Buying Aquarium Fish
From LoveToKnow Buy
There’s something about the tranquility of having an aquarium of colorful fish swimming around. Watching them seems to be a fun and relaxing experience. If you are interested in starting a hobby as a fish keeper, you will need to arm yourself with knowledge and use some good old-fashioned common sense. So before you go buying your aquarium fish, let’s go over some simple guidelines that will help make your choices easier and pain free.
Type of Fish: Salt or Freshwater?
With so many different types of fish in all shapes and sizes, how do you choose? Some fish require little maintenance, while others are more delicate and need additional special care.
Saltwater Fish
Saltwater fish are beautiful and exotic, but are expensive and high maintenance. The environment you create with your tank is similar to a coral reef in the ocean. These fish need live rock (a rock with micro-organisms that help maintain a balanced ecosystem in the water). Air filters for the tanks need to be changed annually. You will also need to monitor the salt levels and change the water often. Starting a saltwater tank also requires patient preparation. For a newbie, starting with saltwater fish may be a bit challenging.
If you are considering beginning an aquarium with saltwater fish, consider the following species for your new tank:
Damsels
- These fish can handle harsh environment and are not too particular about the food they eat. They are great to start your new tank, but do not put more than two, or they will fight.
Blennies/Gobies
- Great for controlling algae, these hardy fish have personality and are compatible with many other fish.
Fresh Water Fish
Fresh water fish are great for beginners, since their upkeep is less difficult to maintain. There is less of a preparation time, and the cost is a lot more affordable than a salt-water fish tank.
Fresh water fish to consider:
Guppies, Platies, Swordtails (Livebearers)
- These are the easiest freshwater fish to keep. Full of colors and fun to watch, these would be a good addition to your aquarium.
Bettas (Siamese Fighting Fish)
- Beautiful but territorial, only one male Betta can be kept in a tank at a time. In their natural habitat, they tend to hang around small areas and need to come up to the top for air. If you are lucky to find a couple of female Bettas, they can be kept together. Otherwise, don’t buy more than one.
Cyprinids
- Small, but fun to watch, these colorful fish are happy in groups of at least six. They are also hardy fish that can handle changes in their environment without too much stress.
Tips on Buying Fish
When you make that trip to the pet store, keep the following suggestions in mind. Prepare the fish’s tank before purchasing so the transition will be smooth and less stressful for your new friends. Do a little research and get an idea of what types of fish you will want in your aquarium. As for equipment, the most common needed for your tank is a filter (undergravel or back), a heater, an aquarium light and a tank hood. By preparing your tank in advance, not only will this make it easier when you bring the fish home, but it will ensure you have the right environment (lighting, temperature, plants, rocks etc.)
Now, here are some common sense tips on purchasing fish:
- Pay close attention to the fish in the tanks, if you see any dead or sluggish looking fish, don’t buy them.
- Find out when the store has their fish delivered. If you buy from them, make sure it is at least one week away from when they were first brought to the store to ensure you don’t pick up any sick fish.
- In choosing fish, select ones that hold their fins erect, and avoid those with split fins, hold their fins tight against their bodies, hover at the bottom of the tank or hide in the corners.
- Make sure that the fish you choose are compatible with one another. This may require a bit of research before making that trip to the store. If you have overly aggressive fish mixed with docile “community” type fish, you may find yourself with a tank of dead or injured fish.
- When you purchase the fish, try and get the clerk to put them in the water from the tank where they were removed. It will be less stress and shock on the fish if there are no extreme changes in the chemical balances of the water. Then after you bring them home, float the baggie with the fish in the tank’s water so they can get used to the temperature gradually. After a while you can then slowly put them into your aquarium.
- Keep in mind the number of fish you buy at one time. Remember the rule, one inch of fish per gallon of water. If you buy too many, the fish may not have enough room to swim, and is otherwise an unhealthy environment for them.
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