We are so excited - we have been getting a fantastic assortment of
medium and large Asian Cichlid Flowerhorns! 

Flower Horn Fish is basically from the Cichlid family, which is classified under the genus of Cichlasoma, which is commonly found in South America.

The flowerhorn or Louhan fish exists nowhere in the wild because it is in fact a hybrid of other fish species. All flowerhorn fish for sale originate from experimental pairings of South American cichlids. Speculation is that there are red devil cichlid genes in it's parentage. It is a secret of the original breeder as to what the exact origins are. Flowerhorns have no taxonomically correct description due to being hybrids.

As far as fish go the flowerhorn is quite new. None were sold before the 1990's. They have become quite popular in this time and command large prices. On the other hand many loathe such fish because they are unnatural. Read More at Squidoo.





Owning a flowerhorn does not require specialized care; they are a hardy fish that can look after themselves in a disagreement between fish. They can be quite aggressive
so most are kept alone or in a single species aquarium.

Treat them as you would a South American cichlid by feeding tropical pellets
and warming the aquarium water to a tropical level.





This fish is very hardy, and can endure water conditions that are not suitable for most breeds of aquarium fish. This is also part of the reason why the Flower Horn is well received by many tropical fish hobbyists.

But the ideal pH level in the water should be around pH 7 to pH 7.8 with water temperature ranging between 27 °C to 32°C. For temperate / colder climate region, just need a conventional water heater. With regards to aquarium size, try to have at least 4 feet (length) by 2 feet (width) aquarium.

We have been getting an assortment, regularly lately, with price ranges  $250-$350!



Come by and take a look!

CHICAGO AQUARIUM and AQUATIC LIFE

                        5040  N. Clark ST      Andersonville

DID YOU KNOW.......

FISH have been on our earth for more than 450 million years,
even before the dinosaurs started to roam ?!

There are over 25,000 identified species of fish on the earth.
And it is estimated that there may still be over 15,000 fish species that have not yet been identified.

There are about 40 known species of the flying fish, which is a fish with thin wings.
These wings allow it to jump and glide in a way that it seems like it is flying, but in fact it is not.

The flying fish is capable of continuing its flight, they have been recorded stretching
out their flights with consecutive glides spanning distances up to 1,312 feet (400 meters).

Some fish can swim backwards. Like the ghost knife  and the crosshatch triggerfish.
A buluga whale and a dolphin can swim backwards too.



Some fish species are able to change their sex.
 Clown fish is a classic example of this, they are all born males
 and the dominant males change their sex during the course of life.

The Oscar fish change colors when they begin mating.
And they can lay around a thousand eggs at a time.

The jellyfish are made up of over 95% water. The body of a jelly fish lack a skeletal structure or the outer shell. A jellyfish has no brain,   posess blood nor a nervous system. The mouth of a jellyfish is located on the underside of its bell and that is the only opening for its digestive system. They jellyfish take food in through its mouth which is digested in a sack-like structure. Then they pass their waste out through their mouths.

The largest fish is the great whale shark which can reach fifty feet in length.
The smallest fish is the Philippine goby that is less than 1/3 of an inch when fully grown.

Fish have excellent senses of sight, touch, taste and many possess a good sense of smell and 'hearing'.

Fish feel pain and suffer stress just like mammals and birds.
95% of tropical fish mortality results from improper housing and nutrition.

Tropical fish are one of the most popular pets in the U.S. 
Many tropical fish sold in the United States are harvested from
the wild in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America.

Tropical fish are categorized by their nature. Like humans, some are loners and will bite the head off anyone that comes too close, some like only their own species and don’t mix too well with others, and some are friendly, outgoing, and love spending time with anyone who comes their way!  ASK before buying a fish.  Make sure they will get along with what you already have. Check if the tropical fish you are buying are non-community fish, semi-aggressive or community fish.



Visit Our Chicago Aquarium  Store Today and Decide If Our Newest Arrivals of Freshwater Tropical and Saltwater Exotic Fish Are Just What You're Looking For!

Chicago Aquarium Store     5040 N. Clark Street  773-878-8474
Chicago's Best Resource For Freshwater and Saltwater Tropical Aquarium Fish and Supplies

White Tip Clarks Clowfish
Amphiprion clarkii   Amphiprion frenatus     
Amphiprion ocellaris (Ocellaris/False Percula or Nemo)

Most aquarium hobbyists have always dreamt of having a successful aquarium with clownfish and host anemones. Did you know there are 28 species of clownfish?  But really only a few  clownfish species the hobbyist is likely to encounter around here.

