Shirlie's Freshwater Aquariums Blog

Kissing Gouramis seem like such sweet loving fish, don't they? Always kissing each other so passionately. Guess what, they aren't smooching for fun, they are actually fighting.

Lacking opposable thumbs to hold a sword to defend their territory, Kissing Gouramis battle with their mouths instead. The one with the most powerful lips wins out. Gives a whole new meaning to the saying "kiss and make up", doesn't it?

Photo © Shirlie L Sharpe

Mini aquariums, they come in all shapes, sizes and colors. They are often touted for their ease of care, but are they truly the perfect addition to your apartment, dorm, or classroom?

You might be surprised to find out they aren't as carefree as they seem. Do your homework before buying one, and you'll have a greater chance for success.

Chlorine, everyone knows it's in their tap water, but have you ever heard of Chloramine? What is Chloramine, is it dangerous, and is it in your water? Here's what you need to know about Chorine and Choramine.

There is little doubt where the Silver Dollar got it's name. If you have a community tank, the attractive and peaceful Silver Dollar is worth investing a few dollars in.

Want to know the sex of your Silver Dollar? Sexual differences aren't easy to distinguish, but you can get tips at the forum.

Photo © Shirlie Sharpe

Aquarium rocks are one of the more expensive investments when setting up an aquarium. After seeing the prices of aquarium rocks at the store, it's tempting to go out and grab a few from the local park or a country road. But is it safe? Here are steps to take to determine if those rocks you pick up from outdoors are safe.

Photo © Shirlie Sharpe

Few things compare to the beauty of an aquarium filled with healthy, well placed, live plants. This forum member has such a tank, but she's not sure what one of her plants is. Check out the tank photos and see what you think.

Photo © LiquidZero

This forum member has a cichlid that is literally wasting away. Can you give her some advice?

"One of my yellow labs, I have had him since the beginning - about 4 years, is growing more and more thin with an increasingly curved spine. Doing a water change today it really struck me how sunken in his belly now is. It has been a very slow decline so I have not really taken much notice until now. But tonight I watched him eat, thinking maybe he is too passive but it's not that. Rather he gets to the food fine eats it but then spits it out a couple minutes later... he doesn't seem to digest anything and I think he is slowly starving to death. "

Photo © Leah2296

Gel feeders are rapidly replacing the old style block fish feeders for use while gone on vacation. It's little wonder fish owners have sought an alternative. Block feeders have been panned for years due to their negative effect on the water chemistry. But are the new gel feeders really safer?

Photo © Shirlie Sharpe

When fish become sick, having reference material on hand can make all the difference. These fish health books will help you keep your fish hale and hearty. Don't wait until the pet shop is closed, add a book or two to your library now.

When it comes to reproducing, snails are the rabbits of the aquarium world, as this Apple Snail owner found out. Can you give her some advice, or take a extra few snails off her hands?