| Basic Criteria for Fishkeeping | | | | like shrimp, worms etc. The plant eaters can be |
| Purchasing a new fish tank is exciting and fun. If | | | | fed pellets, and some types of vegetables like |
| you starting up and bringing home a fish for the | | | | zucchini and lettuce (romaine lettuce) Try not to |
| kids, or even for your own aquarium, be sure to | | | | mix it up too much you need to give your fish a |
| place your fish in it's new home pronto. Don't | | | | little time to adjust to the new diet your are |
| delay it's imperative to get your fish home or it | | | | giving them. |
| may overheat to room temp and die. Make sure | | | | Fish Families |
| your aquarium is completely set up and ready to | | | | Usually fish can be categorized into families or |
| go before you place your fish in it's new home. | | | | communities based on there previous habitat. |
| It's not a good idea to plop your fish into the | | | | Keep fish within' their communities. You don't |
| aquarium because it needs time to adjust to the | | | | want to put your tropical fish in the tank with an |
| temperature of the water. So I recommend | | | | oscar would you? So make sure you know what |
| placing the bag from the pet store into the | | | | community your fish belongs to. These families |
| aquarium and let it float so the fish can slowly | | | | are divided into about 5 common groups. Goldfish |
| adjust to the temperature of the water. This | | | | African Cichlids/South American Cichlids/Tropical |
| should take about 10-15 minutes. When you think | | | | Aggressive/& Tropical. A sane fish is a |
| it's good to go then you can take the fish out of | | | | happy fish so keep them within their fish |
| the pet shop bag and let it swim around in its | | | | communities. |
| new aquarium. Don't forget to wash your hands | | | | How to clean your aquarium |
| when your finished. | | | | If you just purchased your fish tank then be sure |
| Setting up your new fish Aquarium | | | | to rotate about 1 tenth of the water supply |
| Is your aquarium ready for your new fish? Make | | | | every week. If you've had a fish tank awhile then |
| sure it is properly sized for the fish type you plan | | | | you are aware to change 1/4 of the water |
| to place in the fish tank. Is your fish tank near a | | | | supply monthly. Make sure you are using some |
| power outlet? You will need power for the | | | | type of water conditioner when you are adding |
| filtration process and lighting for your fish. Try to | | | | new water to the tank. Tap water has minerals |
| keep your aquarium out of common household | | | | and chemicals that fish do not like. So a |
| vulnerabilities, like direct sunlight. Your fish tank | | | | dechlorinator is a wise choice for new water. Get |
| should have about 2-3 inches of rocks and gravel | | | | an algae scrubber to swipe algae from the glass. |
| for the base. Decorations are always fun but | | | | A vacuum can help keep debris in the gravel. The |
| remember to leave room for your fish to swim | | | | quality of water you rotate in your fish tank is |
| around. You don't want your fish to get stuck in | | | | important. Test the ph balance of the water |
| your silly decorations so don't over do it with the | | | | regularly to keep ammonia, nitrite/nitrate, |
| decor. Live plants are good for the environment | | | | hardness, alkalinity and chorine levels balanced. Do |
| and are pleasing to the eye. Artificial plants will do | | | | you have a water tester for your tank? You |
| but if they get loose the usually float into the | | | | should get one if you don't. |
| filter and jam the aquarium. With live plants at | | | | Signs your have a healthy fish |
| least you will be able to have stability when the | | | | It's obvious when you have a happy, healthy fish. |
| roots grow into the gravel. Make sure your fish | | | | There are no floaters right? Here are more signs |
| tank is filled with NON-CHLORINATED water, and | | | | of a happy fish |
| get the water temp. in a range of 74-82 degrees | | | | -They are eating like champs! |
| for tropical fish groups and 68-72 degrees for | | | | -Your fish are swimming at the right water level |
| goldfish groups. Most important of all is safety. | | | | -No skin lesions |
| You need to be sure your fish tank is Stable! | | | | -Pure colors |
| Fish tank components and accessories | | | | -Steady gills |
| If your tank is not stable you risk the possibility | | | | -The are darting around like nemo... |
| of a leak or break. Get a proper foundation or | | | | Signs you have a sick fish. |
| stand to place your tank on. Do you have the | | | | These are some of the common signs that you |
| right filter? You need to get a reliable filter. | | | | have a sick fish in a poorly maintained aquarium. |
| Canister, undergravel and even power filters can | | | | You may need to adjust the water, water filter, |
| remove wasts and provide safe clean water for | | | | and chemicals in your aquarium to prevent your |
| your fishes, and plants. A thermometer and | | | | fish from getting sick. Here are the common |
| heater are key to maintain the right water | | | | indicators your fish is sick. |
| temperature. If you don't want your fish flopping | | | | - They scrape their body on the rocks or rough |
| on the living room floor, then make sure you | | | | surfaces |
| have a hatch or a hood to keep them from | | | | - White stuff on or around the mouth |
| jumping out! Hoods also prevent water | | | | - They may get Red Lines on their fins. |
| evaporation from the fish tank. | | | | - Golden specks on skin and fins is known as a |
| | | | common problem |
| 1. Gravel | | | | - Parasites on the fish. Can you see them? |
| 2. hood/hatch | | | | - If your fish seems like it's having consistent gill |
| 3. heater | | | | spasms then you know it may be sick. |
| 4. reliable filter | | | | - your fishes fins are tight against the body of |
| 5. stand | | | | the fish |
| Feeding your Fish | | | | - Everyone has seen this I'm sure. When your fish |
| Have you overfed your fish only to find them | | | | is settled on the bottom of the tank. |
| floating on top of your fish tank? Just a pinch will | | | | These are general signs of a sick fish or poorly |
| do! Feed your fish twice daily, and if you have | | | | kept fish tank. Speak with a specialist if you have |
| little guppies then they need to be feed more. | | | | any of these problems. If they persist maybe |
| Feed your fish as much food as they will eat in a | | | | you should consider changing the water, chemicals, |
| 5 minute period. If there are left over flakes, it's | | | | tank or even the food you give your fish. |
| an indicator you need to cut back on the food. | | | | Remember to always check with a specialist |
| Fish are capable of adapting their diets around | | | | before caring for your fish yourself. |
| flake foods. Meat eaters need some protein fish | | | | |