Should I Drip Acclimate My Fish?

Sep 26

posted by Segrest farms in Marine Fish, General, Fish, Broad Issues, Care Information, Beginner Topics | 1 Comments

Should I drip acclimate my fish?

Should You Drip Acclimate?

We all want to keep our fish as healthy as possible, and so we develop certain habits to help with this. We perform routine aquarium maintenance to prevent a buildup of harmful substances. We carefully consider tankmates in order to reduce aggression. We use quarantine tanks to monitor new arrivals and avoid introducing sick fish to a healthy tank. We make every effort possible to keep our water parameters stable and avoid pH swings.

Most methods of keeping our tanks healthy revolve around one concept: trying to reduce the amount of stress our fish are exposed to.

Like people, fish have robust immune systems. Also like people, when they come under stress, fish’s immune systems can become suppressed, allowing pathogens that would normally be fought off to overwhelm the fish. By keeping our fish comfortable and happy, they are less likely to become ill.

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This entry was posted on September 26, 2017 at 6:57 PM and has received 14399 views. There are currently 1 comments. Print this entry.

Buying Your First Aquarium

Aug 29

posted by Segrest farms in Beginner Topics | 0 Comments

Why You Shouldn’t Go Small

Perhaps the biggest question asked when one is shopping for their first aquarium is “what size should I get?” As with most topics in the hobby, there is no one size fits all answer to that question. But buying a small aquarium is arguably the worst decision you can make.

People often have the misconception that the larger the aquarium, the harder it’s going to be to keep, so they look for small “starter” aquariums. As a result, we’ve seen an explosion of all-in-one nano tanks being marketed as first aquariums. These tanks are often one to five gallons, contain most of what you need to get started, and claim to make for an easier learning experience.

The reality, though, is that in many cases larger aquariums are actually easier to keep and make for a better introduction to the aquarium hobby. Why is this? There are a few basic key benefits to larger tanks.

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This entry was posted on August 29, 2016 at 4:09 PM and has received 6075 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Great Beginner Fish For Small Aquariums

May 10

posted by Segrest farms in General, Fish, Beginner Topics | 3 Comments

Harlequin Rasboras are a great beginner fish for a small aquarium Harlequin Rasboras (Trigonostigma heteromorpha)

Being new to any hobby can be overwhelming, and the aquarium hobby is no exception. One of the biggest questions almost everybody new to the hobby has is what are some of the best beginner fish for my aquarium. A quick Google search can come up with more results than any one person can read (approximately 525,000 as of this writing), but most of them will suggest more or less the same fish. Fish like livebearers (mollies, guppies, swordtails), dwarf gourami, barbs, and tetras are justifiably recommended, but there are also other fish that don’t get as much attention. So we decided to highlight some less common fish that beginners could easily have success with.

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This entry was posted on May 10, 2016 at 4:45 PM and has received 10473 views. There are currently 3 comments. Print this entry.

Beginner's Guide to Reptiles

Sep 18

posted by Segrest farms in Reptiles, Beginner Topics | 0 Comments

Uromastyx geyri, displaying a brilliant orange coloration

Beginner's Guide to Reptiles

Overview

Few types of animals can evoke such divisive reactions as reptiles. Those who dislike reptiles often don't just feel dislike but also fear, loathing, and hatred. On the other side, there are many who love everything about reptiles and develop close bonds and boundless fascination with them. With more than 10,000 species, there is an amazing diversity in reptiles, from geckos and chameleons that grow no more than an inch in length to crocodiles and snakes that can grow more than twenty feet in length. With this much variation in individual species, there is no one formula you can apply to them all when considering how to keep them, but there are common needs you can use as a starting point when learning about their care.

