Reproduction of Natural Habitats?

[MeganL3985]

Does anyone know how/what/where to find good information about natural habitats of certain fish? I am trying to research for info and pics about the natural habitat of the dwarf gouramis. So far i'm finding information about where they're from and the fact that they come from slow moving lakes, and are densely planted, but i'd like to actually look at some setups that house dwarf gouramis....and some pics of their natural habitat. So far no luck on the pics :(

[Drumachine09]

Do a google search on Biotopes.

[MeganL3985]

What are biotopes?

[RobbieG]

This site has some setup info for a biotope tank

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

its about halfway down

[RobbieG]

This one has a few more pictures

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[MeganL3985]

You guys are awesome, thank you so much! :)

[Kuli_Loach]

Are you gonna make that 29 into a dwarf gourami tank?

[MeganL3985]

Btw, whats the difference in having live and fake plants? I really don't think I could handle having a dense planted tank. Would a bunch of silk and soft plastic (rounded leaf) plants be okay for them?

[MeganL3985]

Yes I am, how many do you think would be good for a 29? I'm not worried about quantity...so however many would live very comfortably in there.

[Kuli_Loach]

I think 4-5 would do great and maybe even a few neons or something. I think like a large piece of driftwood and maybe some moss and stuff pined to it and such. Be nice to get a carpet growing over it good, I personally like the look of that 4-leaf clover stuff. Amazon swordleaf would make a great background plant. You can buy a plant pack also off of the internet and get a huge discount, if you are wanting to do live plants. I like to have a lot of live and a few fake, the fake to just hold algae for my fish to graze on, they love that stuff, well my kissing gourami does anyways.

[Chrona]

Benefit of live plants is that they remove ammonia/nitrite/nitrate as well as put oxygen into the water (even with a moderate setup, much more so than an air pump could ever do)

[Kuli_Loach]

Benefit of live plants is that they remove ammonia/nitrite/nitrate as well as put oxygen into the water (even with a moderate setup, much more so than an air pump could ever do)

I second that, they defiantly help with cleanliness of the overall tank as well. I also think they make the tank look better.

[Nick_Pavlovski]

biotope n. A small ecological environment or microhabitat, such as the bark of a tree, that supports a distinct biological community. [From Greek bios life + topos place]


How to cite this entry:
"biotope n." A Dictionary of Psychology. Andrew M. Colman. Oxford University Press, 2006. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. Swinburne University of Technology. 2 August 2007 <[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]>

[jessie]

Megan,

I just picked up a book this week called "Creating A Natural Aquarium", by Peter Hiscock. It has about 15 different biotope setups for different regions and the fish that inhabit them. It has a picture of a tank setup for each one, with ideas on substrate, plants, rocks, and fish for each biotope. It has some good pictures in it. I picked up the book for 4 dollars a discount book store (half price books). Good luck with you setup!

[MeganL3985]

Megan,

I just picked up a book this week called "Creating A Natural Aquarium", by Peter Hiscock. It has about 15 different biotope setups for different regions and the fish that inhabit them. It has a picture of a tank setup for each one, with ideas on substrate, plants, rocks, and fish for each biotope. It has some good pictures in it. I picked up the book for 4 dollars a discount book store (half price books). Good luck with you setup!

Wow Thanks! :)

[MeganL3985]

Okay just bought the book off ebay :) Shipping included it only cost $6, thanks again for the book recommendation!

[Kuli_Loach]

Ebay rules don't it? I haven't tried it for fish books yet, do they have a large selection?

[Fishguy2727]

Freshwater Aquarium Models by John Tullock has A LOT of biotopes described.

[MeganL3985]

Ebay rules don't it? I haven't tried it for fish books yet, do they have a large selection?

I've ordered many books from there, they pretty much have it all and for great prices as well. I also order from amazon.com they have a nice selection too.

[Kuli_Loach]

Yea, I have gotten a few things from amazon as well. I need to get on it and look for cleats for football, I may just do a search for fish books.:c5:

[MeganL3985]

Ebay is one of the best things since sliced bread...lmao :) I love that site!
Though I have been disappointed with the selling aspect of it, but I guess people aren't in the market for exercise equipment! lol I just need some new stuff and i'm getting very anxious to sell!

[Kuli_Loach]

LOL, my mom sells books after she reads them. A lot of times she actually makes more than she spent on it.