Fishing Chat: June 2013

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Cod Fish Recipes

An excellent low-calorie source of protein, white flesh cod fish consumption comes with varied health benefits. Cod fish is full of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6, which is known to have blood thinning properties that is very essential for maintaining good heart health. Besides the health factor, cod fish is very yummy, children and adults enjoy them, alike. So go ahead, and try out some yummy recipes of cod fish.

Cod Fish and Herbs

Ingredients

Cod fillets, 2
Finely chopped basil, 1 tsp
Minced rosemary, 1 stem
Grated ginger root, 1 tbsp
Minced garlic, 5 cloves
Chopped onion, 1
Fresh chives, 1 tbsp
Fresh minced leek, white only, 1
Finely chopped celery, 3 stalks
Soy sauce, 3 tsp
Lemon juice, 2 tbsp
Salt and black pepper, to taste

In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, lemon juice, rosemary, basil, chives and soy sauce, marinate cod fish with this mix and set aside for half an hour. In a heavy skillet, dry roast or saute the onion, leek, celery, garlic and ginger root, for 3-5 minutes. Place cod fillets gently on the skillet kept at a low flame, turning sides gently and sear it until lightly browned. Transfer cod along with other ingredient from the skillet onto a flat oven proof dish, cover it and bake in a preheated oven to 350F, until fish is well browned and cooked (approx 25 minutes). Serve hot with rice and lemon wedges.

Fried Cod Fish

Ingredients

Cod fillets, 6
White wine, 1 cup
Minced garlic, 2 tbsp
All-purpose flour, 1 cup
Paprika, 2 tbsp
Egg, 1
Freshly ground black pepper, 2 tbsp
Cooking oil, 2 cups
Salt, to taste

Wash the cod and pat dry it. Season with salt and pepper, set aside. In a bowl, combine flour, minced garlic, paprika, and salt and pepper. Sift in beaten egg and fold it well in the dry ingredients. Pour white wine until a thin batter is formed. Batter should be thin, because the idea here is just to dip the fish in it to get the flavor and not coat it. Heat oil in a deep heavy skillet, when the oil starts smoking, reduce flame, and drop batter dipped cod fish one at a time, and fry until crisp and golden brown. Drain on paper towels, and serve hot with fresh green salad.

Cod Fish Cakes

Ingredients

Cod fillets, 1 pound
Bread crumbs, 1 cup
Medium-sized potatoes, 2
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, cup
Finely chopped garlic, 2 cloves
Chopped fresh parsley, cup
Eggs, 2
Salt and pepper, to taste
Cooking oil, 4 cups

Steam potatoes, skin and mash them, set aside. Steam cod fish until it begins to flake. De-bone cod fish. In a large bowl, mix together mashed potatoes and flaked fish along with cheese, parsley, garlic, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, and eggs one at a time. Take a handful of this mixture and shape it into cakes. Shallow fry them on medium high heat in a heavy skillet. Serve hot with desired sauce.

One can purchase canned cod fish fillets or opt for fresh cod. Whether cod fish is baked or fried, it will bring your way plenty of compliments, and you can be sure of 'wiped clean' serving plate.

King Crab Fishing Jobs

Fishing is carried out throughout the year in Alaska. There are many job opportunities available, one can apply to work either on the fishing boats or in the canneries. There are employers who even provide the employees with lodging, boarding and travel allowance to Alaska.

King crab fishing is one of the most lucrative jobs in Alaska. There are three kinds of crabs that are commercially fished, namely, Alaskan king, tanner and Dungeness. King crab is one of the most favorite seafood. The king crab fishing season is short, during which many people earn large paychecks in just a few weeks.

It is not easy to find employment in the areas, where Alaskan crab fishing takes place. There are many dangers involved such as terrible weather, and a cut-throat competition among the fishers to get the highest number of crabs. The waters are icy cold and the fishermen have to brave hypothermia and rough sea conditions. Inexperienced or freshmen in this field rarely get a chance to work as a crab catcher. The jobs available for such candidates are as a deckhand or a salmon fisher in the trawls. Once a newcomer gains ample experience as a salmon catcher, he can go crab fishing in the winter months. During the winter, the catches are small and there is less competition in the water. This helps the freshmen gain experience and confidence as a king crab fisher.

If one has successfully fished for crabs in winter, he becomes eligible for king crab fishing jobs. The fishing boats are 100 feet to 150 feet long. Crabs are caught using the large steel pots, which are 7' x 7' x 3' in size and weigh around 700 pounds. They are baited with a combination of herring, cod or salmon. The baits are lowered to the ocean floor with the help of hydraulic launchers and retrieved back with the help of hydraulic winches.

Legally one can only fish male king crabs. The females and juveniles have to be tossed back into the sea. The working hours are long as the king crab season is just two to four weeks long.

The newcomers on the ship are called deckhands or greenhorns. The deckhand is supposed to load and unload the supplies and the fishing equipment. They prepare and set the nets and equipment needed for fishing. They also have to remove the catch from the baits, measure and sort them and toss the crabs which do not meet the regulations. They also need to pack the catch on ice and salt. The cleaning of the boat and the fishing equipment is also done by the deck hands.

In order to get a job as king crab fisher, you need to be physically and mentally strong. You need to have strength to endure rough weather. You also need to remain alert at all times. This job involves working for the whole day, when there is a good catch or if the season is very short.

The payment for king crab fishing jobs is based on the share or percentage of the harvest earnings. The operating expenses, the owner's and captain's share is deducted and the remainder is divided among the crab fisherman and deck hands. In a good season, you can earn around thousands of dollars a month.

King crab fishing is not like an ordinary fishing. It involves a great deal of patience and nerves of steel. If you think that you have the guts to face the extreme weather and long working hours, then king crab fishing is the perfect job for you.

Saturday, June 29, 2013

How to Draw a Cartoon Cat

Cartoons make us laugh and this makes them enjoyable to watch. But won't it be more fun if you could draw your own cartoon cat? With the help of this article, even those who are not the best at drawing will be able to draw a cartoon cat in just a few steps. Cats are great companions and friends, especially for kids, who are closer to them and love to play with kittens. It is quite easy to draw a cat once you understand the basic strokes you need to make. So without further ado, let us go into the details of drawing a cartoon cat.

Before we begin, there are some essential points to be taken into consideration. Remember that the correct depiction of slenderness, robustness, lengthiness and thickness of the legs are important to form an overall image of a cat.

