A Chinese firm has come up with the perfect solution for pet-loving families who don’t have the space to keep animals: the fish tank toilet.
The toilet has three separate tanks – one for water flowing in, one for water flowing out, and a third for fish and underwater plants - ensuring that the fish always have enough water to swim in, and are never sucked into the bowl.
The firm behind the toilets say they are ideal for Chinese families seeking company for their only children, but without the room for a stand-alone fish tank or bigger pet.
They are also environmentally friendly - because the flushing tank has been reduced to make space for the fish tank, the toilet uses far less water than similar models.
The LED device that lights the fish tank can also be used instead of bathroom lighting, cutting electricity bills. [Via]
Would you buy one?
A new deepwater 8,000 gallon aquarium exhibit featuring native species found in the Pocomoke River is expected to open in the spring at Delmarva Discovery Center thanks to a $250,000 contribution from the Fulton Owen Foundation.
The featured fish will be the Atlantic sturgeon, a unique species that would have come up the Pocomoke River to spawn and was commercially fished in the river in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Having swum up the river in large schools in those early years, it is now almost to the point of being placed on the endangered list. [Via]
Having gone through the same experience myself just some time back when I got my first tank, here are some things, you as a budding aquarist would find useful:
Tip # 1: Look for the largest tank you can afford - both in terms of space and money. Before you know it, your fish population is going to increase. Moreover, a larger tank will help balance the water conditions and temperature. Stay away from fishbowls.
Tip # 2: Choose the gravel and other accessories for your tank with care. We initially bought a very thin gravel, which was murderous to manage while tank cleaning. We subsequently replaced it with a thicker gravel for the bottom.
Tip # 3: Never clean your tank with soap. I know it sounds silly, but thankfully I mentioned it at the shop where I bought my tank from, and he was good enough to correct me. Soap contains essences/ chemicals which could be fatal to your fish. The way to do it, is with a sponge and rock salt. Read more »
Usually, preparing an aquarium implies getting some cheap albeit hardy fish like the zebra danio, and releasing them into a new tank. These fish then go about providing ammonia through their respiration, waste etc. This ammonia in the tank helps to create a colony of nitrifying bacteria (the good bacteria) and initiate the cycling of the tank.
A number of times, these starter fish do not manage to survive the process, and even if they do manage to do so, may not live upto their full potential, giving the whole process a rather inhumane aura. Read more »
The Mexican Walking Fish or the Axolotl is, according to Wired, probably the ultimate geek pet.
This gilled amphibian which spends most of its time in water is delightfully alien looking and offers a great attraction to visitors. Axolotl will also happily share a tank with fish and others, making them a feature pet for any aquarium. Contrary to popular opinion (mainly because they have legs) they don’t need access to land in the same way frogs do. They can survive quite happily in a tank with no access to land and spend a lot of time down the bottom of the tank. They do not need to “sun” themselves like turtles.
The axolotl, an aquatic salamander native to Mexico, is colloquially known as the “Mexican walking fish” (or wooper rooper if you are in Japan), although it is not a fish. And contrary to the Wired article, beware of which fish you keep in the same tank - you might just find some of them missing. Here’s a video from YouTube:
Probably the most common aquarium fish parasite, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, causes the disease known as Ich or white spot in freshwater aquarium fish. Marine ich is caused by a different ciliate, Cryptocaryon.
Literally translating into “fish louse with many children,” each parasite can beget over a thousand offspring. Though the disease it causes can be likened to a skin infection, the stress it causes could be fatal for the fish, especially if combined with poor diet and/or habitat.
It is relevant to mention here that the Ich parasite is present in almost every tank - what is important is the prevention of an infection. Preventive measure include buying only healthy fish, proper acclimatization techniques such as not transferring water from other aquariums, quarantining sick fish, maintaining high water quality by regular filtration and cleaning and refraining from overstocking. High nitrate or ammonia levels, or even a sudden change in temperature can lead to an outbreak.
A Chinese firm has come up with the perfect solution for pet-loving families who don’t have the space to keep animals: the fish tank toilet.