By BETH ANN BATES
One thing’s for sure, fish-keeping is not your grandfather’s hobby any more! The
development of the internet has revolutionized many aspects of business and education,
and for many fish-lovers, it has also changed the way we approach this hobby. If you type
the phrase “tropical fish” into a search engine like Google, you will get close to three
million results!
There are loads of amazing ways that hobbyists can use the web to enhance their
enjoyment and support their knowledge of fish-keeping. In this article, I hope to cover the
basic uses of the internet, and give the reader a sampling of websites that you may like
to check out.
The first way that hobbyists are using the internet is for information. Keeping aquarium
fish is a fascinating endeavor, in part because of the complexity and the variety of skills
needed to succeed. The internet is a means to gather knowledge on all the many
aspects of the hobby, such as fish health and illness, feeding, spawning and the
characteristics of specific breeds, just to name a few.
The challenge here, as with all research done on the web, is that you need to separate
the good advice from the bad. With millions of websites to look at, it sure can be
overwhelming. Get skilled at evaluating what your read on the web. Here are some basic
guidelines:
First, look at the source. Who sponsors the website? Is it a reputable group? Is the site a
“dot-com” looking to sell you something? Did you find this site via a link from a site that
you know to be reputable? Often that’s the best way to find worthwhile information.
Who wrote the advice you are reading? Is it an expert with verifiable credentials, or is it an
anonymous participant in a blog or chat? Many well-meaning hobbyists give advice
generously. That doesn’t mean that they are right!
Also, check to see that the site is up-to-date. If you do not see any reference to a recent
posting of information, then what’s there may be old and perhaps useless. Another way
to verify that the site is reputable is to look for contact information. If you can e-mail or call
the company, group or individual, that may be a sign that it’s a legitimate site,
accountable for it’s information.
In general, check a number of sites for the information you are looking for. Often you will
find a consensus of opinion and that’s reassuring. One site that I enjoy for basic
information is freshaquarium.about.com. Another is www.aquarticles.com/index.html
which is a library of articles. Remember each article is the opinion of the author, so
weigh it against the rest of your research. Also, if you are interested in a particular
species or type of fish, such as livebearers or cichlids, you can find websites devoted to
just that fish. My friend Carlos Paradela said, “I like to read up on catfish and plecos, and
I have always found www.Planetcatfish.com very helpful. They have great pictures and
good write-ups on most species.” To find a site on your favorite species, use a specific
term like “Lake Tanganyika Cichlid” when you search.
Another huge part of the fish presence on the internet is the multitude of websites
devoted to purchasing all things aquatic. Hobbyists purchase equipment such as tanks,
filters and heaters, as well as food and even livestock and live plants. Many fish-keepers I
spoke to feel that they get much better deals, especially on equipment, by buying on-line
rather than in local stores.
Two of the most popular sites among my friends are That Fish Place at
www.thatfishplace.com and Big Al’s at www.bigalsonline.com. That Fish Place is
affiliated with a retail store of the same name in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Big Al’s is
affiliated with a retail chain in Canada.
Depending on where you are in the universe, you may like to buy from the place closer to
you, to minimize shipping costs and time. Several people, myself included, have
experienced excellent customer service from That Fish Place.
I have never purchased live fish or plants via the internet, but people do it all the time.
Depending on the number of tanks you keep, you may be interested in this. My friend
Carlos likes Aquabid.com “because you can find many hard to find fish, as well as
common ones.” I would definitely suggest that you look at the sites above for routine
equipment like heaters and filter media.
An enormous amount of communication about fish goes on among hobbyists on the
web. In fact, many people feel that the future of the hobby is on-line. People from all over
the globe are chatting about their fish, posting pictures of their tanks, and getting advice
from fellow fish-lovers. Many clubs have a big on-line presence, and some clubs meet
only in cyber-space! There are many blogs and forums related to fish-keeping for those
who like to chat on-line about the hobby.
Most clubs who meet in person also have websites with information that is useful. A
strong club is an excellent source of valid answers to your questions and links to other
reliable sites, including those of neighboring clubs. So if you are looking for a club close
to you, don’t discount the websites of clubs in neighboring states.
So there you have it! A world of aquatic information and opportunities await you on the
internet. Below are some recommended sites that will get you started.
Some Cool Fishy Sites to Check Out!