Amphiprion ocellaris (Ocellaris/False Percula or Nemo) is the most common clownfish in the hobby.  It is found from Northwest Australia to the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan. 
Most of the imports come from Indonesia and the Philippines. 


Amphiprion clarkii (Clark's) is one of the most common clownfish in the hobby.  It is found from Micronesia to the Persian Gulf and from Northern Australia to Southern Japan.  The color of this clownfish is variable, but normally is has three white stripes, one behind the eye, one mid body, and one at the base of the tail.  The body color can be mostly yellow, orange, or black.

While clownfish can be kept successfully in the aquarium without a host anemone, they do seem to enjoy life in an aquarium a lot more when they have a host.  Remember though that if you want to keep a host anemone you will need to set up the aquarium with the proper lighting and filtration. 
Host anemones are one of the more difficult animals to keep in a reef aquarium,
but paired with clownfish they can also be one of the most entertaining.




Flame Hawkfish  aka Brilliant Hawkfish  / Neocirrhitus armatus

This fish's body is a brilliant flaming red color, has a contrasting black band on its back, black bands around the eyes, and grows to about 4 inches. They are more of a bottom-dweller  and likes to  live in areas where coral heads and stones are present to perch upon and hide in.

This fish's vibrant red color, personable nature, and small size makes it a highly sought after specimen by aquarists. However, like most Hawkfishes, it is predatory bottom-dweller. It likes to sit on top of rocks or corals to keep watch, ready to pounce on any unsuspecting prey that swims too close. They are a very personable fish, and are great for reef aquariums as long as there are no small shrimp maintained in the aquarium. It requires a 30 gallon or larger aquarium with plenty of live rock for structure and hiding




Chain Link Moray Eel

The chain-link Moray eel has a long slender body. It has white coloring with a slightly yellow tint. It has round, black or gray chain markings across it’s whole body. That is where they get the name Chain-link Moray eel. In an aquarium, this eel can grow to two and a half feet long. It is pretty easy to care for, it doesn't doesn’t need that big of a tank. But at least 125 gallons.

The chain-link eel likes to make shelter in holes between rocks and coral in an aquarium. It spends a lot of its time hiding during the day. It does most of its hunting at nighttime under the cover of darkness. If you put large rocks or large pieces of coral in the bottom of your aquarium, make sure they are fastened to the bottom of the tank. Like most other eels, they may knock over the rocks and hurt themselves.

Moray eels come in many shapes and sizes. There is one eel, though, that dwarfs all other moray eels. Strophidon sathlete, or what is known by more common names as the gangetic moray or the slender giant moray. The slender giant moray is found in the Indo-west pacific ocean. It likes living in muddy environments in areas like inner bays and rivers. Some slender giant eels have been measured at over 400 cm long!
How cool is that?!

Visit Our Chicago Aquarium Store Today and Decide If Our Newest Arrivals of Freshwater Tropical and Saltwater Exotic Fish Are Just What You're Looking For!

Chicago Aquarium      5040 N. Clark Street  773-878-8474
Chicago's Best Resource For Freshwater and Saltwater Tropical Aquarium Fish and Supplies

Someone called me the other day looking for a Snakehead Fish!

It is illegal to keep snakeheads as pets in all states of the USA and other countries as they have become an invasive species due to individuals releasing them into the wild. President Bush enacted a ban in 2002, after the first snakehead appeared in Maryland.

The northern snakehead fish is said to not be a threat to humans. However, a more vicious species, the giant snakeheads have reportedly attacked and even killed people who have went near its young. They have been found in Maine, California, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. In 2004, a fisherman caught a single snakehead  while fishing from Lake Michigan at Burnham Harbor in Chicago!




There are a lot of urban myths surrounding these scary fish. It has this has a mouth crammed with teeth.

It’s deadly in the water, but it can also “crawl” on land and survive out of water for up to four days. - If it's kept wet.
There area actually  28 species of these crazy fish,  in the family Channidae are commonly referred to as Asian snakeheads. 

Could it, or would it attack a human?  Anything is possible I guess! There have been stories of these fish coming onto land and eating small dogs, but it has not been documented.

All I know is I wouldn't want to be swimming and run into to one of these guys!

Visit Our Chicago Aquarium  Today and Decide If Our Newest Arrivals of Freshwater Tropical and Saltwater Exotic Fish Are Just What You're Looking For!

