snails — Entertaining and Useful Scavenger
Many aquarium hobbyists don’t like pest snails like bladder, ramshorn, and Malaysian trumpet snails because they can rapidly increase in population even if you only start with one. In contrast, mystery snails (Pomacea diffusa and P. bridgesii) are really cool, little pets that you can buy at your local pet or fish store for only $3–4. They cannot self-fertilize or change their sex, which makes it much easier to control their breeding, and unlike their larger apple snail relatives, they won’t ...
Care Guide for Otocinclus Catfish — Peaceful, Schooling Algae Eater
If you start getting algae in your new fish tank, most major pet stores will recommend that you buy a pleco or suckermouth catfish. The problem is that most plecos grow rather large, especially the common pleco that can reach up to 2 feet (60 cm). Instead, why not get their much smaller cousin, the otocinclus catfish? They are the perfect fish that have a peaceful personality and amazing cleaning skills. Learn how to keep these adorable algae-eaters and make sure they’re getting enough to eat...
Top 5 Tiny Foods to Feed Baby Fish for Healthy Growth
Breeding fish is such a fun and rewarding part of the aquarium hobby, but while it can be easy to get fish to spawn, raising their tiny babies is where the real challenge begins. High losses often occur in the newborn phase because of water quality issues, predation, or simply not feeding enough of the right foods. In this article, let’s talk about 5 miniscule foods that you can feed even the smallest fry to help them grow quickly and get past the first few weeks of their lives. 1. Baby Brine...
