1. Animal Science II – Small Animal
Fish, Amphibians, and Reptiles

2. Objectives Standard: Objective:
Select best fish, amphibian & reptile for a given use.
Objective:
Discuss the major breeds of fish and types of amphibians & reptiles.

3. Species/Breeds of Fish
Live bearing fish
Guppies
Swordtails
Mollies
Platys
Egg laying fish
Koi
Goldfish
Betas
Tetras
Barbs
Catfish
Chinese Algae Eater
Headstanders
Saltwater fish
Angelfish
Brasslets
Clown fish
Sargeant Major

4. Egg Laying Fish

5. Koi Member of the goldfish family used in cold water aquariums
Prefer water temperatures between 32-68˚F
Moved to outside pools once they reach 5” in length and may grow to 3’ in a pool of adequate size
Occupy all levels of the pool or aquarium
Colors range from yellow or orange to multi-colors of blue, white, and red

6. Goldfish Very popular first fish for many children
Hardy and easy to keep freshwater fish that prefers pools or cold water aquariums
Prefer a temperature range of 32-68˚F
Can live in various types of water as long as water is kept clean

7. Betas Freshwater fish that are very aggressive
Frequently kept alone as a specimen fish in a species-only aquarium
Males must never be put in the same aquarium
One or two females may be put in a community aquarium but it may affect their coloration
Prefer a temperature range of 80˚F ± 3˚
Male Beta
Female Beta

8. Tetras
Easy to medium care ornamental fish that prefer soft water that is slightly acidic
A very sociable fish that does well in community aquariums
Average 1 ½-3” in length
One species is the neon

9. Barbs Freshwater fish that like water 73-77˚ F
Occupy lower levels and average 2-4” in length
Eat all types of food

10. Catfish
Grown as ornamentals including the upside-down catfish, glass catfish, and electric catfish
Prefer their water temperature to be 70-80˚ F

11. Chinese Algae Eater
Soaking loach that grows up to 10” long when the aquarium size permits
Large, fleshy lips that can cling to vegetation, rocks or the sides of a glass aquarium
Good community fish and feed off algae
Prefer a water temperature of 70-80˚F

12. Headstander Small deep-bodied freshwater fish of the Amazon region
Popular in aquariums
Swims and feeds at an oblique angle with the head down

13. Live bearing fish Give birth to live young
Live in shoals or groups of five or more

14. Guppies
Most popular
Varieties only differ in shapes of their fins and tails
Prefer water temperatures 68-75˚F
May average giving birth to 50 young, but adults may try to eat the young fry

15. Swordtails Known for its long sword-like caudal fin
Like environment similar to guppies
Average 3-4 ¾” long
Prefer water temperatures 68-70˚F

16. Mollies
Most species are black and differ only in the size of their fins
Prefer water temperatures 72-82˚F
Dwell in large groups or schools
Have problems with large fins (may grow so large that swimming is difficult)

17. Platys Very popular Average only 2 ½” in length
Prefer water temperature 68-77˚F

18. Saltwater Breeds
Live in saltwater and require the addition of sodium chloride (salt) to create a marine environment
Most of these ornamental fish lay eggs

19. Angelfish Some can live in freshwater
Delicate in appearance, but are very hardy
Eggs are carried in the parent’s mouth and placed either in foliage or sand as part of the incubation process
Prefer water temperature of 77-86˚F

20. Butterfly Fish Beautiful and very popular marine fish
Need lots of space because they are territorial and need to be separated from other butterfly fish
Prefer water temperature of 75-82˚F

21. Basslets Small, popular, colorful fish for marine aquariums
Royal gamma is the suggested basslet for beginner marine aquarists
Mix well with other species, but must be isolated from their own due to aggressive nature
Eat a diet of brine shrimp
Prefer water temperatures 79-82˚F

22. Clown Fish Orange in color with three white bands encircling the body
Each white band & fins are edged in black
Known for their ability to live around the tentacles of the sea anemone in a mutually beneficial relationship known as symbiosis

23. Sergeant Major Marine fish that grows to 7” in length
Silver-blue in color with a yellow tinge on its body and has seven vertical dark bands on each side.

