Ranchu Goldfish, Red & White

Ranchu Goldfish, Red & White
(Carassius auratus

QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Water Conditions: 65-75° F, KH 4-20, pH 6.5-7.5
Max. Size: 8"
Color Form: Red, White
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: Canton
Family: Cyprinidae

The Red & White Ranchu Goldfish is an exceptional example of fancy ornamental goldfish. Selectively bred and highly prized in Japan, the Red & White Ranchu Goldfish is gaining international popularity among goldfish enthusiasts. The appearance of the Red & White Ranchu Goldfish is remarkable. Most notable is the absence of the dorsal fin. This distinguishing feature is accentuated by a full, egg-shaped body. A prominent arch in the back terminates downward at a sharp angle for a curved, "tucked-in" body shape unique to the Red & White Ranchu Goldfish. As a branch developed from Lionhead Goldfish, the Red & White Ranchu Goldfish has a full hood that envelops the entire head with a raspberry-like growth. While this wide-eyed beauty may challenge the conventional notion of beauty, its stately presence and graceful nature make the Red & White Ranchu Goldfish an exquisite choice.
As a member of the carp family, the Red & White Ranchu Goldfish is generally quite hardy. It will do well in 30 gallon aquariums or larger, as well as backyard garden ponds of 180 gallons or more. In addition to a fine gravel bottom or well-rounded river rocks, the Red & White Ranchu Goldfish will appreciate hardy, cold water plants. Keep in mind that goldfish are diggers and will scatter the fine sand onto leaves, injuring thin and less hardy plants.

There appears to be a definite courtship ritual when goldfish breed. Breeding often results in up to 1,000 eggs, with fry hatching in five to six days. They should be fed small pieces of live or prepared foods designed for egg-laying fish.

Goldfish are omnivores and will eat all types of dried and live foods. However, limit protein intake to 30% of the diet. Goldfish flake or pellet food will provide these fish with the proper nutrition.

from www.liveaquaria.com

Royal Pleco (L-191)

Royal Pleco (L-191)
(Panaque nigrolineatus L-191)

QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 125 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Water Conditions: 74-79° F, KH 6-10, pH 6.5-7.4
Max. Size: 1' 4"
Color Form: Brown, Gold
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: South America
Family: Loricariidae

The Royal Plecostomus is a handsome suckermouth catfish belonging to the Genus Panaque. A classic representative of this genus, the Royal Plecostomus is a stout, muscular fish with a distinct "tadpole" shape. Compared to other Loricariids, members of the Genus Panaque sport a truncated body with a pronounced anterior that gives them a "top-heavy" appearance best seen from the profile view. The Royal Plecostomus, also known as the Royal Panaque, Royal Black-lined Panaque or Broken Line Royal Pleco, has irregular black steaks set upon a deep mossy or cement colored body. This bold and eye-pleasing graphic pattern elevates this very attractive fish to royalty status among Loricariid enthusiasts. The distinct body shape, striking pattern and prominent eyes make the Royal Plecostomus a welcomed change from the usual and a peaceful addition to large freshwater aquariums.
Hailing from the rivers and tributaries of South America, the Royal Plecostomus has evolved to exploit fast-moving riparian environments with sunken bogwood (driftwood). Planted aquariums with hardy, fast-growing plants and high aeration and water movement provide a healthy environment. Be sure to aquascape with driftwood and rocks to provide hiding spaces for the Royal Plecostomus. The use of driftwood is essential since natural feeding behavior of the Royal Plecostomus revolves around foraging for food items growing on or encrusting driftwood. A recommended minimum tank of 125 gallons should be provided to house the Royal Plecostomus.

The Royal Plecostomus has not been bred in an aquarium and little is known about their breeding habits.

Feeding the Royal Plecostomus is not difficult since it is not a picky eater. However, plenty of driftwood should be used in the aquarium housing this fish. As previously mentioned, biological matter such as detritus and algae that forms on and inside of the wood itself makes up a major portion of its diet.

Supplement the diet of the Royal Plecostomus with foods that sink to the bottom of the aquarium such as a high-quality flake food, sinking carnivore pellets, sinking algae wafers, freeze-dried bloodworms, and tubifex worms.

from www.liveaquaria.com

Red Mickey Mouse Swordtail

Red Mickey Mouse Swordtail
(Xiphophorus helleri)

QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Water Conditions: 64-82° F, KH 12-30, pH 7.0-8.3
Max. Size: 4"
Color Form: Black, Orange, Red
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: Malaysia, Singapore
Family: Poeciliidae

The Red Mickey Mouse Swordtail is perhaps one of the more playful and whimsical color varieties of the Xiphophorus helleri Swordtail. Through selective breeding, the Red Mickey Mouse Swordtail was developed to have eye-catching Red/Orange coloration. However, more notable is the black marking at the base of the body that resembles the silhouette of Disney's Mickey Mouse.
The Swordtail is perhaps the quintessential community aquarium fish. The time-tested popularity of the Swordtail can be attributed to its ease of care, peaceful temperament, and wonderfully diverse fin and color varieties. The most common Swordtail varieties include: Red Wag, Red Velvet, Marigold, Black Nubian, Pineapple, and Neon Swordtail. The male Swordtail is especially prized for its namesake feature, the showy extension on the lower part of its tail resembling a sword.

