Reference Directory

*Editors Note: I have been busy developing an amazing product about Breeding Fish for Profit. For a limited time I am giving it away for Free, as I want some testimonials to include on the website. Click the graphic below for complete and free access.

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If you are looking for specific reference information, a Google search will give you countless websites. It is important to keep in mind; this information is often opinion, and not fact. When it comes to the proper care of your fish, always cross-check your findings.

I have created this page as a reference directory of the quality information I find in my research, and have made space available at the end of this post for you to contribute to this community and share what sites, forums, books, and DVD’s, etc, have really helped you with your fishkeeping activities. Don’t be shy; help other fishkeepers in their practice by telling us what has helped you.

Why is it important to have quality reference information at hand? Glad you asked.

Firstly, for emergencies. Just say you look in your tank when passing and one of your fish is behaving abnormally. It keeps rolling on its side and is having trouble maintaining its position in the water. On closer inspection you see color blemishes on the pectoral, dorsal and tail fins, and the tail is also looking ratty at the end. Do you wait to see if he is feeling better in the morning? Or take immediate action to identify the cause of the symptoms in case it is a disease that could quickly spread, and crash your tank?

So you have the little guy in a quarantine tank. Would it be best to get online and type, “My Fish Is Sick ” into Google or a forum and hope for the best, or run to your bookshelf and grab one of your essential reference textbooks on Fish Disease?

Every fishkeeper should own, and be familiar with a fish disease textbook to aid in making quick and accurate diagnoses and determining the best treatment possible. (Pet shop books on fish diseases are usually far behind the quality of information in veterinary medicine texts.)

There are countless diseases that can affect aquarium fish and it is most certain that you will encounter a few of them. With the correct preventative care and quick diagnosis and treatment, disease should rarely strike and be easy to eradicate. The key to controlling disease is speed. Don’t browse Amazon and shortlist potential books when your fish is already floating upside down. Do it now.

The second scenario aided by quality reference information is the keeping and breeding of specific fishes. Each species of fish has different habits and requirements for optimal care. It is wise to learn from the efforts of others, as it will save you time, money, and heart ache.

There are good books on the market with detailed and accurate information on individual fish habits. A dedicated reference book on each species you house should be considered a necessity.

To touch on the contents of a quality text;
- They will tell you where the fishes are naturally found in the world (giving you an indication of preferred temperature and water balance)
- The suggested number of the species to keep in each tank. (Some fish will continually fight any other fish of the same species)
- Their community habits (If the prefer diversity or a school of themselves)
- Swimming area. (Mixing surface, middle and bottom dwellers is a more visually appealing and functional tank)
- Food Preference. (Flakes, pellets, frozen, live, protein rich, etc)
- Compatibility (whether they are territorial, aggressive or prone to bullying)
- Availability (whether they are common or rare)
- Best captive breeding practice (whether they are easy of difficult to breed)
- Other fish they get on well with, or species they have problems with
- Disease they are prone to acquiring

Learning from others gives your fishkeeping an amazing head start compared to going it alone from the start.

Forums are great for many reasons, but think about the effort that goes into creating a bound text-book. The publisher wants to make money, so they will only choose top level experts to begin with. The information will be gathered over a long period of time, often with the assistance of other experts, and proven as best as they can to be accurate and true. The photographs will be of the highest standard, and the examples of fish shown will be incredible specimens.

A visit to your local library will provide a wealth of quality reference information that you can try before you buy. (The only down side is that as the industry develops and best practice techniques change, books can become out-dated. Most of the information they contain is timeless, but again, cross-check your findings.)

Now think of forums. The information is usually in bits and pieces. Anyone can post information, and they may draw their advice from limited experience, or uncommon practice. Don’t take any one thing you read as fact. Use forum information to guide your further study and always cross-check with other sources.

* My reference directory is still being gathered (am really busy) – but feel free to add your suggestions below.