Easy Steps to Draw a Cartoon Cat

You need to follow the instructions given in the following tutorial to sketch yourself a lovely cartoon cat.

Basic Requirements:

Paper
Pencil
Eraser
Color pencils

Step 1: Draw an Outline for the Head and Body

To draw the outline of the head, make an oval-shaped circle.
Draw another two oval-shaped circles attached to each other to form the body of the cat - as shown in figure 1.1.

Figure 1.1
Step 2: Sketch the Legs

Cat's legs are small and a little stout. To accurately depict this, draw curved lines to form the front legs.
Draw paws by adding ovals for the front and rear legs at the end - as shown in figure 1.2.

Figure 1.2
Step 3: It's a Long 'Tail' to Draw
It's now time to see how to draw a cat's tail.

Basically, to begin with, you need to draw a shape that is close enough to the letter 'S' to form a tail.
Draw another curved line along with it for the raised tail - as shown in figure 1.3. A raised tail is a sign of a friendly greeting, according to body language of cats.

Figure 1.3
Step 4: Connecting the Shapes to form a Cat

To give it a proper shape, connect the body and head with curved lines.
Similarly, connect the oval circles too with arcs to form a cobby shape of a body - as shown in figure 1.4.

Figure 1.4
Step 5: Other Detailing

To draw ears, make two cone shapes on the top of the head. Now, give a shape to the cat's face as shown.
Complete the sketch of the face by drawing sleepy eyes, a nose and a mouth - as shown in figure 1.5.

Figure 1.5
Step 6: Finishing Touches

Complete your sketch by erasing any unnecessary lines.
Add more detailing by drawing accessories like a necklace, belt, or cap for your cat. And yes, while you are sketching your cat's eyes, do remember to draw the pupils as two long slits, not circles but slits - as shown in figure 1.6.

Figure 1.6
Step 7: Splash Some Colors
Now comes the fun part, i.e., coloring the cat!

Let your imagination run wild; color the cat with your favorite colors to make it appear more attractive and cartoon-ish. You can choose whichever shades you like for this activity.
If choosing colors puts you in a fix, here are some suggestions you can opt for: black and white, brown and white, pink and white, etc.

The animation shown below will give you a quick view of the steps described in the cartoon cat tutorial.

cartoon-cat

So you see, drawing a cartoon cat is quite easy using these simple steps. Don't be disappointed if your cat does not turn out the way you imagined it the first time. You can always practice sketching in rough and then draw your perfect cat. Hold your pencil steady, remember clean curves come from confidence. Draw sharp strokes to make a neat cartoon cat. Ensure your pencil is well-sharpened and always keep a good quality eraser for your rescue. Just follow the instructions given and have a ball drawing your 'purry' friend!

Jamba Juice Calories

If you're not familiar with Jamba Juice then here's a short explanation. Jamba Juice is a popular smoothie chain restaurant. The restaurants are spread across the U.S. and the Bahamas. Along with serving delicious smoothies, Jamba Juice also serves fresh juices, teas, energy and nutritional shots, and other eatables. As there are tons of choices in front of you, the accurate Jamba Juice calorie counts can be a concern. To tell you the truth, there's not a lot to worry about. With correct nutritional information, you can easily understand where this restaurant stands in respect to health. All you require is a list of Jamba Juice calories and other nutritional information. So keeping that in mind, we have put together a detailed Jamba Juice calorie chart for you. Go through the table given below and find out the correct calorie information.

Jamba Juice Nutrition Facts - Liquid Items

In this first section, we will be going over the different drinks which are available at the restaurants. There are 3 different sizes these smoothies (and other drinks) can be bought. Depending on their sizes, the nutritional information is given. With all the wonderful flavors available, you gotta wonder what are the calories? To help you answer this question, we will be going over the calories for all the drinks that are available at the stores. Depending on what you prefer to drink at this smoothie restaurant, read the following Jamba Juice nutrition data which has the complete details on calories of your favorite smoothies and beverages.

Jamba Juice - All Fruit Smoothies

Five Fruit Frenzy
Sizes	Calories	Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Carbohydrates (g)	Sugar (g)	Protein (g)	Vitamin A (%)	Vitamin C (%)
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	240	0.5	0	58	44	30	60	70
Original (24 fl oz.)	340	1	0	82	63	2	50	80
Power (30 fl oz.)	430	1.5	0	105	80	3	50	120
Peach Perfection
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	210	0	0	53	42	1	60	70
Original (24 fl oz.)	300	0	0	75	59	2	90	100
Power (30 fl oz.)	400	0.5	0	99	80	3	140	130
Pomegranate Paradise
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	240	0.5	0	60	53	1	60	90
Original (24 fl oz.)	340	0.5	0	85	74	2	90	130
Power (30 fl oz.)	430	1	0	109	95	3	90	170
Strawberry Whirl
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	220	0	0	54	46	1	2	90
Original (24 fl oz.)	300	0.5	0	75	64	2	2	120
Power (30 fl oz.)	380	1	0	95	80	2	4	190
Mega Mango
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	230	0.5	0	57	50	2	90	230
Original (24 fl oz.)	320	1	0	80	70	3	130	330
Power (30 fl oz.)	420	1	0	104	91	5	170	450

Jamba Juice - Classic Smoothies

Aloha Pineapple
Sizes	Calories	Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Carbohydrates (g)	Sugar (g)	Protein (g)	Vitamin A (%)	Vitamin C (%)
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	290	1	5	67	63	5	2	100
Original (24 fl oz.)	410	1.5	5	97	91	6	4	150
Power (30 fl oz.)	550	2	5	130	123	7	6	210
Banana Berry
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	270	1	0	64	57	3	2	15
Original (24 fl oz.)	400	1.5	5	94	82	4	2	25
Power (30 fl oz.)	560	2	5	131	115	6	4	35
Blackberry Bliss
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	230	1	0	55	49	1	2	30
Original (24 fl oz.)	340	1.5	0	82	72	2	2	45
Power (30 fl oz.)	480	2	5	113	100	3	4	50
Caribbean Passion
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	250	1	5	57	51	2	15	80
Original (24 fl oz.)	360	1.5	5	82	73	3	20	110
Power (30 fl oz.)	490	2	5	112	101	4	25	160
Mango-a-go-go
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	280	1	5	65	59	2	90	70
Original (24 fl oz.)	400	1.5	5	94	85	3	130	110
Power (30 fl oz.)	550	2.5	5	129	117	4	170	140
Peach Pleasure
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	260	1	5	61	51	2	8	20
Original (24 fl oz.)	370	1.5	5	88	73	3	10	25
Power (30 fl oz.)	490	2	5	114	96	4	20	35
Pomegranate Pick-Me-Up
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	260	1	5	61	53	2	2	60
Original (24 fl oz.)	370	2	5	88	75	3	4	80
Power (30 fl oz.)	510	2.5	5	120	105	3	4	120
Razzmatazz
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	270	1	5	63	51	2	2	60
Original (24 fl oz.)	390	1.5	5	91	74	3	4	90
Power (30 fl oz.)	520	2.5	5	121	100	4	4	130
Strawberries Wild
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	250	0	0	95	2	3	2	60
Original (24 fl oz.)	370	0	5	87	77	5	2	80
Power (30 fl oz.)	510	0.5	5	118	104	7	2	120
Strawberry Surf Rider
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	300	1	5	67	72	2	6	90
Original (24 fl oz.)	430	1.5	5	103	93	3	8	130
Power (30 fl oz.)	580	2	5	140	126	4	10	180

