From stunning blue bolts to vibrant red rili shrimp, freshwater aquarium shrimp are some of the most striking inhabitants for small aquariums. If you’re looking for a new challenge as an aquarium hobbyist or have a spare tank and don’t know what to fill it with, consider breeding freshwater shrimp. All it takes is a handful of shrimp to start a colony and, before you know it, you’ll have a self-sustaining breeding population going. Here’s everything you need to know about breeding freshwater shrimp in nano aquariums. Setting Up Your Tank The beauty of many freshwater aquarium shrimp is that th ..read more

Big or small, every aquarium requires certain equipment to function well. When you’re working with nano aquariums, maintaining high water quality and stable parameters is particularly challenging. Outfitting your tank properly gives you the best chance of success and may reduce maintenance challenges down the line. In this guide, you’ll learn the basics about what supplies are needed to set up and maintain a successful nano aquarium. Nano Tank and Stand Unsurprisingly, the most important supplies for nano aquarium setup are the tank and stand themselves. Don’t underestimate the need for proper ..read more

Though relatively new in the aquarium hobby, vampire crabs have made a splash. They’re semi-terrestrial, nocturnal mini crabs known for their bright yellow eyes and vibrant colors. If you’re looking for a new challenge, breeding these beautiful crabs might be something to consider. Not only are vampire crabs relatively easy to care for—with the right tank setup, of course—but they also breed readily in captivity. With several color morphs to choose from, you can quickly go from having a few crabs to having a tank full of these beautiful crustaceans. In this guide, you’ll learn the basics about ..read more

Species Snapshot       Species Name: Geosesarma sp.       Common Names: Vampire crab       Size: Up to 2 inches       Lifespan: Up to 2 years       Native Distribution: Southeast Asia With their vibrant coloration and social behavior, vampire crabs (Geosesarma sp.) make fascinating pets. Despite their intimidating name, vampire crabs are not dangerous. They’re relatively low-maintenance pets as long as you have the right setup. If you’re looking for a new challenge, consider building a vampire crab habitat. Below you ..read more

From vibrantly colored cherry shrimp to translucent ghost shrimp, freshwater aquarium shrimp make stunning additions to the home aquarium. While they can be valuable as members of a community tank cleanup crew, the best way to enjoy them is in a shrimp-only tank. Keeping a shrimp-only tank enables you to tailor your shrimp’s environment and makes it easier to meet their unique dietary requirements.  As omnivorous scavengers, freshwater shrimp will eat a wide range of foods they find throughout the tank. But if you want your shrimp to thrive, you’ll need to put some thought and effort into ..read more

Species Snapshot       Species Name: Dario dario       Common Names: Scarlet badis, scarlet gem badis, rainbow badis       Size: 1 inch       Lifespan: 4 to 6 years       Native Distribution: India Prized for their vivid red color and small size, the scarlet badis is a popular fish for nano tanks. What makes them particularly interesting is their status as a micropredator. When fed a suitable diet of live and frozen foods, the scarlet badis exhibits stunning colors which alternate from a fiery red-orange to a silvery ..read more

Freshwater shrimp are both entertaining and rewarding to keep but proper care comes with some challenges. Like any aquatic inhabitant, shrimp require an environment tailored to their unique needs to thrive and thoughtful preparation is key. Successfully cultivating freshwater shrimp involves more than simply adding a few shrimp to a spare tank. The size of the tank determines the size of the colony it can support. The equipment you choose affects water quality and maintenance requirements. Most importantly, however, the tank needs to be balanced and fully cycled before you add your shrimp. In ..read more

Love the look of a planted aquarium but not sure you’re ready to take the plunge? Consider aquatic moss as a beginner-friendly introduction to live aquascaping. With its lush green color and low maintenance requirements, moss makes a great addition to any freshwater aquarium. If you put a little thought into its placement and keep up with fertilization and trimming, aquarium moss can be very attractive. It can also benefit your tank in numerous ways. Here’s what you need to know about using moss in freshwater aquascaping. Benefits of Aquatic Moss As you gain experience in the aquarium hobby, y ..read more

Few things are as impressive as a large aquarium stocked with multiple species of vibrant fish. Though visually striking, such tanks may not be the biggest challenge an aquarium hobbyist can take on. Maintaining a small tank can be much more difficult, especially when it holds inhabitants who are still relatively unknown in the aquarium hobby.  For aquarium hobbyists looking for a new challenge, freshwater shrimp present a unique opportunity. In recent years, selective breeding has resulted in numerous new varieties, each one more beautiful than the last. If you’re thinking about getting ..read more

When cultivating a planted tank, it’s easy to get caught up in rooted varieties. While rooted aquarium plants serve wonderfully as background, midground, and carpet plants, there’s another level of your tank to be utilized—the surface. This is where floating aquarium plants come into play.  Whether you’re looking for an easy entrance into the world of planted aquariums or you want to take an existing planted tank up a notch, consider adding floating plants. Here’s what you need to know. Benefits of Floating Plants  Floating plants provide the same benefits any aquarium plant does but ..read more