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This entry was posted on September 18, 2014 at 12:57 PM and has received 5416 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Keeping Tarantulas

Aug 11

posted by Segrest farms in Reptiles, Care Information, Beginner Topics | 0 Comments

Brachypelma boehmei, often called the Mexican Fireleg Tarantula

Keeping Tarantulas

Within the realm of keeping captive animals (whether you consider them "pets" or not), there are so many niches that it would seem to be impossible to experience them all. You have to ask yourself a number of questions when deciding what you want to keep. Do you want an animal that is interactive, such as dogs, cats, and many birds, or do you want an animal that is more of a look but don't touch pet, such as fish or certain reptiles? Do you know (and can you meet) the care requirements for this animal for the entirety of its (often long) life? Do you want something fairly common or more unique? Do you find any animal just too creepy to keep, or do you enjoy creatures that other people avoid? If you enjoy the creepier side of the animal kingdom, one of the most underrated pet niches is Tarantula keeping.

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This entry was posted on August 11, 2014 at 3:51 PM and has received 6125 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Considerations When Choosing A New Pet

Jul 7

posted by Segrest farms in Reptiles, Fish, Beginner Topics | 0 Comments

When it comes to choosing which animal is right for you, the best thing one can do is to do research ahead of time in order to become knowledgeable and prepared. Often, you will have a general idea of what kind of animal you want, but it is important to keep in mind that what you think you want may not actually be what is best for you. For example, I personally would love a pair of Dwarf Caiman, but I accept that there is no way that I could currently care for these animals and that it would be unfair for me to even try. It is imperative to ask questions of yourself and examine what qualities you are looking for and what potential issues you should stay away from. There are many facets to consider when researching your next pet, but these are some of what we believe are the most important.

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This entry was posted on July 7, 2014 at 11:33 AM and has received 6568 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

The Care of Veiled Chameleons

Jun 30

posted by Segrest farms in Reptiles, Care Information, Beginner Topics | 0 Comments

Perhaps one of the most charismatic and appealing groups of reptiles are the true chameleons. With their renowned ability to change color, eyes that move independently of each other, and long tongue used to catch prey, there are few that cannot become intrigued or even charmed by these unique lizards. While there are several species that are widely available and routinely bred, chameleons are generally more challenging to care for than many other reptiles. However, for those looking to keep chameleons, there is no better species to start with than the veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus).

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This entry was posted on June 30, 2014 at 10:07 AM and has received 5369 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

The Role of Salt in a Freshwater Aquarium

Jun 16

posted by Segrest farms in Fish, Beginner Topics | 1 Comments

One of the topics that is constantly debated among freshwater aquarists is what role, if any, should salt play in successful aquariums. For every person who adamantly declares that every aquarium should routinely have salt added there is another person who argues that you should never add salt to a freshwater aquarium. A third group of people state that salt should only be used as treatment for specific problems while a fourth group throws up their hands in despair not knowing what to think anymore. At Segrest Farms, this is our philosophy on the subject, and please note that some of this will be perhaps over simplified to not scare away those who are chemistry averse.

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This entry was posted on June 16, 2014 at 6:52 PM and has received 12035 views. There are currently 1 comments. Print this entry.

Common Mistakes of New Aquarists

Jun 9

posted by Segrest farms in Fish, Beginner Topics | 1 Comments

Aquariums can make fantastic additions to our lives. They can be fascinating and beautiful, and with care and planning can exemplify the intersection of art and life. Setting up a first aquarium is a time filled with excitement and anticipation. Unfortunately, a number of people will fall victim to poor planning or bad advice, have a terrible experience, and give up on the world of fish keeping forever. If you are just starting your first tank, or are trying to help guide someone else with their first tank, here are some common mistakes that can result in frustration or even complete failure.

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This entry was posted on June 9, 2014 at 8:50 AM and has received 10544 views. There are currently 1 comments. Print this entry.

Setting Up Your First (Freshwater) Aquarium

Jun 1

posted by Segrest farms in General, Fish, Beginner Topics | 0 Comments

Venturing into the world of aquariums offers the opportunity to experience a small slice of the world that most will never get to see otherwise. From the rivers of South America, to the lakes of Africa, to the reefs of Australia, there are complex and fascinating ecosystems that we can bring into our homes. While I expect most of our readers are well-versed in at least some aspect of fish keeping, we all began somewhere, so we will try to share some of our experience to help newcomers as they enter this exciting hobby.

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This entry was posted on June 1, 2014 at 11:15 AM and has received 8954 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.