| If you love fish and marvel at their colors and the | | | | others; if you are a busy person you may not |
| incredible diversity of aquarium fish on the | | | | want fish that are too high maintenance. Different |
| market, then you should consider getting an | | | | kinds of fish have specific needs with respect to |
| aquarium. To do so will require a bit of know how; | | | | diet, temperature, chemicals, and compatibility |
| starting with your selection of fish. You can't get | | | | with other fishes. |
| just any fish for your aquarium, figuring out which | | | | First decide if you want freshwater fish or salt |
| will suit the size of your aquarium and what | | | | water fish, freshwater fish are easier to take |
| combinations of fish can coexist requires some | | | | care of, but there are those who prefer the |
| know how. With that know how and a bit of | | | | greater diversity available with saltwater fishes. |
| patience, maintaining a salt water aquarium should | | | | Either way, it is easiest to get a school of just |
| be no trouble at all. | | | | one type of fish, their care requirements will be |
| Get the Balance Right | | | | the same and you won't have any compatibility |
| The key to maintaining an aquarium successfully is | | | | issues. With a school of fish that look almost |
| balancing a lot of variables. The first consideration | | | | identical to each other, it is also very easy to |
| is how big a tank do you want, and do you have | | | | spot sick ones. Popular varieties are cardinal tetras |
| space for that tank? Tanks come in all kinds of | | | | or neons, loaches or pearls, clown plecostomus or |
| custom dimensions to suit different living spaces, | | | | bristle-nose corydoras catfish, zebra danios and |
| there are tanks that are long and wide, for more | | | | any type of barbs. It is also a good idea to get |
| cramped spaces, you can probably have a tank | | | | two otocinclus catfish to control the algae in the |
| of similar size that is tall rather than wide. | | | | tank, of course you may need to get more for |
| The size of your tank determines how many fish | | | | bigger tanks. |
| you can have, in general, a good rule is to have | | | | A perfect fish to raise for beginners is the killifish. |
| two inches of fish per gallon of water capacity, | | | | The great thing about this variety, is that it is |
| e.g. if your tank is 10 gallons, you can have 10 | | | | very easy to maintain, you won't be |
| fishes, each two inches long, or five fishes four | | | | overwhelmed by the requirements for taking care |
| inches long. You should get your fish only from an | | | | of it. Killifish can be hard to find though. |
| established dealer. Less reputable dealers are | | | | If you do plan to mix fish, do your research and |
| more likely to give you fish that are sick or dying. | | | | as your dealer before attempting it. Some |
| You can tell a lot about dealers by looking at their | | | | common varieties can have very uncommon |
| showcase aquariums. The point after all of having | | | | requirements, cichlids for instance can grow quite |
| an aquarium is to beautify your home or office. | | | | a bit from the time you first buy them, and a |
| Compatibility | | | | single angelfish requires at least a ten gallon tank. |
| There is a huge amount of variety in the world's | | | | Oscars are pretty, but they can be messy, and |
| oceans and fresh waterways, and clearly, you | | | | they eat a lot of other types of fish. An aquarium |
| can't even have a fraction of it in even the | | | | can be a challenging thing to maintain, but for |
| biggest available aquariums. Do your research, find | | | | many, the rewards are well worth the trouble. |
| out what kinds of fish are suited to your lifestyle, | | | | There's no harm in trying it out and seeing for |
| remember that some fish require more care than | | | | yourself. |