Jamba Juice - Light Smoothies

Berry Fulfilling
Sizes	Calories	Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Carbohydrates (g)	Sugar (g)	Protein (g)	Vitamin A (%)	Vitamin C (%)
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	150	0.5	0	32	24	6	2	30
Original (24 fl oz.)	230	1	5	51	38	7	4	80
Power (30 fl oz.)	320	1	5	51	38	7	4	80
Mango Mantra
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	150	0.5	0	31	27	6	60	90
Original (24 fl oz.)	250	1	5	78	67	10	180	260
Power (30 fl oz.)	340	1	5	56	48	8	130	180
Strawberry Nirvana
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	150	0	0	31	27	5	2	60
Original (24 fl oz.)	230	0.5	5	51	43	7	2	110
Power (30 fl oz.)	300	0.5	5	69	58	8	4	180

Jamba Juice - Pre-Boosted Smoothies

Acai Super-Antioxidant
Sizes	Calories	Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Carbohydrates (g)	Sugar (g)	Protein (g)	Vitamin A (%)	Vitamin C (%)
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	260	4	5	53	45	4	60	930
Original (24 fl oz.)	380	6	5	77	65	5	60	N/A
Power (30 fl oz.)	520	7	5	107	92	8	60	N/A
Protein Berry Workout
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	280	0	5	52	42	17	2	60
Original (24 fl oz.)	370	0.5	5	72	59	20	2	80
Power (30 fl oz.)	490	1	5	99	81	23	4	130
Strawberry Energizer
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	280	1	5	67	58	2	6	110
Original (24 fl oz.)	390	1.5	5	94	82	3	8	150
Power (30 fl oz.)	540	2	5	128	113	4	10	200
The Coldbuster
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	240	1.5	5	56	49	3	70	900
Original (24 fl oz.)	350	2	5	81	70	4	70	980
Power (30 fl oz.)	500	3	5	116	100	6	80	107

Jamba Juice - Probiotics

Strawberries Alive-Smoothie
Sizes	Calories	Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Carbohydrates (g)	Sugar (g)	Protein (g)	Vitamin A (%)	Vitamin C (%)
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	250	0	0	50	42	11	2	60
Original (24 fl oz.)	330	0	0	67	56	13	2	80
Power (30 fl oz.)	420	0	0	85	71	18	2	110
Thrivin' Mango
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	240	0	0	51	43	8	40	40
Original (24 fl oz.)	320	0	0	69	59	9	60	60
Power (30 fl oz.)	420	0.5	0	89	76	13	60	70
Vibrant Blueberry Smoothie
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	230	0	0	46	38	10	2	50
Original (24 fl oz.)	310	0.5	0	62	51	13	2	70
Power (30 fl oz.)	440	0.5	5	86	72	21	2	110

Jamba Juice - Fruit Tea Infusions

Passion Fruit
Sizes	Calories	Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Carbohydrates (g)	Sugar (g)	Protein (g)	Vitamin A (%)	Vitamin C (%)
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	150	0	0	37	32	1	6	100
Original (24 fl oz.)	300	0	0	72	63	2	10	190
Power (30 fl oz.)	230	0	0	54	48	1	8	150
Pomegranate
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	160	0	0	40	36	1	2	90
Original (24 fl oz.)	240	0	0	59	53	1	2	130
Power (30 fl oz.)	310	0	0	78	69	1	2	170
Prickly Pear
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	150	0	0	38	33	1	2	100
Original (24 fl oz.)	230	0	0	56	49	1	2	140
Power (30 fl oz.)	300	0.5	0	74	64	1	2	180

Jamba Juice - Fresh Juice and Shots

Carrot Juice
Sizes	Calories	Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Carbohydrates (g)	Sugar (g)	Protein (g)	Vitamin A (%)	Vitamin C (%)
Twelve	100	0.5	0	22	20	3	700	20
Sixteen	130	0.5	0	30	26	4	930	30
Orange Juice
Twelve	170	0.5	0	39	31	3	N/A	6
Sixteen	220	1	0	52	42	3	20	410
Matcha Energy Shot-Orange Juice
Single Shot	60	0	0	13	10	1	4	110
Double Shot	60	0	0	13	10	1	4	110
Matcha Energy Shot-Soymilk
Single Shot	290	1	5	67	63	5	2	100
Double Shot	550	2	5	130	123	7	6	210
Wheatgrass Detox Shot
Twelve	70	0	0	14	12	3	N/A	6
Sixteen	70	0	0	14	12	4	N/A	10

Jamba Juice - Creamy Treats

Berried 'n Chocolate
Sizes	Calories	Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Carbohydrates (g)	Sugar (g)	Protein (g)	Vitamin A (%)	Vitamin C (%)
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	390	6	10	80	67	7	4	50
Original (24 fl oz.)	520	6	10	108	91	10	6	80
Power (30 fl oz.)	750	10	15	154	130	130	8	110
Chill-icious Chai
Twelve	310	0	5	65	58	10	N/A	2
Sixteen	440	0	5	92	82	13	N/A	2
Chocolate Moo'd
Twelve	430	4	15	86	77	11	4	2
Sixteen	570	5	15	116	103	15	4	2
Matcha Green Tea Blast
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	290	0	0	62	55	8	N/A	10
Original (24 fl oz.)	420	0	0	90	80	10	N/A	15
Power (30 fl oz.)	590	0	0	90	80	10	N/A	15
Mocha Mojo
Sixteen (16 fl oz.)	350	1.5	5	73	62	9	2	2
Original (24 fl oz.)	510	1.5	5	107	91	13	2	2
Power (30 fl oz.)	680	3	10	142	122	18	2	2
Orange Dream Machine
Twelve	350	1.5	5	75	68	8	6	110
Sixteen	470	2	10	102	93	10	8	140
Peanut Butter Moo'd
Twelve	470	10	5	310	3	13	2	10
Sixteen	770	20	10	125	108	20	4	15

