(...) Conditions in an aquarium significantly differ from natural conditions – in an aquarium fish have much smaller space at their disposal, even when compared to draught period conditions. Fish living in nature in big water basins have significant possibilities to avoid (physical, chemical and mechanical) stress and owing to that they have more time to regenerate after another stressful situation. (...) The flukes of the Tetraonchus, Dactylogyrus and Gyrodactylus genera are found in aquarium fish. Discus fish usually suffer from gill flukes Tetraonchus sp. (...) The author has observed unknown microorganisms parasitizing in gills in an adult discus fish population that exhibited disease symptoms and extendedly as well as gradually died.
Eartheaters – cichlids suitable not only for ambitious aquarium hobbyists - Radosław Bednarczuk;
Eartheaters are members of a huge cichlid family. They live in South America, yet a few species live in Central America. (...) One can find very demanding species as it comes to chemical parameters and water quality in the group but there are also such ones, for which these factors are not extremely relevant. All eartheater species are predominantly big cichlids – the smallest ones reach 10 cm length, the largest of them reach maximum 30 cm length. The group covers following genera: Geophagus, Gymnogeophagus, Satanoperca, Biotodoma, Acarichthys, Retroculus, Guianacara.
Algae. What should we know about them? Part II - Bartosz Bojarski, Anna Domańska;
Algae are a quite diversified group of organisms and due to that it’s very difficult to name their common traits. They live in all types of water basins as well as in humid terrestrial conditions provided they get enough light (some of them – like algae living in soil – don’t need particularly bright lighting). They are important (in the abyss and in the snow – even the only ones) organisms that produce organic substance and influence biological production in a ecosystem. The group consists of organisms of very different sizes – from microscopic unicellular algae to „bushy” forms reaching 100 m length. (...) Blue-green algae (Cyanophyta = Cyanobacteria), glaucophytes (Glaucophyta), pyrrophytes (Pyrrophyta) , euglenids (Euglenophyta), golden algae (Chrysophyta), cryptophytes (Cryptophyta) , radiophytes (Raphidophyta = Chloromonadophyta), brown algae (Phaeophyta), red algae (Rhodophyta), green algae (Chlorophyta).
Aquarium titbits - Michał Pręgowski;
Tetraodontidae and the poison: not only fugu - Fugu (Takifugu rubripes) is a delicacy for many inhabitants of eastern Asia; „Sea horses” in Thames! – fifty years ago the pollution of the British river Thames was so severe that the river was considered biologically dead. Nowadays it’s clear enough to become a home for the short-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus hippocampus).; The reef is capable of regenerating quicker than it was thought – in 1946-1958 Americans carried out 23 nuclear detonations on Bikini Atoll. Nuclear bomb tests were imprinted on the ecosystem and caused inter alia irreparable losses in coral reef. The atoll’s reef was practically written off.
What swordtails need their swords for, that is sexual selection versus natural selection - Piotr Łapa;
Platys and swordtails are members of Xiphophorus genus (Latin xiphos – ‘sword’, phorus – ‘bear’) and are one of the most popular aquarium fish. It results from the fact that it is very easy to create aquarium conditions in which it is possible to observe their natural behaviour – including breeding. (...) Undoubtedly the sword must perform some function and is not only an interesting “decoration”. In this text I will try to explain the function the sword performs in breeding of swordtails.
Just a killer - Dimidiochromis compressiceps - Mariusz Suwalski;
I would like to present another representative of African cichlids found in Lake Malawi – the lake that houses an unusual number of fish species, some of them exhibiting unique traits. (...) Dimidiochromis compressiceps is an outright legend in the Malawi aspect of aquarium hobby. Numerous myths and superstitions are associated with the fish. Descriptions of the species are scarce and radically different and that makes verification of the myths downright more difficult.
Study of the tarantula and scorpion species. Part III . Phormictopus cancerides and Phormictopus auratus – American jewels - Sebastian Żmudzki;
(...) These spiders are in request due to their iridescent coloration that makes them look like live jewels or golden plates. They belong to Theraphosinae subfamily that encompasses majority of terrestrial tarantulas of the New World. Phormictopus males become quite large. (...) Breeding these tarantulas is not difficult. (...) Young spiders are quite large and bold. They eagerly attack large prey – e.g. young crickets. Provided they are well fed and cared for they live to be even 15 years (females). Males live for up to 3 years.
Constrictors from Madagascar - Witold Borkowski
(...) Distance between Madagascar and Africa as well as long isolation are a reasons for which many different animal forms and species evolved exclusively on this island. They are the island’s rich endemic fauna. (...) Acrantophis genus (encompassing ground boas found in Madagascar) is represented by two species quite similar to each other and to the other overseas constrictors (Boa constrictor) (...) - Duméril's boa (Acrantophis dumerili) and Madagascar ground boa (Acrantophis madagascariensis). (...) Madagascar tree boa (Sanzinia madagascariensis) known also by its Malagasy name “manditra” is the most widespread species of the three Madagascar constrictors.
Fish etology in the eyes of an aquarium hobbyist. Part V: breeding strategies - Marcin Graczyk;
(...) Fish breeding has puzzled people for ages – not only those that are interested in aquarium hobby. Often it is justified by the need of fishery stock management. (...) When a phenomenon is significantly diversified a problem with its classification arises. (...) It is perfectly justified to treat breeding strategies separately from taxonomy and to focus on the phenomenon itself. As far as the substrate on which eggs are laid is concerned fish have been already categorized by Balon. The scientist proposed division of breeding strategies in fish.
Living twigs. Unusual catfish (Farlowella) - dr inż. Aleksandra Kwaśniak;
Catfish are usually associated with fish of the body shape typical for Ancistrus genus representative that is popular among aquarium hobbyists – known as algae-eater. However the group of suckermouth catfish encompasses numerous fish of the much more refined appearance as well. Undoubtedly the representatives of Farlowella genus are a good example. Their shape always surprises people who see them for the first time.
"Biologia Raf Koralowych" (biology of coral reefs) conference in Warsaw that took place on October, 13th – 14th, 2007. Part II - dr Grzegorz Soszka;
Another session covered topics connected with coral reef environmental pollution.
The mystery of a spotted livebearer - Phalloceros caudimaculatus (Hensel, 1868) - Andrzej Sieniawski;
(...) Phalloceros genus practically covers one species only – Phalloceros caudimaculatus (Hensel, 1868), that is our spotted livebearer mentioned in the title. However, both in the foreign and national aquarium literature one more species is sometimes described. It is often treated as subspecies or colour variety of the fish as well – Phalloceros caudimaculatus reticulata. Both these fish that differ from each other as far as the external appearance is concerned are known to the aquarium hobbyists.
Aquarium hobby in Poznań – the truth, facts and events - Jerzy Kaszuba;
First aquaria in middle-class homes in Poznań were set at the end of XIXth century. At first only the rich people could afford it, later on also the less well-off people could allow themselves to own one.
Aquarium and terrarium societies, associations and clubs.