24. Breeds of Amphibians
Newts
Salamanders
Frogs
Toads

25. Newts and Salamanders Range in size from a few inches to 5’ or more
Usually have four legs and long tails

26. Frogs and Toads
Frogs: make a croaking noise, have slender, longer bodies, and moist skin
Toads: rough skin and dry appearance
True frogs include the American Bullfrog and may grow to 14” long

27. Frogs and Toads
American Toad is the common toad in the eastern United States
Green Tree Frog is actually a yellow-green toad with a yellow stripe running from its lower jaw back along its sides

28. Species of Reptiles Boa constrictors Garter snakes Green anole Skinks
Savannah Monitor
Chameleon

29. Boa Constrictors
Popular pets because they adjust well to captivity and tame quickly
May grow 18’ long
Like to feed on small animals, birds, fish, and eggs

30. Garter Snakes Adjust well in captivity and can be tamed
Easily recognized by stripes running the length of their body
May reach 2-3’ in length

31. Green Anole An iguana that is often found in pet stores
Reaches a length of 8” and feeds on insects
Changes color from various shades of gray to brown

32. Skinks Very tame and make excellent pets
Secretive and do best with leaves to burrow under
May reach 2’ in length

33. Savannah Monitor A lizard that can be used as a pet
May reach sizes up to 6’ or more and become hard to handle

34. Common Chameleon A true chameleon that reaches about 10” in length
Can change their colors rapidly to adapt to their surroundings

35. Terminology & Physiology of Fish, Amphibians and Reptiles

36. Terminology Ornamental fish-
Kept for their appearance (bright colors and fancy fins)
Personal appeal to people
Not usually used for food

37. Terminology Tropical fish
Popular fish for aquariums that come from the warmer regions of the world

38. Terminology Marine fish Fish that are kept in salt water aquariums
Often more colorful than freshwater varieties

39. Terminology Freshwater fish Fish that are kept in a freshwater tank
Often the most popular fish for pets

40. Terminology Community fish
Fish that do well in an aquarium with other fish species
Examples include: Tetras, barbs, catfish, Mollies, Platys, and Swordtails

41. Terminology Species fish
Do best in an aquarium with fish of the same species
Examples: Blind Cave Fish, Piranhas, Red-Tailed Shark, Schomburgk’s Leaf Fish, Spiny eels, Killifish (one pair alone in an aquarium), Betas (alone in an aquarium)

42. Terminology Gonopodium
Modification of anal fin into a tube-shaped organ in male live-bearers that provides passage for sperm packets to enter the oviduct of the female

43. Terminology Live bearer Fish that give birth to live young
Examples: guppies, Mollies, Platys, and Swordtails

44. Terminology Egg layers
Fish that expel eggs from the female to be fertilized by the male
Examples: tetras, barbs, catfish, goldfish

45. Terminology Shoals Small colonies of fish
Some species prefer to live in shoals
Examples: African refin, catfish, tetras

46. Terminology
Spawning
The reproduction ritual where eggs are deposited and fertilized by egg laying species of fish

47. Terminology
Scales
Thin, bony plates that develop from and are embedded in dermis
Overlap each other and provide protection
Exposed part of the scale is covered with a thin layer of epidermis that produces a slimy mucous which protects the fish from water borne bacteria

48. Water/Salt Requirements
Fish must maintain proper levels of salt and water in their bodies.
Water flows from areas of weak salt solution to areas of strong salt solution by osmosis.

49. Water/Salt Requirements
Freshwater fish do not need to drink water because their body concentration is higher than the water
Saltwater fish have a lower concentration of salt in their bodies than in the water. Therefore, they must drink water to keep from dehydrating.

50. Feeding Habits
Bottom feeders (dwellers) are fish that inhabit the lower level of the aquarium and feed off the bottom.
Their mouth may be turned down or underslung and they may have barbs to help them locate food.
Example: barbs

51. Feeding Habits
Middle feeders (middle-water fish) primarily occupy the middle layer of the aquarium and usually have small mouths that are straight forward because they are eating feed that is straight in front of them.