Jamba Juice - Ideal Meals

Acai Topper
Sizes	Calories	Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Carbohydrates (g)	Sugar (g)	Protein (g)	Vitamin A (%)	Vitamin C (%)
Twelve	440	10	0	84	48	9	30	190
Sixteen	490	10	0	96	57	9	35	200
Berry Topper
Twelve	300	4.5	0	59	37	9	2	70
Sixteen	460	9	0	85	50	13	4	70
Chunky Strawberry Topper
Twelve	520	17	0	82	46	14	2	70
Sixteen	570	17	0	92	54	16	4	100
Mango Peach Topper
Twelve	320	4.5	0	64	42	9	60	50
Sixteen	470	8	0	90	55	13	60	50

Jamba Juice Nutrition Facts - Eatables

Along with the delicious smoothies and juices, you can also find great eatables that can be paired with them. Hence, we thought since you are searching for Jamba Juice calories, it should include the following items as well.

Jamba Juice - Steel-Cut Oatmeal

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Sizes	Calories	Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Carbohydrates (g)	Sugar (g)	Protein (g)	Vitamin A (%)	Vitamin C (%)
As Served	290	4	5	60	25	8	0	8
Brown Sugar Crumble	40	1	0	8	7	0	0	0
Fruit	70	0	0	16	13	0	0	8
Berry Cherry Pecan
As Served	340	9	0	62	27	9	2	0
Brown Sugar Crumble	40	1	0	8	7	0	0	0
Dried Fruit Medley	60	0	0	14	13	0	2	0
Glazed Pecan	60	5	0	3	2	1	0	0
Blueberry and Blackberry Oatmeal
As Served	290	3.5	0	58	24	8	0	0
Brown Sugar Crumble	40	1	0	8	7	0	0	0
Fruit	60	0	0	15	13	0	N/A	N/A
Fresh Banana Oatmeal
As Served	280	4	0	57	19	9	2	8
Brown Sugar Crumble	40	1	0	8	7	0	0	0
Fruit	50	0	0	13	7	1	0	8
Plain Oatmeal w/ Brown Sugar
As Served	220	3.5	0	44	12	8	N/A	N/A
Brown Sugar Crumble	40	1	0	8	7	0	0	0

Jamba Juice - Baked Items (per serving)

Items	Calories	Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Carbohydrates (g)	Sugar (g)	Protein (g)	Vitamin A (%)	Vitamin C (%)
Apple Cinnamon Pretzel	380	4	0	76	14	11	0	0
Cheddar Tomato Twist	240	4.5	5	41	3	8	4	6
Omega-3 Chocolate Brownie Cookie	150	3.5	0	30	24	3	0	0
Omega-3 Oatmeal Cookie	150	6	5	26	15	2	0	0
Orange Dark Chocolate Chip Scone	380	15	55	57	27	6	2	0
Reduced-Fat Blueberry Lemon Loaf	290	8	20	53	30	2	2	0
Reduced-Fat Cranberry Orange Loaf	310	9	20	52	31	6	N/A	N/A
Sourdough Parmesan Pretzel	410	10	5	67	4	14	0	0
Tart Cherry Scone	360	12	0	60	1	6	2	0
Zucchini Walnut Loaf	270	9	20	43	26	5	0	N/A

Jamba Juice - California Flatbreads (per serving)

Items	Calories	Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Carbohydrates (g)	Sugar (g)	Protein (g)	Vitamin A (%)	Vitamin C (%)
Four Cheesy	420	16	40	46	4	21	15	10
MediterraneaYum	320	8	20	49	5	13	15	40
Smokehouse Chicken	390	10	45	53	5	19	10	15

Apart from the above mentioned information on calories in Jamba Juice smoothies, fruit teas, fresh juices, shots, and eatables, Jamba Juice also serves boosts and house coffee. Now that you have all the information you were searching for, I think it's time to hit Jamba Juice. What do you say?

Tropical Fish Food - Feeding your Aquarium Fish

Fish that come from warm climates are called tropical fish. The term tropical is usually used to describe the fish that require fresh water only. There are a few kinds of tropical fish that can be kept in aquariums, they are:

The specimen that has been caught in the wild.
The ones that belong to a single species and have been born in captivity.
Hybrids that belong to more than one species.

Live Food

Microorganisms, plants and animals are what constitute live food. Live food needs to be introduced into the aquarium after ensuring that they have all the nutrients that your fish will need to remain healthy and grow properly. Insects and larvae are also available in many pet stores.

Processed Food

There are many categories of processed food. Fresh, frozen, freeze-dried and canned are some of them. You will find vegetables and meats with minimal processing. Some fish that inhabit the aquarium will relish the bits of poultry; beef and game meats while you find the others enjoying bits of fresh vegetable matter.

Frozen food comes next. This category of processed food is available in most pert stores and includes a wide variety. When selecting frozen food make sure that you select a varied and staple diet. Insect larvae, crustaceans, worms and meats are some of the kinds of frozen food available in the market.

Canned food make up a fish's staple diet. These foods have been created in such a way that they provide a balanced and complete diet for your fish. The varieties available in canned food are:

Flakes - This is the most common type of processed food and is available in a wide variety. Some of the flakes are designed to counter nutritional imbalances while others are engineered to provide the nutritional requirements of specific varieties of fish and enhance growth or color.
Pellets - Pelleted food is available in a variety of colors and helps fish feed in a natural way.
Granules - These are hard, small or tiny pellets of food that are usually engineered for the general nutritional needs of a small community of fish.
Tablets - Flat and large pellets are called tablets. Most of the tablets available in the market sink, which enables scavengers and bottom feeders to acquire food too.

Feeding Tips

Feed your aquarium fish only a few times a day.
When feeding them, provide only enough food that they can consume in a minute or two.
Insert a net and scoop out food that they have not consumed.
Experiment with different fish food available in the market.