The Red Mickey Mouse Swordtail requires an aquarium of at least 20 gallons that is well planted with plenty of room for swimming. Because of its peaceful nature, the Red Mickey Mouse Swordtail is well suited for the community aquarium. However, the male Red Mickey Mouse Swordtail can demonstrate territorial aggression towards other male Swordtails. Care should be taken when housing more than one male. Also, the Red Mickey Mouse Swordtail is an accomplished jumper, so be sure to provide a secure cover for the aquarium.

The Red Mickey Mouse Swordtail is a live-bearing fish related to freshwater aquarium favorites including guppies, mollies, and platys. As such, a female Red Mickey Mouse Swordtail can give birth to as many as 80 fry at one time. A spawning box is recommended, or if one is not available, provide dense floating cover to protect the Swordtail fry from potential predation by the adults. Unless it is your intention to breed Red Mickey Mouse Swordtails, the male Swordtail fry should be separated once the sex of the fry is determined. The Swordtail can begin breeding as young as three months of age and can quickly overpopulate an aquarium.

The Red Mickey Mouse Swordtail is an omnivore that will eat commercially prepared flaked foods and algae, as well as freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, and brine shrimp.

from www.liveaquaria.com

Rainbow Platy

Rainbow Platy
(Xiphophorus maculatus)

QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Water Conditions: 64-77° F, KH 10-25, pH 7.0-8.2
Max. Size: 2"
Color Form: Black, Red, Yellow
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: Malaysia
Family: Poeciliidae

The Rainbow Platy is a beautiful yellow, red, and black color variety of the popular Xiphophorus maculatus Platy. Through selective breeding, platies are now available in a wide range of new color and fin variations. The Rainbow Platy is a great example of an atypical color variation.
The Rainbow Platy adds brilliant color to the aquarium and are very easy to keep. These features make it a great fish for beginners and accomplished aquarists alike. The Rainbow Platy requires an aquarium of at least 10 gallons that is densely planted with hardy plants like Java Fern and Java Moss. The Rainbow Platy is a very peaceful fish and makes an excellent addition to the freshwater community aquarium. Any other peaceful fish can be housed with them.

The Rainbow Platy is a livebearer capable of reproducing at three to four months of age. The male is smaller and more brightly colored than the female, and can be distinguished by his gonopodium. The fry will most often reach maturity in a community aquarium.

The platy is an omnivore that will eat commercially prepared flaked foods and algae, as well as freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, and brine shrimp.

from www.liveaquaria.com

Ryukin Goldfish, Assorted

Ryukin Goldfish, Assorted
(Carassius auratus)

QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Water Conditions: 65-75° F, KH 4-20, pH 6.5-7.5
Max. Size: 8"
Color Form: Orange, Red, White
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: China, Farm Raised
Family: Cyprinidae

The Ryukin Goldfish has a curved backbone, a fat belly and long feathery fins. It has a small, pointed mouth and the body is typically triangular in shape. There is a distinct hump on the back immediately behind the head. The Ryukin Goldfish comes in a variety of colors, including the Red/White, Calico, Red/Black and Red.

All goldfish are members of the carp group and are generally quite hardy. The Ryukin Goldfish will do well in a tank of 30 gallons of water or more with a fine gravel bottom and hardy, cold water plants, as well as backyard garden ponds of 180 gallons or more. Goldfish are diggers and will scatter the fine sand onto leaves, injuring thin and less hardy plants. Roots and well-rounded river rocks are a good addition to the aquarium.

There appears to be a definite courtship ritual when Goldfish breed. Breeding often results in up to 1,000 eggs, with fry hatching in five to six days. The fry should be fed small pieces of live or prepared foods designed for egg-laying fish.

Goldfish are omnivorous and will eat all types of dried and live foods. Limit protein, however, to 30% of the diet. A Goldfish flake or pellet food will provide these fish with the proper nutrition.

from www.liveaquaria.com

Rosy Barb, Male

Rosy Barb, Male
(Puntius conchonius)

QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Water Conditions: 74-79° F, KH 4-10, pH 6.0-7.0
Max. Size: 6"
Color Form: Red, Yellow
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: Farm Raised, USA
Family: Cyprinidae

The Rosy Barb is one of the larger Barbs that can grow up to 6 inches in the wild. The male is red and gold with black spots near the rear and at the dorsal fin. The female lacks the red color and is mostly golden.
They prefer a well-planted tank of at least 30 gallons with soft, slightly acidic water. Rocks and driftwood can be added to the aquarium, but leave plenty of space for swimming. The Rosy Barb is a schooling fish and enjoys being in numbers. If in a large enough school, they typically will not bother any other fish in the aquarium.