52. Feeding Habits
Top feeders usually eat from the surface and occupy the upper levels of the aquarium.
Often, their mouths will be turned upward and they will have long streamlined bodies designed for rapid movement to help them catch insects.

53. Feeding Habits
Some fish, like goldfish, do not show a preference for the level of the aquarium.

54. Physiology of Respiration
Fish use organs called gills to breathe.
Water is drawn through the mouth by constant opening and closing of the mouth.
This forces water into the pharynx and out through gills.

55. Physiology of Respiration
Dissolved oxygen in water is taken into the blood and CO2 is released into the water from the gills.

56. Physiology of Respiration
A few species of fish come to the surface and gulp air into their mouth. They are able to use atmospheric oxygen because part of their intestines allow for intake of oxygen. The air is then swallowed into the digestive system and taken into the blood.

57. Physiology of Movement
Fins-a moveable structure that allow the fish to swim and maintain balance.
Most bony fish have rayed fins that consist of webs of skin supported by bone or cartilage rods called rays.
Rays can be sharp, soft, or spiny.
Fins are very flexible.

58. Physiology of Movement
Most fish have at least one fin along their back (dorsal), one underside near the tail (anal), and one tail fin (caudal).
Some have a small fleshy fin located between the dorsal and caudal called an adipose fin.
Fish also have a pair of fins located behind the head called the pectoral and the pelvic located behind them.

59. Physiology of Amphibians
Cold blooded animals that have thin, moist skin that allows them to breathe through the skin by osmosis.
Amphibians usually live in moist environments, but location usually depends on their skin thickness.
Amphibians do not have scales.

60. Physiology of Amphibians
Amphibians crush their prey and swallow it whole because they do not have teeth.
They also live part of their life in water. Adult amphibians spend part or all of their life on land.

61. Physiology of Reptiles
Reptiles are cold blooded vertebrates that have dry, scaly skin and lungs for breathing.
Reptiles have bony skeleton scales or horny plates that cover their body.
Reptiles include crocodiles, lizards, snakes, turtles, tortoises, etc.

62. Physiology of Reptiles
Some give birth by laying eggs (oviparous), others retain the eggs in their body until they hatch and give birth to young (ovoviviparous), and in others their young develop in a placental sac and are born live (viviparous).

63. Objectives Standard: Objective:
Select the best fish, amphibian and reptile for a given use.
Objective:
Use care techniques that improve the well-being of fish, amphibians & reptiles.

64. Fish Housing & Feeding

65. Purchasing an Aquarium
Decide on tank type (glass or plastic)
Plastic is cheaper, but glass is easier to clean.
Framed tanks are more expensive than all glass and offer more support to the glass.

66. Purchasing an Aquarium
Tank size
Size depends on the amount you want to invest and the type (species) of fish.
Ranges from a simple Beta or goldfish bowl with a 1 gallon capacity to 10, 30, 50, or 100+ gallons.
Thickness of glass ranges from ¼” for small aquariums to 3/8” for larger aquariums.

67. Purchasing an Aquarium
Stocking Rate for Aquariums
1 inch of fish requires a MINIMUM of:
Tropical fish aquarium
10 in2 of surface area
Cold water aquarium
30 in2 of surface area
Marine aquarium
48 in2 of surface area

68. Purchasing an Aquarium
For example:
An aquarium that is 24” long by 10” wide has 240 in2 of surface area.
The tank would hold 24” of tropical fish, 8” of cold water fish, or 5” of marine fish.
One could have eight swordtails 3” long in a tropical aquarium, two goldfish 4” long in a coldwater aquarium, or two Brasslets 2.5” long in a marine aquarium.

69. Purchasing an Aquarium
Shape
Depends on personal preference and species of fish you are raising.
The most common shape is rectangular, but square, spherical, etc are also common.

70. Purchasing an Aquarium
Species
Type of fish purchasing
Freshwater vs. saltwater

71. Aquarium Equipment Power filter with an electric motor
Filtration systems remove uneaten food materials, dissolved materials, solid waste and neutralize harmful substances.