Look after your little creatures in a nice way. They are dependent on you for their survival, so ensure that you pay utmost attention to them.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Freshwater Aquarium Fish Compatibility

Freshwater aquarium fish are easy to care and very enjoyable pets. They can easily live in a small 5 gallon tank and love swimming in 100 gallon tank. You can house your pet in a glass or acrylic tank. Use different substrates and decorative ornamental pieces like rocks, live plants, plastic plants and even some fancy plastic aquarium toys. The tank can be lit up with a bulb and you can place a filter to keep the water clean. You can even place a heater to provide some warmth to them. You can use normal tap water as the medium for your pet to live in.

As an aquarium enthusiast, you can choose from a variety of fish. You should keep in mind, that it should be similar in size to avoid larger ones picking on the smaller ones, or the tiny ones eating up the fins of the larger fish. Also, they should not compete with each other for food, as that will result in starvation and death of the weaker lot. You need to choose the right pet for your aquarium that will exist peacefully alongside each other.

Basics of Their Compatibility

The freshwater fish are divided into 3 categories according to their behavior:

Community Fish: They are peace-loving, happy-go-lucky. They do not get into fights and are compatible with all the others. You can safely mix and match different community species for your tank.
Semi-aggressive Fish: These are a bit high-strung and will not shy away and would occasionally nip and bite other fish. They tend to be peaceful when small, but as they increase in size they turn into fin-nipping rogues. They will chase and tire the others. They are good for community tanks, but make sure you keep an eye on them as they grow bigger in size.
Aggressive Fish: Just as the name suggests, these fish can be called the fighters. They love to pick on little ones and are not compatible with any other species. They can live around other aggressive ones of their own kind or size. However, they have a habit of bullying weaker ones by pushing them around.

They are very sensitive and delicate creatures. Any amount of stress can lead to their untimely death.

The Compatibility Chart

Category	Community	Semi-aggressive	Aggressive
Anabantids	Dwarf Gourami Flame Gourami Opaline Gourami Pearl Gourami Siamese Fighting Fish/Betta Fish Spiketailed Paradisefish	Honey Gourami Kissing Gourami	Black Paradisefish
Aquarium Catfish	Banjo Catfish Bristlenose Chinese Algae Eater Corydoras Green Catfish Leopard Catfish Plecostomus Spotted Catfish Upside Down Catfish	Bumble Bee Catfish
Charachins	Black Neon Tetra Black Phantom Tetra Cardinal Tetra Congo Tetra Emperor Tetra Flame Tetra Glowlight Tetra Head and Tail Light Tetra Neon Tetra Fish Rummy Nosed Tetra Serpae Tetra Hatchetfish Pencilfish Bloodfin Penguin Fish X-Ray Fish	Bleeding Heart Tetra Black Widow Buenos Aires Tetra Silver Dollar	Red Belly Piranha
Cichlids	Freshwater Angelfish Blue Acara Discus Festivum Ram	Firemouth Severum	Convict Green Terror Jack Dempsey Red Oscar
Cyprinids	Cherry Barb Bala (Tri-Color) Shark Black Shark Blue Danio Giant Danio White Cloud Zebra Danio Harlequin Rasbora	Flying Fox Green Tiger Barb Red Tailed Shark Rosy Barb Tiger Barb Tinfoil Barb
Killifish	Lyretail
Livebearers	Guppy fish Molly Platy	Swordtail	Knife Livebearer
Loaches	Clown Loach Dwarf Loach Horseface Loach
Unclassified	Australian Rainbowfish Boesmani Rainbow fish Boesman's Rainbow fish Bumble Bee Goby Elephant Nose Rainbow fish	Archer Butterfly Fish

This chart will help you know which ones are compatible. You can try keeping some of the community fish with the semi-aggressive species, but make sure you always have an eye on them. Do not introduce the aggressive ones to the tank or most of your peace-loving fish will end up dead.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Hone Your Drawing Skills

Even if you arent planning a career as a sketch artist, passable drawing skills are a nice thing to have. Its free entertainment, and you might even create something beautiful while youre at it. But be warned - drawing is a 'use it or lose it' skill. Perhaps you were a pretty decent artist at one time, but you havent picked up a pencil in years - it doesnt take long for a pencil to feel foreign in your hand.

These simple exercises will help you get back into the swing of things. All you need is a pencil and a stack of paper...and patience! Dont expect to pick it up right away. But if you can dedicate about 20 minutes every day to getting the feel for it, youll be on your way to portraiture in no time.

Lines

To be honest, hard lines dont figure into pencil drawing much at all unless youre drawing animation-style. But theyre the most basic thing to drill when youre first dipping into the page, and they teach you a fair amount about pressure, control, and how to direct your eyes.

Draw two points anywhere on the page, then connect them with a straight line. Dont use any guides, just draw freehand. It takes a surprising amount of practice just to connect two simple dots with a straight, even line. Practice this until your line looks like it was drawn with a ruler, then attempt a few freehand. Draw them from left to right, right to left, toward you and away from you. Experiment with different pencil positions and observe the effect it has on the line.
Basic Shapes

Now that you have lines down pat, try connecting them to form basic geometric shapes. Draw three dots and connect them to form a triangle. Draw four dots and make a square or rectangle. Try drawing the shapes without the dots, then try drawing an equilateral triangle, a perfect square, and an octagon.

These shapes are good spatial practice as youre training your eye to accurately measure angles and distance - this will come in handy when you try to draw subjects from observation. You wont necessarily be using these shapes, but your trained eye will be more able to translate what you see into marks on the page.
Curves

Start drawing circles over and over again. Dont even lift your pencil from the page. Just draw the same circle in the same spot over and over again until your paper starts to tear through. Then move over a bit and do it again. Youll notice that as you go over the circle, it becomes more perfect - the darkest line is the average of all the circles youve drawn. If you notice that even the dark line is droopy or bulging somewhere, it tells you that somethings throwing you off in that area. Try keeping your wrist still and drawing from the shoulder. Keep drawing circles until they look like you used a compass.

Then try curves. Draw random dots all over the page, then connect them in a smooth, continuous curve, without jagged edges or angles. Try wide arcs and tight turns. Fill the page. Keep practicing until it stops looking like scribble and starts looking planned.
Light and Shadow

Developing an eye for light and shadow is critical to showing dimension in your drawings. Draw a variety of shapes on the page - circles, cylinders, cubes, etc. Use all different sizes and a variety of angles, then draw an arrow somewhere on the page - this is your light source. Your job is to shade all those shapes as if your light source was shining on them from however far away it appears to be on the page.

