Fishy Lingo!
When first starting in the hobby and realising what goes into fishkeeping, it's overwhelming enough, without having all these new words and letters thrown at you! I thought I'd create a little dictionary of those words, which can seem very daunting, but often have a simpler (usually much more blunt!) description.
I'll add to this list as I think of other words, I'm sure there's many more! If there's something you think should be added, send us an email or tell us on Facebook and we'll be sure to add it in!
I'll add to this list as I think of other words, I'm sure there's many more! If there's something you think should be added, send us an email or tell us on Facebook and we'll be sure to add it in!
What you talkin' about?!
Bath - short treatment in a separate tank/bucket lasting less than an hour, usually a stronger medication concentration (med dependant).
Beneficial Bacteria - the good, nitrifying bacteria which forms our cycle.
Breeding Stars - or breeding tubercules are the spots boys (generally speaking) get on their gills and pectoral fins which are a sign that they're in the breeding mood.
Caudal fin - tail fin.
Culling - euthanising / putting to sleep "undesirable " or deformed fry ( baby Goldfish )
Cycle - the nitrogen cycle (check out our guide for more info!)
Dip - a short treatment in a seperate tank/bucket lasting less than an hour, usually a stronger medication concentration (dip dependant).
Dorsal fin - fin on the back.
Ferts - plant fertiliser.
Filter Media - The sponge/ceramic/carbon ... whatever stuff you have in your filter is called media.
Fluke Nuke - treat for Flukes!
Fry - Baby Goldfish.
Lateral line - a line of sensory organs which run the length of the fish, horizontally - used to detect current, temperature, sound... all sorts!
Magnesium Sulphate -Epsom Salt.
Maintenance schedule - how often do you clean and perform water changes, what % water change and how do you clean.
Metro - Metronidazole (Medication)
Nacreous - a scale type where some scales are metallic and some scales are matte.
Narial flaps - the bits of skin that cover their "nostrils"
Operculum - gill cover.
Overstocked - too many fish in too small a tank.
Parameters - current readings of ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH.
Pectoral fins - the fins the fish use to swim, at the front of their body.
Pinecone/pineconing - where the scales all stick out - the fish looks like a Pinecone from above, a sign of severe infection (often dropsy)
Prazi - PraziPro (Fluke medication - in the UK, we use Kusuri)
Prime - Seachem Prime - Tap water conditioner / dechlorinator that also detoxifies ammonia, nitrite and Nitrate.
Rhizome - the thick stem like root of Anubias, Java fern and Bolbitis that should not be buried.
Root tablets - plant fertiliser that goes into the substrate, by the roots of the plant.
Sodium Chloride - aquarium salt/rock salt with no additives or caking agents.
Substrate - what covers the base of the tank; sand, gravel, pebbles, glass stones, nothing?
Surface agitation - how ripply the surface of the water is.
Test kit - used to test the water for Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and to monitor pH.
Vent - butt hole.
Ventral fins - the fins used like rudders in the centre of the body.
Water quality - how good (or bad) your water is.
Wen - the squishy head growth seen on Orandas, Ranchu and Lionheads (amongst others)
Beneficial Bacteria - the good, nitrifying bacteria which forms our cycle.
Breeding Stars - or breeding tubercules are the spots boys (generally speaking) get on their gills and pectoral fins which are a sign that they're in the breeding mood.
Caudal fin - tail fin.
Culling - euthanising / putting to sleep "undesirable " or deformed fry ( baby Goldfish )
Cycle - the nitrogen cycle (check out our guide for more info!)
Dip - a short treatment in a seperate tank/bucket lasting less than an hour, usually a stronger medication concentration (dip dependant).
Dorsal fin - fin on the back.
Ferts - plant fertiliser.
Filter Media - The sponge/ceramic/carbon ... whatever stuff you have in your filter is called media.
Fluke Nuke - treat for Flukes!
Fry - Baby Goldfish.
Lateral line - a line of sensory organs which run the length of the fish, horizontally - used to detect current, temperature, sound... all sorts!
Magnesium Sulphate -Epsom Salt.
Maintenance schedule - how often do you clean and perform water changes, what % water change and how do you clean.
Metro - Metronidazole (Medication)
Nacreous - a scale type where some scales are metallic and some scales are matte.
Narial flaps - the bits of skin that cover their "nostrils"
Operculum - gill cover.
Overstocked - too many fish in too small a tank.
Parameters - current readings of ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH.
Pectoral fins - the fins the fish use to swim, at the front of their body.
Pinecone/pineconing - where the scales all stick out - the fish looks like a Pinecone from above, a sign of severe infection (often dropsy)
Prazi - PraziPro (Fluke medication - in the UK, we use Kusuri)
Prime - Seachem Prime - Tap water conditioner / dechlorinator that also detoxifies ammonia, nitrite and Nitrate.
Rhizome - the thick stem like root of Anubias, Java fern and Bolbitis that should not be buried.
Root tablets - plant fertiliser that goes into the substrate, by the roots of the plant.
Sodium Chloride - aquarium salt/rock salt with no additives or caking agents.
Substrate - what covers the base of the tank; sand, gravel, pebbles, glass stones, nothing?
Surface agitation - how ripply the surface of the water is.
Test kit - used to test the water for Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and to monitor pH.
Vent - butt hole.
Ventral fins - the fins used like rudders in the centre of the body.
Water quality - how good (or bad) your water is.
Wen - the squishy head growth seen on Orandas, Ranchu and Lionheads (amongst others)
& what are the letters about!?
AC Activated Carbon
BB - Bare bottom (tank) or Beneficial bacteria.
BBS - Baby Brine shrimp.
FBW - Frozen Bloodworms.
GF -Goldfish (took me ages to realise it didn't mean girlfriend!)
LFS - Local Fish store.
LPS - Local Pet store.
MB - Methylene Blue (medicaton)
MG -Malachite Green (medication)
SBD - Swim Bladder Disorder
TS - Triple Sulfa (medication)
QT - Quarantine Tank
BB - Bare bottom (tank) or Beneficial bacteria.
BBS - Baby Brine shrimp.
FBW - Frozen Bloodworms.
GF -Goldfish (took me ages to realise it didn't mean girlfriend!)
LFS - Local Fish store.
LPS - Local Pet store.
MB - Methylene Blue (medicaton)
MG -Malachite Green (medication)
SBD - Swim Bladder Disorder
TS - Triple Sulfa (medication)
QT - Quarantine Tank