| Every year thousands and thousands of people | | | | beginners. Different fish species also has different |
| try their luck with tropical fish but only a small | | | | requirements as they come from different |
| part of them still keep tropical fish one year later. | | | | environments in the wild. Make sure to only |
| This can often be contributed to bad experiences | | | | choose fish that suits the water in your area (or |
| such as dying fish, a smelly aquarium or a green | | | | prepare the water to suit the fish) and only keep |
| aquarium completely conquered by algae. Most of | | | | fish that wants the same type of environment in |
| these experiences are caused by a number of | | | | the same aquarium. Make sure to choose fish |
| common mistakes that many fish keepers make | | | | with a similar temperament and that doesn't grow |
| and can be easily avoided. Below you'll find a list of | | | | too big for your aquarium. A common mistake |
| 5 common mistakes and how to avoid them. | | | | people make are buying goldfish for their tropical |
| 1. Buying everything at once and than setting up | | | | aquariums. Goldfish are not tropical fish and do |
| the tank when you get home. An aquarium needs | | | | best in colder water. Keeping them in warm |
| to stabilize before you introduce fish into it. This | | | | water make them more prune to diseases and |
| process should be allowed to take at least a | | | | shorten their life spans. It is common that you |
| couple of weeks. The reason for this is that | | | | hear about people keeping their goldfish alive for a |
| aquariums need to establish a fauna of good | | | | couple of years as something impressing when |
| bacteria that helps brake down toxins created by | | | | goldfish in reality live to be 20, 30 sometimes |
| decaying plant part and fish waste. You can speed | | | | even 40 years. |
| the process along by taking water from an | | | | 4. Cleaning the filter in hot water. Many beginners |
| already established aquarium to put into your own | | | | clean their filters in warm water to get them |
| or by buying an aquarium starter kit. | | | | really clean, some even use cleaners. Both these |
| 2. Smaller isn't easier. Many beginners buy a small | | | | practices are no nos as they destroy the |
| aquarium as their first aquarium thinking that it will | | | | important bacteria in the filter and reduces the |
| be easier to maintain. Nothing could however be | | | | effectiveness of the filter. Only use room |
| further from the truth. Larger aquariums are | | | | temperatured water when cleaning your filter and |
| more stable and require less maintenance than | | | | make sure that the filter media doesn't dry out |
| smaller aquariums. I never recommend anyone to | | | | during the cleaning. It is okay if some dirt is still |
| start with less than | | | | there when you put it back in the aquarium. |
| 100L / 25 gallons. An aquarium of this size is still | | | | 5. Overfeeding. The fish isn't hungry each time |
| rather small, doesn't take up a lot of room and is | | | | they beg for food. Feeding them to much will just |
| much easier to care for than even smaller | | | | put stress on the water and potentially kill your |
| aquariums. A larger aquarium can also house larger | | | | fish in the long run. Feed your fish two times a |
| fish and will therefore give you much more fish | | | | day and no more than they can eat in a couple of |
| species to choose among than a smaller thank | | | | minutes. |
| would. | | | | Avoid these mistakes and your fish will thank you |
| 3. Buying the wrong fish. Some fish are hardier | | | | for it. |
| than other and are hence more suitable for | | | | |