Guide to Creating and Writing New Pages

Greetings, traveler! You have reached the required reading guide on how to create and write pages!

So, you wish to create a new page?

Well first off, you'll need to know how. At the top of the site's sidebar, you should see a text box. Type the common name of the species you are creating a page for into this box. Then, click the button below the box that reads "Create New Page".

There we go! You now have the means to create a page.

if you're creating a page on a new species, you'll need to know how to format it.

Firstly, you'll need a rating module at the top of your page. This can be implemented by copying and pasting the following code.

[[>]]
[[module Rate]]
[[/>]]

Once you've typed this in, you'll need to add an infobox for your species. Infobars provide basic information about your species, such as its aquarium needs, taxonomic classification, lifespan, average size, diet, and habitat. The Infobar can be inserted by copying and pasting the following code.

And there you go! After inserting the Infobar, you'll need to fill it out with the appropriate information for your species. First off, you will need to type in the species' common name where the code reads "Name here". After that, you will notice that there is text that reads "image.png", we'll get back to that later.

Now, to fill out the rest of the infobox, you will see several lines of code. Each line of information is coded by a "row", which begins with "[[row]]", and ends with "[[/row]]". In each of these rows, you will notice two key pieces of information. For instance, you will see "Binomial Name" and a bit below it, you will see "[here]". In place of the text that reads "[here]", you will type the information that corresponds with the first piece of information. So in this instance, if the binomial name of the species was betta splendens, you would replace the "[here]" text, with "betta splendens". (Note, be sure to also replace the two brackets ([ ]) surrounding the letters "here", but not to delete any of the other brackets surrounding it.

Now, fill out the information for all of the rows, and you'll be set. Make sure to only replace the text that says "[here]" in any of the rows, or else the code may become messed up.

Congratulations! You now have the infobox filled out. Now, to begin typing the text in the article!

You will have to make sure that the text for the article is two rows below the infobox code, or else it may become messed up. Before you type anything, type:

Then press space, then type:

All text within the article should be typed between these two bits of code. These will make sure the size of the text in this article is appropriately sized, and not too big.

Now, you will begin typing information! When typing info on your page, make sure it is done in a descriptive and informational tone. Basically, write it like a Wikipedia article. Don't use phrases like "I think" or "I would love", write it as an informative article.

The only strict rule here about formatting is that you first need to write a summary about the species. Take the overview for the Panda Corydoras page as an example.

The panda corydoras (Corydoras panda) also known as the panda cory, the panda catfish, and the panda cory catfish is a small South American freshwater catfish belonging to the callichthyidae family and the corydoras genus.

The panda cory is native to Peru, specifically the upper amazon river. It is found throughout both Peru and Ecuador, however, is most common in the aquarium trade.

This species was discovered in 1968 by Randolph H. Richards, however, was left unnamed until 1971, when it was given its name by Nijssen and Isbrücker. It was not until after this that the panda corydoras was introduced into the aquaria trade, and became a very common species within the trade.

You can go off of this as a basis. You should include the species' common name(s), scientific name, where it is found when it was discovered, and who named it.

Then below this, you should include a table of contents. This can be included by including the following code.

[[<]]
[[toc]]
[[/<]]

Here is the p-a-s-s-w-o-r-d, by the way. It is included here so people don't just scroll to the bottom of the page and find it right away. The p-a-s-s-w-o-r-d is: AzraIsAwesome

After including the table of contents, you may format the page basically in any way you want! However, you must have three sections. First a "Description" section, secondly, an "In the Wild" section, and thirdly an "In Captivity" section. You can create subsections in these sections to neatly arrange information about the species. However, you must include subsections dedicated to the species' origin, behavior, and tank requirements. (If the information mentioned is unknown/not documented, you may just state it as so.) Some other subsections I recommend you add (but are not required) are mating, diet, and history. If you are not sure how you want to format your page, take a look again at the Panda Corydoras page. It provides a perfect basis for how pages should be formatted.

You are allowed to save your work if you are not complete with a page, however, if the page is not complete, you must include "[WIP]" at the top of your page. This shows that your page is a work in progress.

Lastly, remember when I told you we'd talk about the "image.png" later? Well, it's later!

There are two ways to add an image. The first way is after you save your page for the first time, go to the bottom of your page, and click the "Files" option. Select the CC-compliant file you wish to use for your page, and rename it so something simple, like "oscar.jpg". Then, upload your photo. Then, you'll go back to editing your page, and replace the "image.png" with "oscar.jpg".

The second way is just replacing "image.png" with a link to your image. (This method is recommended over the other, as uploading images to the wiki uses up storage)

You must then include the Image Licensing Module at the bottom of your page. Then, save your page!

Congratulations! You now know how to create and write an informative page! However, there is still one more step.

Once you have created your page, you must add it to the appropriate hub page. Type in the name of your page under the correct classification. Many of the classifications are the scientific or common names for taxonomic orders, families, genera, and more. (If your species does not match any of the listed classifications, contact a staff member, or state so on the Forums) Make sure you add it in alphabetical order in accord with the surrounding names. However, add three brackets to each end of the name, so it will link to the page.

You have finished the guide on how to create, write, and sort a new page! Now get writing!

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