Decide where the light hits the object, and where it reflects off the ground. Dont forget that the object itself will cast a shadow - figure out the placement and shape. Start shading the lightest areas with a very soft touch, then gradually press harder as the shadow gets darker. When youre done, going back in and darkening the deep shadows even more can really add extra 'pop'. Practice this exercise until you dont even have to think about it anymore.
These exercises are difficult, and most definitely frustrating, but very much worth the effort. Dont just do one at a time - practice at least a little bit in each area every day until it becomes second nature, then move onto drawing from life or photographs. Once you master that, youll have a much easier time relating whats in your mind onto the page.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Longnose Hawkfish

The most fascinating and mesmerizing biome is the underwater world, with its spectacular appearance. Diving deep into the ocean's bed will introduce a number of species of the aquatic kingdom. The flora and fauna of this kingdom are completely different with vibrantly colored bodies and unique characteristics. The longnose hawkfish is one such intriguing species of fish that inhabits the oceans across the world. This fish is mainly found in the Indo-Pacific strip, namely from the Red Sea in Africa to the Sea of Cortez in Eastern Pacific Ocean. One can also come across this saltwater fish in the tropical waters of North Columbia and Galapagos Islands. These fish survive in deep waters among the coral reefs. Other kinds of fish found in the hawkfish genus are coral hawkfish, dwarf hawkfish and black sided hawkfish.

Taxonomic Classification

The longnose hawkfish can be scientifically classified as under:

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygil
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Cirrhitidae
Genus:	Oxycirrhites
Species:	O. typus
Binomial Name:	Oxycirrhites typus

Longnose Hawkfish Information

Popular as an aquarium fish, the longnose hawkfish is fish tank owner's delight. Here are some fascinating facts about this ornamental fish.

This fish, whose scientific name is Oxycirrhites typus belongs to the hawkfish family which has about thirty two species of different types of fish. This fish is so named because of its characteristic snout.
The fish has a streamlined body, with a white background and a red pattern. This fish can grow up to a maximum size of 5 inches. The male is larger and more colorful than its female counterpart. Another striking feature of the male hawkfish is the black margin that is present on the caudal fins. This fish also has large jaws which houses a set of sharp, pointed teeth.
They are a dominating fish and are very particular about their territory. A single male normally presides over a territory, having about 2 to 8 female species.
The species of fish usually breeds or spawns near the surface of the water. The female releases many tiny eggs that are carried away by the ocean current. The young fish hatch after approximately three weeks. This fish can also be bred in aquariums.
One interesting fact about the longnose is that it is hermaphrodite in its mannerism. It means that it can change its sex from female to male after a specific period of time.
Longnose hawkfish is mainly a carnivorous fish This tropical fish is predatory in nature and feasts on crustaceans, invertebrates and small fish. You can feed the fish with chopped squids, shrimp, mussels, dried krill and other saltwater fish food, etc.
If you are planning to breed this fish in your aquarium, you must take care of some important aspects like size of the fish tank, food, temperature, other species of fish to be bred alongside, etc. The tank must be large enough to hold about 25 to 30 gallons of water and the temperature must be approximately 80 F. Since this fish likes to spend its time mostly at the bottom, it will be a good idea to place some aquarium plants.
Butterfly fish, gobies, clownfish and anthias, etc. will be ideal tankmates. Never place small-sized fish alongside this hawkfish species, as they become an easy prey to the predator.
And finally, you must also be aware of saltwater fish diseases to keep your fish healthy and flourishing for a long time. Regular cleaning of the tank is also necessary for the health of the inhabitants of the aquarium.

Introducing this frisky fish to your aquarium will make it livelier and colorful. Teamed with proper water plants (both fake and real), colorful rocks or stones and lighting, your aquarium can look quite attractive.

Rainbow Trout Fishing Tips

Rainbow trout is a close relative of the salmon and belongs to the family of Salmonidae. It is native to tributaries of the Pacific ocean in Asia and North America. This fish is angled for both food and sport. There are a number of popular fishing techniques, but not all techniques may work to catch just about any fish. Fishing tips and techniques for catching rainbow trout are peculiar and effective for catching this highly esteemed fish.

The tips I am about to give in this article are mostly useful to increase your catch of rainbow trout in flowing water, say, a river or a stream. However, with some alterations and customization, these pointers may be used as tips for fishing rainbow trout in lakes as well.

Rainbow Trout Fishing Tips

Don't Cast Shadows: No, no, you don't need to turn into a vampire to catch rainbow trout! When I say don't cast shadow, I mean be careful not to cast shadow on the hole or run which you intend to fish. The rainbow trout is a wise guy and you won't get any bites if you cast a shadow where you fish.
Serve Live Bait in a Natural Way: "Worm balls" don't work with rainbow trout. Use gang hooks when fishing for this fish as rainbow trouts bite only when they assume the bait to have appeared naturally and not custom-made.
Efficiency Counts: This is the most important of all rainbow trout fishing tips. You must have your line and bait ready if you ever wish to catch rainbow trout. The line must be in the water at all times as more the time the line spends in the water, sever the chances you have of getting bites from rainbow trouts. Also, carrying bait bags is a great idea as this will enable you to have your baits ready at hand at all times. Remember, fumbling when fishing for rainbow trout is a big showdown. Being prepared is essential and one of the most important rainbow trout fishing tips in rivers and streams.
Take Your Hands Seriously: Pay attention to how your hands smell. The scent of your hands can get transferred to the bait and rainbow trouts have a very keen sense of smell. They can smell you on the bait! Say, for instance, if you are a smoker, then the smell of tobacco can drive the trout away. One way to counter this problem is to grab a handful of dirt and rub it into your hands before you go fishing. This neutralizes the smell of your hand and erases the scent of any foreign substance held by you before fishing.

Fishing Techniques to Catch Rainbow Trout

First of all, make a note of all the things you must have to go trout fishing. You are going to need small barrel swivels, split shot sinkers, gang hooks, and live worms.
Once you arrive at the fishing spot, tie the end of your line on a small barrel swivel and tie on a set of size 8 nor size 10 gang hooks. Include sufficient split shots so that you get to the bottom, starting with two, to get a hang of the appropriate weight. Add a worm now. The aim is to bounce your live worm off the bottom so that it flows naturally downstream and for this, you would need to cast the fishing rig parallel to yourself and allow it to flow naturally with the current as it bounces off the bottom. You will get snagged a lot of times, and it is a sign that you are fishing at the right place!
The gang hook technique works for still water trout fishing, with some modification. One of the most practical tips for catching rainbow trout in lakes and ponds is using the same rig mentioned above but replacing the split shot with an egg sinker. This way, the gang hook lets you offer the worm in the most natural way and arouse no suspicion in the rainbow trout.