72. Types of Filtration Systems
Mechanical
Removal of waste by using various kinds of filtration devices
Modern systems use an external filter box

73. Types of Filtration Systems
Chemical
Removal of dissolved material by using a chemical process
The use of activated charcoal to soak up dissolved minerals and chemicals is the most common chemical removal process.
Activated charcoal is often part of the filter system and must be changed at regular intervals.

74. Types of Filtration Systems
Biological
Use bacteria to feed on toxic substances such as ammonia excreted from fish during respiration or as a result of decaying waste and food material.
Waste is changed from a harmful substance to a harmless one (nitrogen)
Dissolved oxygen in the water is also replenished.

75. Aquarium Equipment Air Pumps for aeration
Water is circulated from the bottom of the tank to the surface where aeration can take place.
Compressed air (oxygen) is pumped through airstones (fused, porous glass) to break the airflow into minute bubbles.

76. Aquarium Equipment Air Pumps Cont’d
As the compressed air goes into the water, it disperses carbon dioxide (aeration)
Air bubbles rising from the bottom aid in equalizing the water temperature throughout and circulating the water to the top where aeration can take place.

77. Aquarium Equipment Hydrometer For measuring salt content
GFCI electrical outlet preferred

78. Aquarium Equipment Heater/Thermostat
Needed to maintain water temperature for tropical aquariums
Must be the right size (approximately 10 watts of power for each 1 ½ gallons of water

79. Aquarium Equipment Thermometer
Liquid crystal thermometers that are adhesive strips that stick to the outside of the aquarium are popular

80. Aquarium Equipment Other materials
Water container (for exchanging water)
Gravel or sand
Plants
Decorative stones
Hood with starter for fluorescent lights
Dip nets
Decorative materials

81. Aquarium Maintenance
Remove temporary hardness of water by boiling and allowing to sit prior to its use in the aquarium
Eliminate chlorine by aerating it for hours prior to use or allowing it to sit for 48 hours so the chlorine will evaporate.

82. Aquarium Maintenance Daily Maintenance
Check heater, temperature, aeration, and filtration
Remove dead fish
Observe for any unusual behavior

83. Aquarium Maintenance Weekly Maintenance
Check water level and pH and add water and chemicals as appropriate

84. Aquarium Maintenance Monthly Maintenance
1/4 to 1/5 of the water needs to be changed every three to four weeks to provide fish a stress free environment and prolong the life of the filters
Siphon off any dead material from bottom of the aquarium.
Tend to plants and remove algae.

85. Aquarium Maintenance
Factors that contribute to increased ammonia and nitrates in the tank
Increase in waste material and uneaten food on the bottom (Don’t overfeed)
Dirty filters and failure to change water monthly
Overpopulation of fish

86. Feeding Fish
Vary feed to prevent boredom—fish really like live food, but freeze-dried and frozen food is a good alternative
Feed fish 2 to 3 times per day
Feed only enough for the fish to eat in 3-5 minutes.
Live foods like brine shrimp, earthworms, wood lice, and worms are treats to fish.

87. Feeding Fish
Commercially prepared flake foods are ideal for small fish up to 4-5” long. Vitamins and nutrients are provided in amounts needed by the fish.
Commercially prepared pellets work well for larger fish. The type depends on the eating habit of the fish being kept.

88. Reptile/Amphibian Housing & Feeding

89. Reptile and Amphibian Habitats
Vast differences between species, but the goal should always be to duplicate the natural environment of the pet.
Aquariums usually make the best containers.
Semi-aquatic aquariums may be made by using plexi-glass to partition the aquarium in half

90. Reptile and Amphibian Habitats
Vivariums should be designed to give the reptile an environment close to its actual habitat.
Reptiles are ectotherms. They do not generate body heat and must rely completely on the temperature of their environement.

91. Reptile and Amphibian Habitats
Reptiles need ultraviolet (UV) rays for calcium metabolism, formation of pigment, and vitamin D synthesis.
Reptiles need sunlight.
Fluorescent lights will provide UV rays as long as there is not glass between the light and the reptile. Glass filters the UV rays out.