10.17.08
Interesting Aquatic Facts
Did you know that a lot of the fish species commonly sold as sharks in pet shops aren’t sharks at all? Almost all species of true sharks belong in saltwater, so if you see a “shark” in a freshwater aquarium, it is probably not a shark but a species of freshwater minnow. If you are interested in keeping aquarium sharks and not minnows, you need to learn how to maintain a saltwater aquarium. You should also be prepared to get a BIG tank because most species of true sharks grow really large.
Another example of the many interesting tropical fish facts that you can find online today concerns the popular gourami fish. Unlike most other fish, gouramis are capable of absorbing oxygen directly from the air since they have developed a special labyrinth organ. This adaptation makes it possible for gouramis to live in oxygen depleted waters, e.g. densely vegetated ditches and paddies in South East Asia.
Last but not least, did you know that barley straw can be used for algae control? The technique was developed in England during the early 1990s and is now widely used in many different bodies of water, including ponds, large reservoirs, and canals. Exactly why barley straw decreases algal growth remains unknown, but it may be due to certain chemicals released by fungi present in decomposing barley straws.