Chicago Aquarium      5040 N. Clark Street  773-878-8474
Chicago's Best Resource For Freshwater and Saltwater Tropical Aquarium Fish and Supplies

  

Many new hobbyists think they can just buy a tank, some fish, and add water. It's not that simple. Setting up an environment for your tropical freshwater fish or marine life can sometimes be frustrating and confusing.  Finding the right 'stuff' to add to your tank as well as a community of life that can co-exist and thrive together can be a tough challenge at times and your water  needs to have certain levels of various things.



We found these really cool commercial designs online!

Whether for your home or business setting, Chicago Aquarium , can help if you need 1 fish to add to your home tank or 25 fish in a tank for your lobby.



Our dedicated team is eager to help with your questions, concerns .


Whether your aquarium serves as enjoyment, tranquility, show or for the fascination of our marine life friend, proper care, housing, chemical make up and cleaning are essential for a thriving aquarium, no matter the size. 

Flowerhorn Cichlid "Red Dragon"

A gorgeous hybrid, the Flowerhorn Cichlid makes a striking show fish in a large aquarium!  Flowerhorn Cichlids are ornamental aquarium fish noted for their vivid colors and the distinctively shaped heads for which they are named.

Their head protuberance, or kok, is formally termed a "nuchal hump." Like blood parrot cichlids, they are man-made hybrids that do not exist in nature. First developed in Malaysia and Taiwan, they are now kept by fish hobbyists worldwide.  

The Flowerhorn Cichlid is best kept singly as a show fish. This fish is not a community cichlid, it is territorial and aggressive. It can only be kept with other fish if the tank is very large, 200 gallons or more.


Red Marlboro Discus 

 

The Red Marlboro Discus requires an advanced level of care due to its feeding habits and water filtration requirements.Largely carnivorous, the Red Marlboro Discus prefer freeze-dried bloodworms and tubifex, pellet food designed for Discus, high-quality flake food, and meaty frozen foods.

Motoro Stingray
Motoro Stingray's are found living throughout South America including Argentina, Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, French Guyana, Guyana, Peru, Surinam, Paraná-Paraguay, Orinoco, and Amazon River basins. In the wild they spend the majority of their time along the river beds in search of worms or invertebrates on which to prey. 

Motoro Stingray's like other rays will bury themselves within the substrate of their environment as a form of protection when they feel threatened.  The Motoro Stingray is a high-metabolic fish that is in near constant movement and feeds many times throughout the day. This high metabolism also means that they produce a lot of waste, which requires a strong biological and chemical filtration system in order to provide them the very high quality water they need to survive and thrive within the aquarium environment.

Motoro Stingray's can be fed a variety of different meaty foods including: beef heart, fish flesh, earth worms, krill, blood worms, table shrimp, clams and small fish like minnows, silversides or similar feeder fish. Earthworms and invertebrates rank up very high on the Motoro's favorite foods list and is a good food choice to get them eating when first introduced to the aquarium. They can then be fed a more varied diet as they become settled within the aquarium.

Chicago Aquarium
5040 N. Clark Street  773-878-8474
Chicago's Best Resource For Freshwater and Saltwater Tropical Aquarium Fish and Supplies

This will be an ongoing section updated regularly to help advise and assist you with questions I'm asked the most. 

Don't see your question addressed here ~ ask me below via "Add Comment"!

How many fish can I have in my aquarium tank?

It depends. On the size and shape of the tank and the sizes of the fish. The most often stated general rule of thumb is 1 inch of fish per gallon of water. However, take into consideration the future adult size of your fish when computing the total inches of fish you can have, not their current size when stocking the tank.

A  more logical rule to follow is  1 inch of fish per 2 or 3 gallons of water. The bottom line is to avoid the temptation to overcrowd your tank. If you do overcrowd the tank you will need to perform maintenance more often and you risk the health of the fish. While I am on this topic, certain fish do better in certain sizes and shapes and tanks. For instance, a Discus  needs a long horizontal tank because the are river fish in the wild. Discus will not do well in a taller vertical tank.  Many other such variables are key considerations depending upon your overall goals with your tank and fish selections.

Can I use tap water to fill my tank?

Probably, yes.  First test the tap water for chlorine and/or chloramine. Most likely you will have these chemicals in your water and you will need to remove or neutralize them before adding water to your tank. I sell lots of various additives that will make the water safe.  The single most important issue in preventative medicine for pet fish is water quality.

How often should I change the aquarium water?

That brings us back to the size of the tank and the number of fish you have and the quality of your filtration system. In lightly stocked tanks, I would recommend changing 10-20 percent of the water  and  vacuuming every other week. Heavier stocked tanks will need larger (30% or more) weekly water changes and gravel vacuuming. If your water keeps testing bad consistently, you may have an overcrowded tank or you may be overfeeding your fish and it will need more frequent cleaning. Overcrowding =  more work!

