yOUR FISH FROM HEAD TO TAIL Fish were the first vertebrates on the planet They have been swimming in our oceans lakes and rivers for more than 500 million years Scientists believe there are more than 30,000 different species of fish alive today Dorsal fin This stops a fish from rolling over in the water Caudal fins These are also known as tail fins and help to move the fish forward Anal fin This keeps a fish stable as it swims Pelvic fins These are found on each side of the fish They help the fish turn and move up and down 4
Lateral line The lateral line is a row of sensors along a fish’s side that detect the position of objects or vibrations from predators and prey Pectoral fins These help to keep a fish balanced as it swims Brain Fish have good memories and can remember routes people and signals that it is feeding time sometimes for several years Gills Fish need oxygen but most fish cannot breathe air Instead they swallow water and push it out through their gills The gills take the oxygen the fish needs from the water FISH FACTS Some fish lay eggs and others give birth to live young Baby fish are often eaten even by their parents so they need to be moved to a separate tank if they are to survive Surprisingly fish can drown Fish need oxygen and if there’s not enough oxygen in the water they will die 5
BEST FISH FOR BEGINNERS If this is your first fish pal it’s best to start with freshwater fish A saltwater tank needs more attention and freshwater fish are hardy creatures They will adapt more easily than saltwater fish if conditions in the tank aren’t perfect White cloud mountain minnows prefer to swim in schools of eight or more They like cold water and are easy to keep and breed The males are usually smaller and more colorful than the females Paradise gouramis are a colorful alternative to goldfish Males often fight so a male and two females are a good mix They may attack other fish so they are best kept alone or with fast fish that can easily escape them 6 Bloodfin tetras are peaceful fish that like to swim in schools of at least six They enjoy a tank with plenty of plants for shelter and they mix well with other fish They can jump so you will need a tank with a tight-fitting cover Zebra danios are fast hardy fish that can survive in a wide range of conditions They have even been sent into space They mate for life and are easy to breed They should be kept in groups of at least six
Red shiners are active fish that need a long and wide tank to swim in They should be kept in groups of at least five They are fin nippers which means they like to nibble on the fins of other fish so their tank mates need to be speedy swimmers Cherry barbs are peaceful little fish that like tanks with plenty of hiding places They should be kept in schools of six to ten Barbs are also fin nippers so it’s best not to keep them with long-finned fish Guppies are colorful fish that dart about and are easy to keep They should live in groups of at least three and unless you want lots of babies you should make sure they are all the same sex Siamese fighting fish are also known as bettas They are brilliantly colored and the male fish have long flowing fins They breathe air from the surface and require warm water Common goldfish are popular pets but they belong in ponds because they can grow up to 16 inches 40 cm long and live for more than 25 years Fancy goldfish are smaller but they still need big tanks and frequent water changes because they produce a lot of waste Fancy goldfish are also slow swimmers so they shouldn’t be kept with other goldfish as they may not get enough food As goldfish produce a lot of ammonia they don’t mix well with other tank mates either 7 Swordtails are named after the male’s sword-like tail The best combination is a male and two or more females They produce live young but many babies get eaten often by their own parents
