The History of DIY Aquarium Keeping

Keeping fish for ornamental purposes in a diy aquarium probably dates back to Roman times, although it wqs not until the first tropical fish (possibly the paradise fish was imported into Europe in te mid-1600s that the hobby started to become more widespread. During the intervening 100 years or so, the keeping and selective breeding of Goldfish and Koi became very popular in China and Japan. With the opening up of trade and exploration routes around the world in the 18th and 19th centuries, a fascinating and hither to unknown array of exotic fishes gradually became available to westerners. Jet Air transport and, more recently, the commercial farming of ornamental fishes in places such as singapore and flordia, have led to the present-day upsurge of intrest in all aspects of the diy aquarium hobby. Now fishkeeping is a truly worldwide pursuit involving millions of enthusiasts.

Most fishkeepers begin by keeping a few tropical community fishes in a small aquarium, or even Goldfish in a simple bowl, but they soon want to find out more about thow their fishes live - particularly how they breed. In the first section of this book, we look at some general aspects of fish breeding, including feeding, water chemistry and pest and diseases. Careful selection of the "brood stock" or potential parent fishes, is very important, as is their conditioning on a good varied diet and the maintenance of the correct water condition's.Attempting to breed fish that are too young or to old should be avoided, and careful consideration given to the availability of a suitable first foodfor the fry before they become free swimming. Keeping an Arowana in an Aquarium