Aquarium keeping isn’t just about fish, there are a plethora of diverse aquatic species that find themselves in the exotic animal trade.
In this set of guides, we will go over some of the many species that share their homes with fish, both in the wild rainforests of the Amazon, and in your home aquarium.
Types of Invertebrates, Reptiles and Amphibians
In this set of guides, we will go over some of the many different animal species that can live in an aquarium, giving care and tips for each species, and describing their lifestyles.
We will cover freshwater and marine invertebrates, reptiles like turtles, geckos and lizards as well as frogs, newts and salamanders.
We will discuss which species can and can’t live with fish and which ones make good pets for both beginners and experts in the aquarium hobby.
Best tankmates for Invertebrates, Reptiles and Amphibians
Not all fish get along with invertebrates and reptiles, there are some complications that housing them together can oppose, not all of them you would expect.
It is important to know what is safe to keep with fish and for what reasons it may be a good or bad idea to put a salamander in your fish tank.
How to care for Invertebrates, Reptiles and Amphibians
Inverts, reps and amphibians can be a little more specialised than fish; they have additional care requirements and can be more sensitive to change and improper husbandry techniques.
We will explain the additional things these animals need in order to survive and thrive under captivity.
How to introduce and acclimate inverts and amphibians? How to treat inverts and amphibians for disease? And how to maintain an invert, amphibian or reptile tank.
What to feed Invertebrates, Reptiles and Amphibians
The diets of invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians vary greatly and can be completely different from fish depending on the species.
Learn about the different food types and diets of these animals, how to feed and obtain these foods and which animals can adjust to an artificial diet easily and which species will need live food.
Live foods
Not all reptiles and amphibians will take to artificial food, and will only ever eat live prey. Learn how to culture and look after different feeder insect species and provide the best possible food for your cold blooded pets.
Equipment you need for reptiles, invertebrates and amphibians
Some additional equipment may be needed to successfully keep reptiles and inverts; stronger filtration, misters, UV lighting, etc.
You should know what equipment you need in order to provide a good home for your animals.
Plants for reptiles, amphibians and reptiles
What are some good plants for paludarium setups, what tropical plants can survive in and out of water and which plants are best suited for tanks with reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.
Invertebrates
We’ll explore the care and keeping of invertebrates, both marine and freshwater, and go over a variety of invertebrate families that are commonly kept in the aquarium hobby: snails, crustaceans, starfish, sea cucumbers, sponges and so on.
We will also go over some of the “pest” invertebrate species you may encounter in the hobby, i.e. flatworms and nematodes.
Amphibians
Newts, Frogs and Toads are some of the most interesting and bizarre animals on earth – they can be wonderfully exciting animals to keep in an aquarium, although they are not always easy to keep alive as there isn’t as much knowledge on them out there as there is for fish and reptiles.
Reptiles
If you decide to set up your tank as a paludarium, then it opens up a few species of reptile to you, turtles, geckos, and a few species of lizards. Learn what goes into keeping these animals successfully with our reptile guides.
Science and biology of Invertebrates, Reptiles and Amphibians
Learn about the science and evolution behind these different animal groups, their history with each other and the differences in their physiology that make them unique.
It is important to know about the life cycle of each species, how they have adapted to suit their natural environment, as well as the biology and taxonomy of reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.