Marine Intermediate Fish

Marine Intermediate Fish

Fish keeping is a learning process, where the aquarists can be broadly divided into beginners, intermediate level, and advanced keepers. Understandably, the beginners should opt for low maintenance and inexpensive aquatic animals. Once an understanding about the upkeep of a marine tank, lighting, filtering, feeding habits of the fish, behavioral issues, etc. are obtained, trickier species may be introduced. The fish that suit the experience levels of intermediate keepers are known as intermediate fish. The beginners may also choose some intermediate fish, if they have gathered the desired information well. Following are some of the characteristics of intermediate fish:

Sensitivity: Species that require certain environmental conditions or set type of diets are quite sensitive. They run a risk of extinction if the desired conditions are not met. Dwarf cichlid, black neon tetra, and bleeding heart tetra, are good examples of such fish. They require a fine quality of clean water, which is often difficult to maintain. Certain fish start as sensitive, but become hardier once they stabilize in the environment. The rare orange shoulder surgeonfish is one of the adaptable species. The initial care these animals require may be a difficult job for a beginner, but may come naturally to an intermediate aquarist.

Aggressiveness: Fish such as Malawi cichlids are territorial. Many intermediate and advance level keepers like to observe the behavior of such fish, but the precautions are necessary. Something that appears harmless may turn out to be a serious matter. Even the amiable and docile dwarf cichlids become aggressive during the mating season. These little (three inches long), creatures are notorious for taking out the eyes of their opponents. On the other hand, timid varieties, like reedfish and Congo tetra may die of starvation, if they are not able to compete for food. They often have to be fed separately.

Diseases: Some animals, like surgeonfish and bleeding heart tetra are prone to disease, which they bring inside the tank and infect other fish.

Size: Varieties that grow large should be handled with a lot of care. Usually, large fish have a tendency of feeding on the smaller ones in case of need. Many large species are territorial and their aggression can upset the entire aquarium setup greatly. They also have a considerable need of food, oxygen, and space. Some of them may outgrow the tank size and may be difficult to handle. Cichlids from South and Central America, suckermouth catfish, ornate bichir, and reedfish can grow up to several centimeters.

Typical Behaviors: The beginner aquarists are often found struggling with atypical behavior of certain intermediate fish. Therefore, they are recommended for hobbyists with some experience. For instance, reedfish and marble hatchet fish have a habit of jumping long distances ‘out’ of water. If the tank is not tightly covered, they may land on the floor and die in some time. Similarly, the beautiful Congo tetra bites smaller fish and may chew away the water plants inside the aquarium.

Copyright © FreshMarine.com