2006-11-09 17:22:53 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
Anabantoids or labyrinth fish are fish with labyrinth organs which allow them to breathe oxygen directly from the water surface. So they do not really need any air pump or aerator of any kind.
Popular anabantoids kept in home aquaria include:
1. Betta Splendens (Siamese Fighting Fish)
2. Paradise fish
3. Gourami
a) Pearl Gourami
b) Blue Gourami
c) Dwarf Gourami
d) Kissing Gourami
Hardy and low maintenance as they are, anabantoids are generally aggressive and territorial with their own species and with other fish. So better keep each alone in his respective tank.
2006-11-09 18:59:20 · answer #1 · answered by aquamike 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you have a filter like the hanging tank filters you don't need a pump. If you are planning on no filter then you need to change the water weekly, or sooner. The best fish for this are Paradise fish/gourami, and betta. Betta really need temps in the 70 to low 80s. So if your house is cold the paradise gourami is the best bet. The down side is both fish are very aggressive. If you have a heater you could try a few pearl gourami, but you need to be sure to do water changes the same temp as the water in the tank. Also pearl gourami get pretty big, and do better in 30 gallon tanks.
PS- Note that betta, and gourami are air beather, and will drown if they can reach the surface for air.
2006-11-10 12:57:54 · answer #2 · answered by Sabersquirrel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I only use an air pump during the summer when the water is warmer, since warmer water has less oxygen. I have good filters on my tanks that disrupt the surface of the water, which allows the gases to exchange and lets the oxygen in. The bubbles from the air stone aren't the oxygen that is being added, when they pop at the surface in when the oxygen enters. So any fish can live without an air pump as long as you have a good filter, plants help too.
Unlike what others have said on here goldfish actually need a lot of oxygen. Like I had said, warmer water holds less oxygen so colder water holds more. Since they are coldwater fish the water that they should be in should be full of oxygen. They also should never be in a bowl, no fish should, even bettas.
2006-11-10 02:01:12 · answer #3 · answered by Nunya Biznis 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I keep fish in a 4 ft tank without an air pump BUT and this is IMPORTANT, I have live plants with lighting geared toward optimal plant growth and substrates mixed in with the gravel to help the plants along. I also add plant fertilisers and CO2. The plants use the light, the CO2, the plant fertiliser and the minerals from the substrate to grow really well and thus create enough oxygen to keep the fish healthy. If you're not setup for plants as well, I'd stick to goldfish or labyrinth fish.
2006-11-09 19:01:58 · answer #4 · answered by moya 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No fish will survive in a large tank without the air. But Bettas and Goldfish alone in a little one gallon will be ok.
In addition to a air pump, the filter that cleans the fish tank provides air if it circulates air from the top of the tank. Not an undergravel filter, but the top fitting kind. We also have a bubble wand in ours attached to a tiny air pump. The fish wish not survive without something with air circulation.
2006-11-09 17:27:09 · answer #5 · answered by Bard's Babe 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Air pumps are beneficial to all fish,but the ones that can tolerate being without one are Bettas,Gouramis,and other labyrinth fish related to them.They can get oxygen from the air and store it ,unlike other fish.It will help if you put a lot of live water plants in the tank.
2006-11-09 17:27:13 · answer #6 · answered by Dances With Woofs! 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not many are very good at it. Your basic goldfish will last quite a while and Beta will too (keep one at a time ONLY) but they wont be as pretty if the O2 is really low.
Other than that not many fish are really good with such low O2 levels that are found in a bowl with no air pump. Although air pumps are really not very expensive and a small one will work depending on the size of your tank.
2006-11-09 17:26:45 · answer #7 · answered by D B 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Go to pet store and ask for a beta fish. They don't need pumped water to survive.
2006-11-09 17:25:12 · answer #8 · answered by wjb 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the number of fish and the size of the tank. I am successful with one gallon per fish. Bettas do well this way of course alone due to their aggressive behavior.
2006-11-09 17:26:38 · answer #9 · answered by firestarter 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
To put it simply, only a gold fish or beta fish. Have only one of beta (aggresive) or one goldfish. They are dirty though, so you have to change the water about every other day. I had both a beta and gold fish and each one lived about a year. It was a real pain to clean them all the time though. Takes a lot of dedication. Hope this helps.
2006-11-09 17:29:07 · answer #10 · answered by Bobby 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