It is best, when trying to breed the Rosy Barb, to house two females with one male. Provide a coarse gravel in the breeding tank and after the eggs have been laid, remove the parents. The fry will hatch in approximately 3 days, at which time, they should be fed baby brine shrimp until large enough to accept crushed flake food.

The Rosy Barb needs to be fed a variety of foods including vegetables as well as meaty foods. Feed a quality flake food as well as live and frozen foods such as brine shrimp and bloodworms.


from www.liveaquaria.com

Rio-Negro Pleco (L 135)

Rio-Negro Pleco (L 135)
(Peckoltia sp. platyrhyncha)

QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Water Conditions: 74-79° F, KH 6-10, pH 6.5-7.4
Max. Size: 4"
Color Form: Black, Tan
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: South America
Family: Loricariidae

The Rio-Negro Plecostomus, also known as the Candy Stripe-Peckoltia, comes from the rivers and tributaries of South America. It is dark brown to black with irregular golden vertical stripes. The rays of the fins are also golden with black stripes. Rio-Negro Plecos make good additions to any community aquarium.
Planted aquariums with hearty, fast-growing plants, high aeration, and water movement make for a healthy environment. Rocks and driftwood help to accent a natural habitat and provide hiding spaces to reduce stress for the Candy Stripe Plecostomus. A recommended minimum tank of 30 gallons should be provided to house this fish.

The Rio-Negro Plecostomus has not been bred in an aquarium setting and little is known about their breeding habits.

Feeding the Rio-Negro Plecostomus is not difficult due to the fact that it is not a picky eater. Feeding off the bottom of the aquarium, it gets most of its nutrition from left over food and algae. If there is no algae or left over food present, supplement with high quality flake food, sinking carnivore pellets, freeze-dried bloodworms, and tubifex.


from www.liveaquaria.com

Red Cap Oranda Goldfish

Red Cap Oranda Goldfish
(Carassius auratus)

QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Water Conditions: 65-75° F, KH 4-20, pH 6.5-7.5
Max. Size: 10"
Color Form: Red, White
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: Asia, China, Japan
Family: Cyprinidae

The Red Cap Oranda is one of several varieties of what is commonly known as the Goldfish, Carassius auratus auratus. The Goldfish originally came from parts of Asia, Japan, and China but now enjoys worldwide distribution due to controlled breeding programs. The Red Cap Oranda is typically a metallic-scaled fish. Resembling the Veil Tail varieties, the Oranda's distinction is in the "hood" that covers its head. In the case of the Red Cap Oranda, this hood is a predominant, bright red, while the body is an iridescent white.
All goldfish are members of the carp group and are generally quite hardy. The Red Cap Oranda will do well in a tank of 30 gallons of water or more with a fine gravel bottom and hardy, cold water plants, as well as backyard garden ponds of 180 gallons or more. Goldfish are diggers and will scatter the fine sand onto leaves, injuring thin and less hardy plants. Roots and well-rounded river rocks are appreciated.

There appears to be a definite courtship ritual when Goldfish breed. Breeding often results in up to 1,000 eggs, with fry hatching in five to six days. They should be fed small pieces of live or prepared foods designed for egg-laying fish.

Goldfish are omnivorous, and will eat all types of dried and live foods. Limit protein, however, to 30% of the diet. A Goldfish flake or pellet food will provide these fish with the proper nutrition.

from www.liveaquaria.com

Red & White Ryukin Goldfish

Red & White Ryukin Goldfish
(Carassius auratus)

QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Water Conditions: 65-75° F, KH 4-20, pH 6.5-7.5
Max. Size: 8"
Color Form: Orange, Red, White
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: Asia, China, Japan
Family: Cyprinidae

The Red & White Ryukin is a striking fish with sophisticated markings. The interplay between the white and red/orange coloration is Zen-like in its simple beauty. The Red & White Ryukin, like all Ryukin goldfish, has a prominent arch or hump immediately behind the head. A curved backbone, a fat belly, long feathery fins, a pointed mouth, and a triangular body shape are other features that differentiate the Ryukin from other goldfish varieties.
As a member of the carp family, the Red & White Ryukin is generally quite hardy. They will do well in 30 gallon aquariums or larger, as well as backyard garden ponds of 180 gallons or more. In addition to a fine gravel bottom or well-rounded river rocks, the Red & White Ryukin will appreciate hardy, cold water plants. Keep in mind that goldfish are diggers and will scatter the fine sand onto leaves, injuring thin and less hardy plants.

There appears to be a definite courtship ritual when goldfish breed. Breeding often results in up to 1,000 eggs, with fry hatching in five to six days. They should be fed small pieces of live or prepared foods designed for egg-laying fish.

Goldfish are omnivores and will eat all types of dried and live foods. However, limit protein intake to 30% of the diet. Goldfish flake or pellet food will provide these fish with the proper nutrition.

from www.liveaquaria.com