| Introducing a new fish to your aquarium does not | | | | aquarium water to the bag in which your tropical |
| need to be difficult. Most of them that are | | | | fish is swimming. Each addition should be followed |
| commercially available have already been moved | | | | by more adjustment time. This will give the fish |
| a number of times in their lives and are adept at | | | | time to get used to the water quality of a tank. |
| quickly adapting to a new environment. Before | | | | Another 10-15 minutes or so and the fish will be |
| the process of introducing a new fish even begins, | | | | ready to be introduced to the tank and the rest |
| one must research a fish's natural environment. | | | | of the fish population. |
| Only if this environment is in line with the | | | | Do not dump the bag containing the fish tank |
| conditions in your tank can the introduction be | | | | tropical fish into an aquarium. The fish should be |
| successful. There is no amount of preparation | | | | removed from the bag with a net designed for |
| that will enable one to live outside its preferred | | | | this purpose, and quickly deposited into the tank. |
| temperature range or lighting conditions. | | | | The water in the bag should be discarded to avoid |
| Freshwater fish tank fish require the least amount | | | | affecting the water quality of the tank. |
| of time for acclimation. When adding them to a | | | | Salt water fish tank fish can be introduced with |
| tank that already contains a number of fish, one | | | | the same methods, but the amount of time they |
| must simply allow the bag in which they are | | | | are allowed for acclimation should be much longer. |
| transported to float for 10-20 minutes in your | | | | When adding water to the bag in which they |
| tank's water. This will enable them to gradually | | | | were transported, the water should be added |
| adjust to the ambient temperature of the tank | | | | very gradually. They should be given as much as |
| and avoid drastic temperature changes that could | | | | an hour to adjust to each addition. Through this |
| be potentially harmful. As the fish will be floating | | | | may seem painstaking, it is vital to ensuring a |
| near the top of the tank, be sure to turn off | | | | successful transition. |
| tank lights to avoid heating the bag and reduce | | | | Be wary of adding too many new fish at a time. |
| the amount of stress on the fish. | | | | Beginners should only add two or three fish every |
| After the water within the bag has had a few | | | | few weeks to maintain tank stability and fish |
| minutes to adjust, begin adding small amounts of | | | | health. |