Aquarium Fish

There are many people who assume that pet fish are the perfect beginner pet. After all, you do not have to pet aquarium fish, take them for walks, wash them, clean up when messes they leave on the floor, or any of the other things that dog and cat owners have to put up with. In reality, however, there is more to taking care of a fish aquarium than most people realize. Whether you are buying small lake freshwater fish or exotic tropical fish, you have to carefully plan out your purchases and diligently care for your fish so that they can live long, healthy lives.

One of the most important things for aquarium fish is setting up the proper environment. Fish are very delicate creatures. If the water is too salty or not salty enough, they will not be able to live in it. The same goes if they aren't kept at just the right temperature, or if they don't have the proper mix of oxygen or a big enough tank.

Another thing to keep in mind when getting your first aquarium fish is to select complimentary fish. Going to one of the big commercial fish aquariums might give you the impression that you can mix fish pretty freely. After all, you will often seen several different species living together in the same tank. What you might not realize just from looking is that all of these species are carefully selected to mesh perfectly. They all live in the same climate zone and they have compatible territory needs. The last thing you want to do is pair fish where one species will eat the other.

With aquarium fish, it is best to start off with just one species, or even one individual fish until you get a bit more experience. Get a 10 gallon tank with an aquatic plant or two, a filter, and any other tools that particular fish might need. Enjoy that fish by itself for a while before you really think about getting more.

Eventually, you will want to add more aquarium fish to the mix. After all, keeping fish as pets is pretty addictive and, once the bug bites you, you won't be able to quit. Find a fish dealer who you trust and consult him before every purchase. For example, there are some fish that are so aggressive that they will not share a tank with others unless they have a lot of room. It is always good to find that kind of thing out before you introduce a new fish to the mix!