| Buying the right aquarium fish for your tank is | | | | is poor then adding more fish will just make things |
| key to the success of your aquarium. When | | | | worse and endanger the health of all the fish in |
| selecting fish, you may not simply be able to pick | | | | the tank. Also, you should be careful not to |
| out the fish that catch your eye in the pet store | | | | overload your tank with too many fish as this will |
| as not all fish can live in the same environment. | | | | cause stress on all the fish as well as cause your |
| Additionally not all fish get along with each other | | | | water quality to degrade. The general rule of |
| so you will have to be careful to choose the | | | | thumb for freshwater tropical fish tanks is 1 inch |
| types of fish that are compatible. | | | | of fish per gallon of water. If you add too many, |
| If all this seems like hard work, don't worry, you | | | | you will have to spend more time changing the |
| will soon become familiar with the types of | | | | water and will need really good filtration in order |
| tropical fish that work well in your tank and even | | | | to keep your tank healthy. |
| have some favorites that you like to keep. When | | | | 4. Water Temperature. Not all tropical fish like the |
| choosing fish for your aquarium, here's some tips | | | | same temperature water. While most will do well |
| to keep in mind: | | | | with temps in the mid 70's some do better in |
| 1. Fish appearance. Observe the particular fish you | | | | cooler waters while others like it on the warm |
| are interested in carefully to make sure he is | | | | side. |
| active and swimming around properly. Make sure | | | | 5. Fish size. Before you buy a new fish you might |
| his fins are not chewed and he doesn't have any | | | | want to find out how big he can be expected to |
| growths or white fuzzy patches. | | | | eventually grow. Since your tank can support |
| 2. Tank condition. Dealers tanks can have | | | | about 1 inch of fish per gallon, you wouldn't want |
| parasites and disease that might not be apparent | | | | to put a fish that might grow to 5 inches in your |
| in your fish right away so you need to observe | | | | 5 gallon tank or he might be the only one you can |
| the other fish in the tank and take a good look at | | | | have! |
| the tank conditions. Is the tank clean? If not that | | | | 6. The type of fish. Is your new fish aggressive |
| is an indication that the dealer probably doesn't | | | | or does he play well with others? Is he OK being |
| care for the tanks well. Make sure the other fish | | | | the only one of his kind in the tank or will he do |
| in the tank are alert and swimming around | | | | better in a school. Make sure you only put fish |
| actively. Avoid buying a fish from a tank that has | | | | that will get along in the tank or the more |
| dead fish floating in it. Even if your fish appears to | | | | aggressive fish will pick on the others. Also, some |
| be healthy, he could already be infected with | | | | fish are territorial and you should only keep one |
| something that might not show up until days after | | | | per tank. |
| you get him home. By then it might be too late | | | | 7. The food. Find out what type of food your |
| and you could risk infecting your other fish. | | | | new fish likes to eat. Most eat flakes, but some |
| 3. Water Conditions. The condition of your water | | | | like freeze dried worms or other types of food. |
| is important as well as the number of fish you | | | | When you bring home your new fish be sure to |
| already have in the tank. If your water condition | | | | also take home some of his favorite dinner. |