Overfeeding is the most common mistake fish owners make. In nature fish eat whenever they are hungry and food is available. If food sources are plentiful, they will eat several times a day.

On the other hand, if food sources are scarce, they might go for days between meals. For this reason, fish are very opportunistic and will eat whenever they have a chance.

Frequency will vary based on the type of fish. In general most fish do quite well on one feeding per day. However, some owners prefer to feed their fish twice a day. Regardless of one or two feedings, the key is to keep the feedings very small. Only give an amount of food that the fish can eat in 2 minutes or less.

Can I leave my aquarium lights on 24 hours?

Your fish need some "down time" just like you do. In a lake or ocean, they get sun during the day and it's dark at night!  They need this period without lights. A good photoperiod (time the lights are on) is around 10 hours per day. Plus, excessive lighting can bring on algae issues.

What should my aquarium temperature be set at?

Water temperature depends on the fish in question. Different species require different temperatures. Generally speaking, for tropical fish a good temperature range would be anywhere from 74 °F to 78 °F. Research the fish you're interested in keeping before buying since some have different temperature requirements. For instance, the freshwater Discus fish requires higher temperatures than most tropical fish. Discus do best in water about 82 °F.

The more you start to learn about fish, the more there is to know!  There are hundreds of important terms and words -  it's literally a whole other world.  Here are just a few words and definitions that I come into contact with regularly -

acidic - Water with a pH of less than 7.

adipose fin - The small fin located between the dorsal fin and the caudal fin. It seems to serve no purpose.

 alkaline - Water with a pH between 7 and 14. Also known as Basic.

ammonia (NH3) - A dissolved gas that even in low concentrations is toxic to fish. It is produced by the breakdown of organic waste products.

asexual reproduction - Asexual means having no sex or sex organs, therefore asexual reproduction would be reproducing by means other than sex.

amyloodinium - Amyloodinium ocellateum is commonly called Oodinium, Marine Velvet, or Saltwater Ick.  Possible signs of the disease are cloudy eyes, gasping for breath, listlessness, and white spots.  Positive signs of the disease are gold or brown spots, rough skin, and rubbing against rocks, etc.  Treatment can be done by a freshwater dip and copper (as long as inverts are not in the tank).

anal fin - Single fin mounted vertically below the fish.

carapace - A bony or hard shell that covers part or all of an animal. Turtles, crabs,  and boxfish are good examples.

caudal - The single fin mounted vertically at the rear of the fish. The tail fin.

caudal peduncle - The part of the body which attaches the caudal (tailfin) to the body.

color rendering index (CRI) - A number used for rating lite bulbs on a scale up to 100, where 100 is equal to sunlight. 

cryptocaryon - (fish pictured on left DOES NOT have Cryptocaryon)  Cryptocaryon irritans is a parasitic infection where white spots appear on the body and fins. Fish will scratch themselves against rocks and breathing may become rapid if gills are affected.

Treatment can be done by copper or other anti-parasite remedies, but this is incompatible with inverts. Cleaner shrimps and wrasses will remove the parasites, but may not keep up with a major infestation.

Cryptocaryon is often referred to as the marine equivalent of the freshwater white spot disease, Ichthyophthirius, or Ick.

cyanobacteria - Cyanobacteria is commonly referred to as red slime algae by hobbyists although it is not really an algae. It is a bacteria. Poor water quality with excessive nutrients are the usual causes.  To combat, do frequent water changes, siphon out detritus, and use a good protein skimmer.

denitrification - Breakdown of nitrates by anaerobic bacteria into other forms.

detritus - Grayish piles of organic compounds that accumulate in the aquarium. Commonly will contain fish wastes, fragments of rock, leftover food, among other things. Usually detritus will accumulate in low water flow areas, sumps, etc.

detrivores - Animals that eat detritus. Common detritvores are urchins, stars, hermits, etc.

dolomite - A limestone gravel with a small pH buffering ability.

dorsal fin - The fin directly on the top of the body (it's the fin that sticks out of the water when you see a shark). Some fish have two dorsal fins one directly behind the other.

filtration - Method of cleaning aquarium water, there are 3 basic types. "Mechanical" removes particulate material. Chemical" removal of dissolved substances by passing through a type of media, like carbon. "Biological" which is the process of changing from a harmful substance to a less harmful one, by bacteria.

