Blog

Welcome to the Avocation 360 blog, where you will find practical advice and detailed guides for every aspect of aquarium keeping. Whether you are setting up your first tank or improving your breeding techniques, these articles provide clear, tested solutions to common fishkeeping challenges.

Each guide includes practical steps, common mistakes to avoid, and insights gained from years of keeping and breeding fancy goldfish and other popular aquarium species.

All posts

Breeding

Spawning setups, egg care, fry feeding, and home breeding routines.

Easy Goldfish Breeding Guide for Beginners at Home - Setup and Fry Care

My simple goldfish breeding routine: set the temp, pick a pair, use a spawning mop or moss, move parents fast, treat eggs, then feed and grow fry.

Simple Neon Tetra Breeding Guide for Home Aquariums - Dark Tub Setup and Fry Care

This is the routine I use: choosing pairs, keeping it dark, spotting fertilized eggs, then the day by day fry feeding plan from egg yolk to brine shrimp.

How to Make a Spawning Mop for Goldfish Breeding - Yarn Build for Eggs

I show the exact yarn mop I use for goldfish eggs: what yarn to buy, how many wraps, how to add a cork or suction cups, and how I boil it first.

What to Do When Your Fish Lay Eggs? First Steps for Egg Care

If you’ve just spotted eggs, here’s what I do to stop them being eaten, keep good flow over the eggs, remove the white ones, and prep for fry.

Benefits of Using a Spawning Mop - Easier Egg Collection

I use a yarn spawning mop because it makes eggs easier to spot and move, it is reusable, and it keeps the breeding setup simple.

Community

Beginner-friendly fish, compatibility, and peaceful tank mates.

Recommended Freshwater Fish for Beginners That Get Along - Community Tank List

Discover beginner friendly freshwater fish that get along in a community tank, plus simple tips for stocking, tank size, and avoiding common pairing mistakes.

Food

Snello recipes, feeding basics, and live food culture.

Easy Live Fish Foods You Can Culture at Home - Starter Options

I will discuss the at-home live fish food options available to you, and how you can get started with your endless supply of healthy fish food.

How to Make Snello - Easy Snail Food Recipe

I make Snello to boost calcium and keep shells healthy. Here’s my simple veggie mix, how I get it to set properly, and how I cut and freeze cubes.

Simple White Worm Culture for Baby Fish Food at Home - Cool Tub Method

My simple shoebox tub setup with soil and peat, kept cool and dark, plus feeding and harvesting tips to avoid mold, mites, smells, and crashes.

How to Culture Banana Worms Live Fish Food - Home Fry Food Setup

Here we will go through everything you need to know to have an endless supply of live fish food for fry called Banana Worms

How to Culture Microworms Live Fish Food - Home Fry Food Setup

Here we will go through everything you need to know to have an endless supply of live fish food for your fry called Microworms

How to Keep and Culture Tubifex Worms for Aquarium Fish Food

Set up a simple Tubifex worm culture at home, keep the water moving, feed lightly, and harvest live food for aquarium fish.

How to Make Green Water Culture for Fish - First Food for Fry

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to culture green water without a starter at home, plus tips and tricks for success, making it easy to make at home.

Plants

Spawning plants and hardy picks for betta tanks.

Beginner-Friendly Aquarium Plants for Egg Layers to Spawn - Safer Fry Cover

Beginner friendly aquarium plants for your egg layers to spawn, with easy low light picks and simple tips to protect eggs.

What Are the Best Plants for a Betta Fish Tank? Safe Resting and Cover Ideas

Here we will discuss what beginner-friendly plants are best in your Betta fish tank to ensure your Betta fish stays happy and healthy.

Setup

Aquascaping, stocking, and safe decoration choices.

How Do I Start Aquascaping My New Tank? Planting and First Fish

Here, we discuss the steps and considerations you have to take while planning the set up of your aquascaping fish tank.

How Many Fish in a Small Tank without Overcrowding? Stocking Checks

Learn how many fish in a small tank without overcrowding using tank size, filtration, and adult fish length, with simple stocking examples for beginners.

What Decorations Can I Add to My Goldfish Tank? Safety Checks and Plant Ideas

If you are stuck trying to figure out the type of decorations you can add to your aquarium, look no further! We offer you the best practical guidance.

What Do I Need to Start Aquascaping? Beginner Supplies Checklist

Here we discuss each aquacsaping style and provide you with resources your need to successfully get started on your aquascaping fish tank journey.

Species

Care notes for goldfish, bettas, snails, shrimp, and more.

Peaceful Tank Mates for Betta Fish in Small Aquariums - Compatibility List

My safest picks for small betta tanks, plus what I avoid. Includes snails, shrimp, and the tank size checks that make or break compatibility.

What is the Difference Between a Comet and a Common Goldfish? Key Differences for Care

When I’m unsure, I check tail shape first, then fin length and body shape. Here’s the quick way I separate comets from commons.

What Fish Are Good with Goldfish Tank Mates? What Works and What to Avoid

I keep fancy goldfish, so I’m careful with tank mates. Here’s what I’d add, what I’d skip, and why.

My Betta Fish Laid Eggs - What I Did to Hatch Fry

If you have unexpectedly ended up with eggs in your tank like me, I cover what I did to get the GloBetta fry hatched and safely on their way.

My Mystery Snail Laid Eggs - Now What?

If your Mystery or Apple Snail laid eggs and you don't know what to do. Here is a detailed breakdown to answer all your questions.

How to Tell Plakat Betta Male vs Female for Beginners - Simple ID Checks

A clear checklist to tell male vs female plakat bettas using ventral fins, the beard when flaring, the egg spot, and a few behavior clues.

Types of Aquarium Snails to Add to Your Fish Tank - Best Beginner Options

Are you looking at getting some beginner friendly snails for your aquarium. Here we will look at the pros and cons of each beginner friendly snail.

What Do Baby Black Moor Fish Look Like? Fry Appearance and Color Changes

Here I will discuss what Black Moor and Fantail mixed babies would look like after four months. The troubles I faced, photos and their characteristics.

What Do I Need for a Shrimp Tank? Beginner Setup Essentials

If you have, want to start or add a few shrimp to your current tank, here I will discuss the basic and necessities for keeping shrimp happy and healthy

What Substrate is Best for Goldfish? Safer Tank Setup Options

What substrate would work best for your goldfish tank? Here, we will discuss the pros and cons of each option so you can make a better choice.

Water Quality

Beneficial bacteria, cycling, and stable parameters.

How to Make Beneficial Bacteria for Aquarium at Home (DIY) - Probiotic Culture and Dosing

My simple bottle method using rice, sugar, salt, and RO water, plus optional starter. I cover the 4–5 day timeline, burping the bottle, and dosing.