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Aquatic Pets and Aquariums

What’s the best freshwater aquarium fish combination? What size tank does a pet pufferfish need? Does an aquarium need to have plants? Are saltwater aquarium fish right for me? Uncle Bill’s can answer these questions and help you find the right pet fish or other aquatic friends, along with all the aquatic pet supplies you need to give it a comfortable home.

Best Aquatic Pets for Beginners

Pet fish habitats can range from a simple rectangular tank to nano reef or betta tanks to a saltwater aquarium holding 100 gallons or more. Uncle Bill’s generally recommends that people who are new to maintaining an aquarium choose a fish that’s low-maintenance. Here are some excellent freshwater fish for beginners:
Guppies
Mollies
Platies
*These three types of freshwater fish above get along well with each other, and can live in a large enough tank in same-sex groups.
Bettas
*Smart, showy, but only female Bettas can share a tank since males are aggressive to each other, but male Bettas may share a tank with Neon Tetras.
Cichlids
*While fairly aggressive, some of the most colorful and popular freshwater fish in the hobby.

Other Aquatic Pets

In addition to fish, Uncle Bill’s has a wide variety of water-loving animals: 
Frogs
Sideneck Turtles
And Axolotls!
*Our inventory varies by location, so please contact us if you’re looking for a specific type of aquatic pet or stop by an Uncle Bill’s location near you.

Aquarium Care

Uncle Bill’s has everything you’d expect in an aquatic pet store: aquariums, filtration systems, fish food, and more. Our friendly associates can help you choose an appropriately sized saltwater or freshwater aquarium for your pet and provide tips on aquatic plants and fish tank accessories.

Quick tips for freshwater aquariums:
*Avoid direct sunlight to deter algae growth
*Once a week
    -Change about 10-20% of your tank water (varies by tank size and number of fish)
    -Use a siphon when removing water so you can do it slowly
    -Set aside water you siphon off to use when you clean the filter
    -Only add pre-treated or R/O water to the tank

 


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Aquariums are great learning tools.

Aquatic Landing Bar 3
Whether you’re an adult hobbyist or have kids interested in science, building and perfecting an aquarium habitat is a fun and exciting way to learn about nature and ecology.

Aquariums promote responsibility without being too demanding.

Aquatic Landing Bar 1
Kids (and adults) of all ages can participate in various tasks related to maintaining an aquarium, and they often become deeply invested in the saltwater fish or freshwater fish they select. Aquariums can also be a relatively low-maintenance hobby, which is perfect for busy households.

Aquariums reduce stress and anxiety.

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Have you noticed how many doctors’ offices have aquariums? That is not a coincidence! Experts, including the former Surgeon General of the United States, advocate aquariums for their proven health benefits, including reducing blood pressure!

Read more on our Aquatics blog!

Marine Live Rock!

| Oct 10, 2017

Marine Live Rock!

Live rock not only can add spectacular beauty to your aquarium but can be very beneficial for your fish and other marine animals, too!  The term "live rock" comes from the fact that many micro and macroscopic organisms inhabit both the inside and outside of the rock.  It is literally living aquatic decoration that is both teeming with and covered by aquatic life!
live rock 1
Each piece of live rock is gently harvested and begins as aragonite remains of long-deceased and ancient-era corals.
The live rock may be introduced into your aquarium after about 3 - 5 weeks of curing.  Curing is the process which facilitates the removal of any remaining superfluous plant or marine life on the rock (that would die off upon being integrated into the tank anyway) by letting them naturally expire.  Not doing so before including it in your tank could produce an ammonia level hike from the old, decaying material - which would be toxic to most existing fish, corals, or any other marine animals.  This process also allows the nitrifying bacteria and some micro fauna in the rock to survive and later be beneficial (both aesthetically and functionally) to the aquatic ecosystem.

As it begins to thrive and a variety of organisms - microscopic to larger organisms - populate the rock it can become not only very bio-diverse but also naturally, ruggedly beautiful.

live rock 2In addition to its pleasing looks, here are some of the benefits of utilizing live rock:
*     It is a natural food source for certain species
*     Helps break down and filter out waste
*     Creates a solid base for living coral or other plants and decor
*     Can reduce the time it takes to cycle your newly established aquarium
What's more, live rock may help marine fish learn to adapt to their new settings more quickly by appearing more similar to their natural environment. 
It assists in providing adequate hiding areas as well as establishing and balancing territories between species:  protecting some species from potential bullying; making certain species feel more at home and safe; bringing out species' natural behaviors; and minimizing overall stress.

Live rock also helps stabilize your aquatic chemistry by slowly releasing some of its calcium into the water, which aids in maintaining a healthy water pH level.

Some hobbyists go as far to say that live rock is a viable and possibly even the superior mode of filtration, especially since it is a type of biological filtration that hosts large quantities of both aerobic and anaerobic nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria.
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While setting up and maintaining live rock until it flourishes can require some effort and patience, if you are interested in providing a more natural and beneficial setting for your marine aquatic life it can be well worth the time - and a very rewarding experience.

Right now until November 13th, you can get any saltwater live rock on sale at 10% Off at Uncle Bill's Pet Centers!




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Are you ready to find a saltwater or freshwater fish store near you? Then visit the nearest Uncle Bill’s Pet Center today! We’ll help you learn more about how to get started with an aquarium, or you can view our amazing selection of pet fish as well as other aquatic animals and accessories.

Uncle Bill’s Pet Center is an ethical, humane source for a wide variety of pets, including Dogs, Cats, Fish, Birds, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Reptiles, Amphibians, and other small and exotic animals. We are the premier pet store in the Indianapolis area, with locations on the east, northeast, and west sides of Indianapolis, as well as in Fishers, Greenwood, and Ft. Wayne. Uncle Bill’s Pet Center carries a large inventory of pet supplies, and is committed to helping our customers understand and care for their animals throughout their lives.