Rigs for Fishing Rainbow Trout

The most important thing to consider when going fishing for rainbow trout is to make your bait look as natural as possible, especially if you are using live bait. A set of gang hooks, which is a pair of small hooks tied in tandem, is the most efficient rig for this presenting live bait as well as for fishing in still water with Powerbait or other floating artificial bait. Scroll through best trout baits and fishing bait tips for more information.

Hope the above tips and techniques on fishing for rainbow trout would be of some assistance, especially to aspiring anglers. Happy fishing!

African Cichlids Care

There is hardly any freshwater fish that is as colorful as the African cichilds. This has made the african cichlids one of the most popular aquarium fish. These fish that are found in the lakes of Eastern Africa, are known to be quite hardy, once the pH level and mineral requirements of their environment is met. However, this doesn't make African cichilds care easy, at least definitely not for a beginner aquarist. The environment in these lakes is quite unique. They are used to rocky environment where the water is alkaline. Other than the environmental needs, their aggressive behavior is again that requires an experienced aquarium hobbyists to care for them.

Tips on African Cichlids Care

These tropical fish can come from any of the three big lakes of Eastern Africa - Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria and Lake Malawi. The environment in these lakes is alkaline and rocky and though many aquarists say that these freshwater fish do adapt to a large variation of pH, it is best to meet the specific requirements of these creatures, which depends greatly upon the lake from which they come.

Aquarium
The requirements of African cichlids gives scope to set a fish tank that could rival a large number of saltwater aquariums in color and decoration. These fish are very territorial. Hence, the first concern while deciding upon the fish tank is to ensure that it is a large one with an efficient filtration system. Consider 55 gallon tank as the minimal size.

Include lots of rocks in the aquarium, as they form a part of the natural habitat of the cichlids. Live plants can also be included. However, ensure that the plant can survive the high pH levels of the water in the fish tank. One can also opt for false plants for aquarium decoration, however, take care that these have porcelain bases, so that they do not float in water as African cichlids seem to be keen to dig out the plants placed in aquariums. However, if it is a Malawi cichlid that you have brought home, then you can rule out having any plant in the aquarium altogether. These fish come from rocky parts of the lake that have few plants and hence, won't mind absence of flora from the aquarium.

As far as substrate is concerned, it isn't that any special material needs to be used. However, crushed coral or dolomite are good options, as they help to maintain a healthy pH level of the water in the tank. By now, you must have realized that these cichlids are avid diggers. Hence, ensure that the substrate is at least 2-3" deep.

Water
African cichlids require alkaline pH, which should range between 7.4 to 8.4. Special cichild buffers are available in the market, that must be used to regulate the pH of the aquarium water. Purchase a high range test kit and check the pH of water every month. These fish also require high mineral content in the water of the fish tank. For this, cichlids salts can be added to the aquarium. However, before meeting these requirements, it is best to know which African lake does your fish come from, as the water characteristics of each lake differs from the other.

Maintain the temperature of the water at 74- 82F. Since, aquariums are closed environment, the water quality in them tends to deteriorate quickly. Hence, frequent water change is a must. However, never change more than 10% of the aquarium water at a time. Frequency of water change depends upon the extent of stocking and amount of feeding that is done. In case of a heavily stocked aquarium, change 10% of the aquarium water every week.

Feeding
African cichlids have long intestinal tracts. Hence, it is important to feed them the right kind of food. Spirulina is good for all African cichlids. However, knowing whether they are carnivores, herbivores, omnivores or micro-predators that eat small invertebrates, is one of the most important tips on caring for African cichlids. Whatever the food habit, it always helps to include variety in their diet. Ensure to include some vegetables in the diet of carnivorous fish and feed the herbivores some meat. Cichild flakes that are commercially available are a good option. Many opt for frozen foods, as well as live foods.

Aggression in African Cichlids

An understanding about aggression in African cichlids is important, for those who want to know how to care for African cichlid fish. They are aggressive towards their own kind. This aggression increases between two cichlids that are of the same size. This is because an African cichlid perceives another as its competitor with respect to food, territory and mate. Hence, if you want to have more than one African cichlid, then ensure that they vary in size.

African cichlids care requires an experienced aquarist. Proper care of these fish can be done only after one knows what kind of African cichlid he has and what are its specific requirements.

Exotic Freshwater Fish

You can have a fish tank of some exotic fish even in your home. However, there are many factors you will need to consider while setting up a tank. If you are maintaining a tank with the same freshwater exotic fish species, then taking care of them will be easier. However, when keeping a variety of fishes, make sure these exotic pets are compatible with each other, and don't become aggressive and try to kill each other.

Top 10 Exotic Freshwater Fish

Given below is a list of ten most attractive and freshwater exotic fishes, which can be maintained in an aquarium.

Dwarf Gourami: All gourami are great addition to a community fish tank, are quite easy to take care of. There are two varieties of this fish, the blue and the flame red. These are not picky eaters, and you can feed them fish food and as a treat frozen blood worms once in a while.

Neontetra: These are one of the most attractive looking fish for aquariums. They are commonly known as neon fish, and have a bright-colored horizontal streak in the middle of the body, with red color near the tails. They are peaceful fish, and are best maintained in school of 6 or more.

Angelfish: These are pretty common pet fish, and come in total black, silver or streaked or marbled patterns. They are peaceful, and easy to care for fish. Angelfish are pretty cheap, and perfect for beginner fish owners.

Rainbow: This fish is called the rainbow fish because of its interesting array of colors, as it reflects the colors around it. These are hardy fish, and should be maintained with 6 or more number of the same fish species.

Jewel Cichlid: This is another beautiful freshwater exotic fish, which is quite easy to take care of. When cichlid care is properly maintained, their colors can look great. These fish are orangish in color, with purple fin tips, and white spots all over the body.

Tinfoil Barb: Another good fish for beginners, this fish is sold in pet stores and is very easy to take care of. These fish like to jump out of tanks which don't have any hoods. These freshwater fish are silver in color, and around 13 inches in size.

Oscar: The oscar fish might not be very shiny, but are perfect for novice fish owners, as it is very easy to take care of, and does well in basic aquarium conditions. They are around 13 inches in size, and color varieties like albino, brown, dark gray and olive-green can be seen.

Glassfish: Indian glassfish is a rare exotic fish for aquarium, due to two reasons. The fist reason being it is very attractive, as it is transparent and you can see the bone structure inside it. The second reason for it being a rare aquarium fish is that they are difficult to maintain, and hence not recommended for beginners.