Information:
www.aquaria.info — Known as FishGeeks, this site has a searchable database of fish
information and pictures. Recommended by the Brooklyn Aquarium Society for its in-
depth info.
www.Aquariumlife.net — Source of information including DIY projects, this beautiful and
extensive site, recommended by the Brooklyn Aquarium Society, also has forums for
communicating with of the hobbyists.
www.wetwebmedia.com — Lots of great info here on practice and science of the hobby.
www.aquariumalgae.blogspot.com — Problem solving for dreaded algae in your tank;
lots of info and pictures.
www.cichlid-forum.com — Claims to be largest and most visited site on Cichlids.
www.planetcatfish.com — Extensive site on this hobbyist favorite.
www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/home.php — United Kingdom’s favorite
fishkeeping magazine. Site includes lots of articles divided by category, including “stuff
you need to know.”
Also try www.thetropicaltank.co.uk.
Purchasing:
www.AquaBid.com— This is the eBay of the aquarium hobby. Users of this site can both
buy and sell equipment and fish. This site is a sponsor of the Brooklyn Aquarium Society.
That Fish Place, mentioned above, is at www.thatfishplace.com.
Big Al’s at www.bigalsonline.com .
www.kensfish.com — for food and supplies.
Community & Clubs:
http://groups.yahoo.com — the Yahoo site, known as a popular search engine and
provider of email, also has a thriving community of groups. Entering “tropical fish” into the
search function from this group page yields almost 500 results!
www.NYCichlids.com is a forum favored by a number of my friends who are into these
fish.
www.brooklynaquariumsociety.com — The Brooklyn Aquarium Society, founded in 1911,
claims to be the largest and oldest in the U.S. Lots of Great stuff here, even if you don’t
live nearby, including a links to many other clubs.
www.njas.net — North Jersey Aquarium Society is my home base!
www.aka.org — The American Killiefish Association.
www.cichlid.org — The American Cichlid Association.
www.aquatic-gardeners.org — For those interested in aquatic plants.
www.aquaticplantcentral.com — Another good site for lovers of planted tanks. Amazing
pictures of real tanks.
Enjoy your surfing!
One thing’s for sure, fish-keeping is not your grandfather’s hobby any more! The
development of the internet has revolutionized many aspects of business and education,
and for many fish-lovers, it has also changed the way we approach this hobby. If you type
the phrase “tropical fish” into a search engine like Google, you will get close to three
million results!
There are loads of amazing ways that hobbyists can use the web to enhance their
enjoyment and support their knowledge of fish-keeping. In this article, I hope to cover the
basic uses of the internet, and give the reader a sampling of websites that you may like
to check out.
The first way that hobbyists are using the internet is for information. Keeping aquarium
fish is a fascinating endeavor, in part because of the complexity and the variety of skills
needed to succeed. The internet is a means to gather knowledge on all the many
aspects of the hobby, such as fish health and illness, feeding, spawning and the
characteristics of specific breeds, just to name a few.
The challenge here, as with all research done on the web, is that you need to separate
the good advice from the bad. With millions of websites to look at, it sure can be
overwhelming. Get skilled at evaluating what your read on the web. Here are some basic
guidelines:
First, look at the source. Who sponsors the website? Is it a reputable group? Is the site a
“dot-com” looking to sell you something? Did you find this site via a link from a site that
you know to be reputable? Often that’s the best way to find worthwhile information.
Who wrote the advice you are reading? Is it an expert with verifiable credentials, or is it an
anonymous participant in a blog or chat? Many well-meaning hobbyists give advice
generously. That doesn’t mean that they are right!
Also, check to see that the site is up-to-date. If you do not see any reference to a recent
posting of information, then what’s there may be old and perhaps useless. Another way
to verify that the site is reputable is to look for contact information. If you can e-mail or call
the company, group or individual, that may be a sign that it’s a legitimate site,
accountable for it’s information.
In general, check a number of sites for the information you are looking for. Often you will
find a consensus of opinion and that’s reassuring. One site that I enjoy for basic
information is freshaquarium.about.com. Another is www.aquarticles.com/index.html
which is a library of articles. Remember each article is the opinion of the author, so
weigh it against the rest of your research. Also, if you are interested in a particular
species or type of fish, such as livebearers or cichlids, you can find websites devoted to
just that fish. My friend Carlos Paradela said, “I like to read up on catfish and plecos, and
I have always found www.Planetcatfish.com very helpful. They have great pictures and
good write-ups on most species.” To find a site on your favorite species, use a specific
term like “Lake Tanganyika Cichlid” when you search.
