The Aqua Box - Definitions

At the Aqua Box we believe an educated client is the best client & sometimes choosing the right fish for your needs can be confusing.

To make things easier for you we have provided a definition for each of the fish we carry.

KOI FISH

Koi or more specifically nishikigoi are colored varieties of carp that are kept for decorative purposes in outdoor koi ponds or water gardens.

Koi is an informal name for the colored variants of carp kept for ornamental purposes. There are many varieties of ornamental koi, originating from breeding that began in Niigata, Japan in the early 19th century.

Several varieties are recognized by Japanese breeders and owners, distinguished by coloration, patterning, and scalation. Some of the major colors are white, black, red, orange, yellow, blue, brown and cream, besides metallic shades like gold and silver-white ('platinum') scales. The most popular category of koi is the Gosanke, which is made up of the Kōhaku, Taishō Sanshoku and Shōwa Sanshoku varieties.

GUPPIES

The guppy, also known as millionfish or the rainbow fish, is one of the world's most widely distributed tropical fish and one of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish species. It is a member of the family Poeciliidae and, like almost all American members of the family, is live-bearing. Guppies originate from northeast South America, but have been introduced to many environments and are now found all over the world. They are highly adaptable and thrive in many different environmental and ecological conditions.[5] Male guppies, which are smaller than females, have ornamental caudal and dorsal fins. Wild guppies generally feed on a variety of food sources, including benthic algae and aquatic insect larvae. Guppies are used as a model organism in the fields of ecology, evolution, and behavioral studies.

SHUBUNKIN

Shubunkin are similar to the common goldfish and comet goldfish in appearance. They were first bred in Japan, from crossbreeding the calico telescope eye goldfish, comet goldfish, and the common goldfish. They have streamlined bodies with well-developed and even fins. However, the Shubunkins are calico goldfish; they possess nacreous scales (an intermediate between metallic and transparent scales that are pearly in appearance). The overlapping patches of red, white, blue, grey and black (along with dark speckles) normally extend to the finnage of Shubunkins. Blue is the most prized color in Shubunkins. Calico originally denoted three colored varieties of goldfish that did not include blue. The best blues are produced from line breeding of good blue specimens of Shubunkins.

SHRIMP

A shrimp is a small crustacean that lives on the ocean floor. You may be most familiar with the shrimp you order at a seafood restaurant, but there are over 2,000 species of shrimp in the world.

While many people think of shrimp as a delicious part of a pasta dish or seafood buffet, there's much more to these tiny animals. Shrimp are invertebrates, with hard exoskeletons, antennae, and eyes on long stalks. They live at the bottom of the ocean, where they filter sand and particles for algae and plankton.

MOOR

Moor Goldfish are part of the fancy goldfish group, which do not occur naturally in the wild. Each line within this group have been selectively bred to exhibit specific traits. Moor goldfish are velvety black in color with a pair of telescope eyes. These unique features, in addition to the robust body shape gives them an extremely charming appearance! Moor goldfish are relatively easy to care for as long as proper care and environmental conditions are provided. These fish are very social, and would do best when kept with other fancy goldfish. Moor goldfish are sold at various sizes, but consumers should be aware that they can grow up to 8in length and live up to 15 years, making this fish a long term commitment.

ORANDA

The Oranda is a breed of goldfish characterized by a prominent bubble-like "hood" on the head. The head growth or hood may be a prominent growth on the top of the head (cranial region) or may encase the entire face except the mouth.

The name comes from the Japanese Oranda-shishi-gashira, meaning "Dutch lionhead". The breed is in fact of Chinese origin, but it may have been introduced to Japan via the Dutch trading post at Dejima.

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