Aquariumania - Tropical Fish as Pets

Is your family thinking of adding a fish tank or pond to your home? Fish tanks and ponds are wonderful places to observe a habitat on a smaller scale. Its like having your very own window into a fresh water riverbed or saltwater ocean. Keeping aquarium fish is a pleasurable and educational hobby for families around the world. Keeping fish as pets has been a tradition going back to ancient Egypt and China. Today, many more different, beautiful and fascinating kinds of fish and other aquatic animals can thrive in your home if you learn the dos and don’ts and get the right equipment. Aquariums and ponds are living, breathing aquatic works of art that can be as simple or as complex as your imagination and skills allow. In these fun pet podcasts, you'll learn all about aquarium fish and other aquatic animals, the aquarium industry, and the science and art that surround this fascinating hobby! So dive in--the water is fine!

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Episodes

Aquariumania - Episode 9 Old World Cichlids

Old World Cichlids, comprised primarily of fish from Africa, are a large and very diverse group of fishes in the aquarium hobby. Aquarium enthusiasts are familiar with many of the beautifully-colored species from Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika, including the peacock cichlids, red zebras, and brichardi. These same fish also hold great interest for scientists because of their fascinating reproductive biology, ecology, behavior, and evolution. Laif DeMason, a well-known importer and breeder of Afr...

Feb 17, 2010•36 min

Aquariumania - Episode 8 New World Cichlids

Cichlids from the Americas, known as "New World Cichlids," include angelfish, discus, Jack Dempseys, and oscars. But these species are just the tip of the "New World" iceberg. One of the largest groups comprises those in the Cichlasoma complex including the salvini, lowland, red head, and firemouth cichlids. Don Conkel is the owner of Don Conkel’s Tropicals, based near Tampa, Florida, with additional facilities in Costa Rica and Mexico. Don, a leading New World cichlid authority and published au...

Feb 07, 2010•40 min

Aquariumania - Episode 7 How Aquarium Societies Can Help You Avoid Common Fish Keeping Mistakes

Where can aquarium fish hobbyists go for general information and help? Hobbyist organizations are an excellent source of knowledge in all aspects of the hobby, and can provide great tips on fish, systems, supplies, and local stores. There are local aquarium societies in many cities in the U.S. that cater to both freshwater and marine enthusiasts. There are also national hobbyist organizations that are even more specialized. These organizations can help you get to the next level, as my guest Bill...

Jan 12, 2010•39 min

Aquariumania - Episode 6 The Straubs: Pioneers of Florida’s Tropical Fish Industry

The United States’ ornamental fish aquaculture industry began to develop in the 1930s and 40s in west central Florida, through the efforts of a number of aquarium pioneers. Since then, the U.S. tropical fish industry, still centered in Florida, has grown from one to over two hundred farms, unified through the Florida Tropical Fish Farms Association. One of these pioneering families, the Straubs, moved from Long Island, NY to begin fish farming in 1940 on the east coast of Florida, and Walter Str...

Dec 29, 2009•35 min

Aquariumania - Episode 5 Angelfish, Neon Tetras. . .and Electric Eels: "Shockingly" Fun Collecting Trips in the Amazon

How did wild aquarium fish from South America, Africa, and Asia first get into the hobby all those many years ago? Before there were ornamental fish farms, including those here in Florida, there were fish biologists and collectors visiting exotic places and bringing back beautiful specimens of fish they found. Many of these fish are now raised on fish farms, but new species continue to enter the hobby every year. And now, eco-tourists can join aquarium fish collecting trips in some of the most b...

Dec 11, 2009•37 min

Aquariumania - Episode 4 The Science and Art of Koi and Goldfish

Koi and goldfish have been staples in the hobby for a long time, and continue to gain in popularity as staples for aquatic water gardens as well as indoor tank systems. The beautiful color and finnage variations in both species have been developed over hundreds of years, and now some lines and individual fish have tremendous economic and prestige value. My guest today is Joe Pawlak, President of Blackwater Creek Koi Farms, Inc., based in Eustis, Florida. Blackwater Creek Koi Farms is a top produ...

Dec 04, 2009•37 min

Aquariumania - Episode 3 Clowns and Corals: ORA’s Ornamental Marine Hatchery

Keeping a marine aquarium is more challenging than maintaining a freshwater aquarium. However, nature shows, public aquaria, and visits to coral reefs are drawing more people to the marine aquarium hobby. Some prefer "fish-only" tanks, while others enjoy the greater challenge of caring for mini-reef systems. As the marine portion of the aquarium hobby continues to increase, greater interest in sustainability of the industry has resulted in more oversight of wild capture and expansion of marine o...

Nov 16, 2009•34 min

Aquariumania - Episode 2 A Glo-ing Review of Fluorescent GloFish

Thousands of species of ornamental fish, invertebrates, and plants provide endless possibilities for aquarium keepers. Traditional methods of breeding by selection added even more varieties to the mix. But as the aquarium hobby entered the 21st Century, pets, biotechnology, and innovative entrepreneurship intertwined, creating the U.S.’s first genetically engineered pet-- the GloFish. After many challenges-- and many years of hard work-- Alan Blake, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of York...

Oct 28, 2009•34 min

Aquariumania - Episode 1 - Introduction to Tropical Fish

Dr. Roy Yanong welcomes everyone to his new show and talks all about aquarium fish and other aquatic animals, the aquarium industry, and the science and art that surround this fascinating hobby! So dive in--the water is fine! More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Introduction with Dr. Roy Yanong Mevio {Mevio-cf5d06a62c3bde37f439ead03ff48d56} Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aquariumania-tropical-fish-as-pets--6666780/support ....

Oct 19, 2009•30 min

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