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The Fish Bowled

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Every published model, bias and explainer — cross-linked and cited.

Species profile

Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish)

A hardy, long-finned labyrinth fish that breathes air — best kept alone in a heated, filtered tank of at least 19 litres (5 US gallons).

Species profile

Cherry Shrimp

A tiny, peaceful dwarf shrimp that grazes algae and biofilm — colourful, easy to breed and perfect for nano planted tanks.

Species profile

Corydoras Catfish

Peaceful, armoured bottom-dwelling catfish that forage the substrate — social, hardy and best kept in groups of six or more.

Care guide

Cycling a New Aquarium

How to establish the beneficial bacteria that make a tank safe for fish — the single most important step before adding any livestock.

Care guide

Doing Regular Water Changes

The core maintenance routine — how much water to change, how often, and how to do it without shocking your fish.

Care guide

Feeding Your Fish Properly

How much and how often to feed — and why overfeeding, not underfeeding, is the more common danger to fish and water quality.

Species profile

Freshwater Angelfish

A tall, graceful cichlid that needs a deep tank — a beautiful centrepiece, but semi-aggressive and a threat to very small fish.

Species profile

Guppy

A hardy, colourful livebearer that breeds readily — beginner-friendly, but males and females together will multiply fast.

Species profile

Kuhli Loach

A slender, eel-like nocturnal loach that sifts the substrate — peaceful, social and best kept in groups over soft sand.

Species profile

Mystery Snail

A peaceful, plant-safe aquarium snail that scavenges leftover food and algae — a hardy cleanup helper for the community tank.

Species profile

Neon Tetra

A tiny, iconic schooling fish with an electric blue-and-red stripe — peaceful, soft-water and best kept in groups of six or more.

Concept

pH in the Aquarium

The measure of how acidic or alkaline your water is — and why keeping it stable usually matters more than hitting an exact number.

Care guide

Setting Up a Planted Tank

What live aquarium plants need — light, nutrients and substrate — and why starting with hardy, low-light species is the reliable path.

Concept

The Nitrogen Cycle

The bacterial process that converts toxic fish waste into safer compounds — the invisible engine that makes an aquarium livable.

Concept

The Stocking Rule

How to judge how many fish a tank can hold — and why the old "inch per gallon" guideline is only a rough, and often misleading, starting point.

Concept

Water Hardness (GH & KH)

The dissolved-mineral content of your water — GH affects fish, KH buffers pH, and together they explain how stable your tank really is.

Care guide

Your First Aquarium: A Beginner Setup

A start-to-finish plan for a first freshwater tank — why bigger is easier, what equipment you actually need, and the order to do things in.

Species profile

Zebra Danio

An extremely hardy, fast-swimming striped schooling fish — tolerant of cooler water and ideal for a first cycled community tank.