Pearl Gourami: These are another attractive gouramis aquarium fish with their orange bodies, bluish fins and spotted body pattern. These are easy to take care of fish. They are peaceful in nature, and are around 5 inches in size.

Killifish: This is one of the most attractive freshwater fish, and its coloration can vary from pink, silver, maroon, white, red to orange. These are around 2 inches in size, and quite easy to take care of.

The above list has general information about some of the most beautiful exotic fish which live in freshwater. Make sure you study the individual fish characteristics and care factors well, and then set up a community tank. Another important check you need to do, is to see that the fish are legally allowed as pets. So, select these as pets wisely, and enjoy a stunning looking community tank!

How to Draw Comics

Assuming you are interested in learning drawing comics, I will skip the whole storytelling part behind comic book and comic strip making. Comic strips are far easier to illustrate as they have simplified characters, and the frames in the comic strip can be minimum 1 to a maximum of around 8. However, drawing professionally or making a comic book on your own you will need just a little inspiration and imagination, but a lot of drawing and sketching practice, because the element which a comic book is composed of should look perfect. There is always a way to cheat or make your job of drawing comics easier, by using very simplified characters or stick characters like Xiao Xiao with just thought and speech bubbles around their heads. But if you wish to learn to draw comics step by step, like Marvel and DC comics, you will have to learn anatomy, perspective drawings and proper composition. The shading part with pencil or ink pen is pretty easy when compared to learning the aspects I just mentioned. Here are some tips to guide you in the process.

How to Draw a Comic Book Character?

Below are tips on drawing the male, female and other characters which are generally present in comics.

The first thing you need to be strong with is learning the anatomy of the male and female body. Refer to books by Burne Hogarth on human anatomy drawing. His books are one of the best and help greatly to study and draw the human muscular figure.
In case you don't wish to buy any expensive books, look online for free tutorials on human anatomy drawing. Keep practicing and drawing both male and female anatomy.
Once you know how to draw a stationary body in different angles like front, back, , top, etc., start practicing drawing moving gesture drawings of the male and female body.
In a similar way practice with some basic animal and bird drawings.
Once you know everything about the moving and steady drawings of animals and humans, you should start giving a character to the drawings.
There are certain shapes which are used for depicting a hero, and depicting a villain. A hero will basically have rectangular shaped jaw, and overall will be rectangular shaped, to signify strength and balance.
On the other hand a villain will have triangular-shaped face, and pointy angles in the body to give it an evil look.
So, give your character costume, props and practice different gesture drawings with the completed character, till you get the hang of it.

Perspective Drawing for Backgrounds & Dynamic Angles

This is another important aspect one should master along with learning how to draw comic book characters. You will have to learn how to draw buildings, landscapes, cityscapes, interiors, etc. to accompany the right background behind your characters. So refer to a book on perspective drawings, practice from them and go for live sketching sessions by sketching some monuments in your city. To give your comic book frames a dramatic look, you will have to add some dynamic angles to it. Some examples of dynamic angles is where you see a character really magnified because the point of view is below the character's waistline. To give a feel that the character is falling, you will have to take a top angle, with some motion lines behind the character and tiny tops of buildings around the character. This is a technique mostly seen in Spiderman comics.

After you achieve a sense of confidence drawing comic superheroes and other characters, and you are able to draw frames with the perspective background, try to compose your drawing frames better. Learn some basic rules on composition, to frame your drawings better. To get a rough idea, always draw a rough doodle of the shot, or a rough storyboard with quick lines, to get a preview. For kids, it is not necessary to draw all muscular or perfect drawings. However, the basic body forms and proportions need to be maintained, and on top of it you can use a black sketch pen or ink pen, to give it a finished look.

Oscar Fish Food

The Oscar fish is most of the time found in the Amazon and the water bodies around the river. The ability of the Oscar fish to recognize and respond to its owner, has made it a very popular pet. It is often observed by the pet store owners that the Oscar fish is the fish that is returned to the pet store more often than any other pet fish. This is due to the fact that the Oscar fish that lives off on a healthy diet, has a tendency to grow at an alarming rate. The second draw back is that it also becomes violent in rather congested places. It can grow up to 40 cm in length and can also weigh about 3 pounds. Another very common feature that the Oscar fish shares with the other fish from the Amazon and South America is, that it is an omnivore fish that relishes live food.

What makes the fish unique and also famous is its inclination towards versatile food. One of the unique patters of food consumption that the Oscar fish tends to display is that it needs a different food every day, which is very parallel to the human feeding habit. The second specialty regarding the food of an Oscar fish is its demand for vitamin C. The lack and deficiency of Vitamin C can also prove fatal. Hence, the best food for Oscar fish is bound to have a very good quantity of vitamin C in it.

Oscar fish is said to be very closely related to the infamous Piranha, due to its attraction towards live food. Some of the live foods that the Oscar fish likes include live insects such as worms, crickets and other insects that thrive in the water. Some of the other insects that the Oscar fish is particularly fond of are flies and grasshoppers. In the wild, the Oscar fish diet includes other sedentary catfish and other varieties of fish such as catfish that include, bunocephalus, rineloricaria and ochmacanthus.

Oscar fish food also includes crayfish, feeder goldfish and also rosy reds. Apart from that, Oscar fish owners also feed their fish a huge variety of worms and insects. The key to keep the captive Oscar fish happy is to give it the best possible variety of fish and insects as feed.

If you look at the artificially made fish food a popular food is 'flake' food, which are available in almost any pet shop and most super markets. Oscar fish owners always recommend tetra cichlid large flakes as one of the best food for Oscar fish. Depending on the size of the Oscar fish, you may also consider feeding it floating pellets. The floating pellets are available in various sizes and forms. A treat that would remind any Oscar fish of its native place is frozen blood worms, which are actually red mosquito larvae. Sounds disgusting, but is loved by the Oscar fish!

The best way to feed your Oscar fish is to feed it a combination of different fish foods which have been stated above. Most Oscar fish owners suggest a meal of one type of 'live' food and one type of manufactured food that comes in packaged tins. Experts from the field of Ichthyology (the study of fish) comment that, the Oscar fish is the happiest in a reasonably large space and with a large and versatile diet.

Monday, June 24, 2013

List of Puns

What would the English language be like, without these wonderful puns? They bring in the element of unintentional humor by their sheer presence, and deliver laughter at the most unsuspecting moments. Here are a few of those in their most crass avatar...