Another huge part of the fish presence on the internet is the multitude of websites
devoted to purchasing all things aquatic. Hobbyists purchase equipment such as tanks,
filters and heaters, as well as food and even livestock and live plants. Many fish-keepers I
spoke to feel that they get much better deals, especially on equipment, by buying on-line
rather than in local stores.
Two of the most popular sites among my friends are That Fish Place at
www.thatfishplace.com and Big Al’s at www.bigalsonline.com. That Fish Place is
affiliated with a retail store of the same name in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Big Al’s is
affiliated with a retail chain in Canada.
Depending on where you are in the universe, you may like to buy from the place closer to
you, to minimize shipping costs and time. Several people, myself included, have
experienced excellent customer service from That Fish Place.
I have never purchased live fish or plants via the internet, but people do it all the time.
Depending on the number of tanks you keep, you may be interested in this. My friend
Carlos likes Aquabid.com “because you can find many hard to find fish, as well as
common ones.” I would definitely suggest that you look at the sites above for routine
equipment like heaters and filter media.
An enormous amount of communication about fish goes on among hobbyists on the
web. In fact, many people feel that the future of the hobby is on-line. People from all over
the globe are chatting about their fish, posting pictures of their tanks, and getting advice
from fellow fish-lovers. Many clubs have a big on-line presence, and some clubs meet
only in cyber-space! There are many blogs and forums related to fish-keeping for those
who like to chat on-line about the hobby.
Most clubs who meet in person also have websites with information that is useful. A
strong club is an excellent source of valid answers to your questions and links to other
reliable sites, including those of neighboring clubs. So if you are looking for a club close
to you, don’t discount the websites of clubs in neighboring states.
So there you have it! A world of aquatic information and opportunities await you on the
internet. Below are some recommended sites that will get you started.
Some Cool Fishy Sites to Check Out!
Information:
www.aquaria.info — Known as FishGeeks, this site has a searchable database of fish
information and pictures. Recommended by the Brooklyn Aquarium Society for its in-
depth info.
www.Aquariumlife.net — Source of information including DIY projects, this beautiful and
extensive site, recommended by the Brooklyn Aquarium Society, also has forums for
communicating with of the hobbyists.
www.wetwebmedia.com — Lots of great info here on practice and science of the hobby.
www.aquariumalgae.blogspot.com — Problem solving for dreaded algae in your tank;
lots of info and pictures.
www.cichlid-forum.com — Claims to be largest and most visited site on Cichlids.
www.planetcatfish.com — Extensive site on this hobbyist favorite.
www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/home.php — United Kingdom’s favorite
fishkeeping magazine. Site includes lots of articles divided by category, including “stuff
you need to know.”
Also try www.thetropicaltank.co.uk.
Purchasing:
www.AquaBid.com— This is the eBay of the aquarium hobby. Users of this site can both
buy and sell equipment and fish. This site is a sponsor of the Brooklyn Aquarium Society.
That Fish Place, mentioned above, is at www.thatfishplace.com.
Big Al’s at www.bigalsonline.com .
www.kensfish.com — for food and supplies.
Community & Clubs:
http://groups.yahoo.com — the Yahoo site, known as a popular search engine and
provider of email, also has a thriving community of groups. Entering “tropical fish” into the
search function from this group page yields almost 500 results!
www.NYCichlids.com is a forum favored by a number of my friends who are into these
fish.
www.brooklynaquariumsociety.com — The Brooklyn Aquarium Society, founded in 1911,
claims to be the largest and oldest in the U.S. Lots of Great stuff here, even if you don’t
live nearby, including a links to many other clubs.
www.njas.net — North Jersey Aquarium Society is my home base!
www.aka.org — The American Killiefish Association.
www.cichlid.org — The American Cichlid Association.
www.aquatic-gardeners.org — For those interested in aquatic plants.
www.aquaticplantcentral.com — Another good site for lovers of planted tanks. Amazing
pictures of real tanks.
Enjoy your surfing!
| Surfing for Fish Finding valuable information and cool websites for aquarium hobbyists |
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