| Are you new to the world of pet fish keeping? | | | | Don't just buy one Zebra Danio -- they're more |
| With so many different varieties to choose from, | | | | fun to watch in schools of 5 or more. You'll find |
| it can be a bit overwhelming. Here are a few | | | | them in most pet stores and they're compatible |
| types of freshwater fish that make excellent | | | | with just about any variety of peaceful, tropical |
| pets for the beginner as well as the advanced | | | | fish. |
| aquarist (fish keeper). | | | | Platys and Swordtails |
| Betas | | | | Platys and Swordtails are lumped into the same |
| Betas are the beautiful fish you see displayed in | | | | category because they're similar in appearance |
| small bowls at your local pet store. They have | | | | and pretty much identical in their requirements. |
| long flowing fins of red, purple or blue and are | | | | These tropical pet fish can be found in most pet |
| extremely easy to care for. The only drawback | | | | stores in striking shades of orange and red. They |
| of Betta fish is that they must be kept alone -- | | | | are easy to care for when placed in a 72 degree |
| the males will fight each other to the death, and | | | | Fahrenheit aquarium of at least 10 gallons. And |
| females are rarely available in pet shops. They | | | | they get along just fine with any other variety of |
| don't do very well with other pet fish species | | | | peaceful tropical fish. |
| either, because other fish like to nibble on their | | | | Platys and Swordtails mate and reproduce quite |
| long fins. | | | | often in the home aquarium. They are livebearers |
| Goldfish | | | | -- which means their babies (fry) start swimming |
| Goldfish are a relatively easy pet fish to care for | | | | as soon as they're born. |
| if you provide them with the right size tank. They | | | | Corydoras |
| won't survive long in a goldfish bowl or small | | | | Corydoras are another easy to care for and |
| aquarium of less than 10 gallons because they | | | | hardy variety of pet fish. They're a very active |
| produce a lot of waste. And waste cuts down on | | | | type of catfish and spend most of their time |
| the available oxygen in the water. A good rule of | | | | swimming along the bottom of the tank eating up |
| thumb is to keep no more than 1 or 2 goldfish for | | | | any leftover food. |
| each 10 gallons of well--filtered aquarium water. | | | | They are tropical fish, so they'll do best in a |
| Zebra Danios | | | | heated aquarium of at least 72 degrees |
| Zebra Danios are extremely hardy pet fish that | | | | Fahrenheit. You can put them in aquariums with |
| will do well in any size aquarium. They're tropical | | | | just about any other variety of tropical fish and |
| fish -- so you'll need to place a heater in their tank | | | | they seem to enjoy being kept in schools of 3 or |
| to maintain a water temperature of at least 70 | | | | more. |
| degrees Fahrenheit. | | | | |