fry - Fully formed baby fish.
 
hard water - Water with a high concentration of dissolved salts.

head and lateral line erosion - Also known as hole-in-head disease and lateral line disease. A fish with this condition will develop holes in its' head and sometimes along its' lateral line. The main cause is nutritional deficiency, especially vitamin C. Stress and poor water quality also play a role. Untreated cases will cause disfiguring or death. To combat and cure, ensure good water quality and provide vitamin enriched foods, especially vitamin C.

herbivore - Animals whose diet consists mainly of vegetable matter.

hydrometer - A device used to measure salinity of water.

ich - A very common parasitic disease characterized by white salt-like specks all over the fish. 

invertebrate - Commonly called inverts by many in the hobby. Invertebrates are animals without backbones like anemones, corals, shrimps, snails, and crabs.

macro-algae ~ Complex celled algae found in marine aquaria i.e.: Calurpa.

mbunas - Common name for rock dwelling African Cichlids from lake Malawi.

metal halide - A very intense type of lighting used in marine and freshwater plant aquaria.

micro-algae ~ Single celled algae often growing in strands called hair algae.

nematocysts - The cells at the tip of an anemones' (corals) tentacles which "sting" when touched.

nitrate - Mildly toxic end product of biological filtration. Can be used as a gauge to tell when a partial water change is needed.

nitrite - Middle element of the biological cycle.

nitrogen cycle - The formal name for the biological cycle in which toxins are broken down into less harmful products by Aerobic bacteria.

oodinium - Known as velvet disease, similar to ich but more deadly.

pectoral fins - The anterior or dorsalmost paired fins of fishes. They correspond to the anterior limbs of the higher vertebrates.

pharyngeal teeth (throat teeth) - Tooth-like structures in the back part of the throat derived from gill supports. Primarily used for grinding, may be used to produce sound.

pH - Measurement of the degree of water acidity. It is determined by the amount of acids and bases in the water. If the amounts are equal it is called neutral with a number rating of 7.0. If more acids it is called acidic with number rating of less than 7.0, if more base it is called alkaline with a number rating of more than 7.0.

phosphate - An element introduced into the aquarium through organic or inorganic means that promotes excessive algae growth. Can be removed through water changes.

photosynthetic - The process by which organisms, usually plants, use the energy contained in light, usually sunlight.

phytoplankton - Microscopic free-floating aquatic plants, mainly algae. It lives suspended in bodies of water and drifts about. See plankton.

plankton - Plankton are the drifters of the sea. Although they may have some form of locomotion they are mostly carried by water currents. Plankton is divided into macroplankton (jellyfish, sargassum weed) and microplankton, organisms that can only be seen by a microscope.  The microplankton is divided into zooplankton, tiny marine animals, and phytoplankton, or plants. Most fish start their lives as small animals in the plankton.

polyp - A polyp is the living unit of a coral.

predaceous - This means the animal will hunt and eat other animals. The old rule comes to mind, big fish eat little fish! 

red Slime - see cyanobacteria.

sponge filter - A large foam rubber block connected to an air lift tube. Water is drawn through the sponge, which acts as a mechanical filter and a bacteria colony. Especially useful in breeding or fry tanks.

substrate - The material used to cover the bottom of the fish tank.

trace elements - Minute substances found in water,that are needed for proper plant and fish growth. Usually replenished with partial water changes.

trickle filter - A wet dry filter using a drip plate to disperse the water over bio-media.

tritrate test method - A specific method of water testing in which a reagent is dropped into a sample until a color change is noticed. More accurate than color comparison test methods.

turnover rate - The number of times the water in an aquarium is passed through the filtration system in one hour. The minimum should be three or four times per hour.

under-gravel filter - A type of filter placed under the substrate that utilizes an air pump or power head to pull water through the gravel and thus oxygenates the bacteria to help in the nitrogen cycle. Not recommended for live plant tanks.

yellow water - Name given to water with a slight yellow tinge. Can be caused by too much organic material in the water or to show that a water change is needed. Eliminated through carbon filtration and better water management.

zeolites - A substance used in fresh water aquaria for the removal of ammonia.

zooplankton - Tiny animals or larvae of other animals living in water. usually used in reference to marine aquaria.

zooxanthellae - The symbiotic single celled brown or yellow algae living in some marine invertebrates. They supply important elements to their hosts.

This is just small sampling of words I hope you find helpful!  If you want to learn even more, stop by  ANIMAL-WORLD  -  it is a great resource  online full of all kinds of useful tropical fresh and saltwater fish and aquarium information!