| Freshwater Tropical fish need the right | | | | Good diet largely determines whether you will |
| temperature and food in their aquarium. An | | | | have a healthy fish with a long life and good |
| imbalance of any of these essentials will no doubt | | | | coloring. Different fish, of course, have varied |
| cause problems in your underwater world. As the | | | | eating habits, and that will have to be taken into |
| word tropical itself suggests a warm temperature, | | | | consideration. |
| most tropic fish flourish better at temperatures | | | | Proper feeding of your finny friends involves, not |
| around 72 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. | | | | only what they are fed, but also how they are |
| Temperatures cooler than these may dampen | | | | fed. In warmer water a fish will require more |
| their resistance to disease. Water that is | | | | food, since it will breathe, digest, eliminate and |
| excessively warm could rob them of required | | | | grow faster than in cooler water. Healthy fish |
| oxygen. | | | | usually appear to be hungry and will often respond |
| Nearly significantly, avoid a unexpected change in | | | | to your presence by swimming excitedly against |
| temperature. This oftentimes stuns the fish and | | | | the front glass of your tank, begging, as it were. |
| brings down their resistance to disease. Because | | | | However, you must be careful not to overfeed |
| of the risk from unexpected change, the issue of | | | | them. |
| adding freshly water or brand new fish to the | | | | A general rule to apply is to feed your freshwater |
| tank is vital. Be sure that the fresh water to be | | | | tropical fish only enough food at one time so that |
| added is of the equal temperature. Also, when | | | | all of it is consumed within three to five minutes. |
| you add new fish to an fish tank, you will be doing | | | | Any food left over due to overfeeding will decay. |
| them a favor by gradually acquainting them into | | | | Overfeeding results in increased bacteria life and |
| their new habitation, instead of merely pouring | | | | then disease and death for the fish. Since fish |
| them into it. This is performed by drifting their | | | | feed a little throughout the day in their natural |
| travel container in the aquarium till both waters | | | | habitat, frequent small feedings are usually |
| are of equivalent temperature. This normally | | | | preferred. However, if it is convenient to feed |
| takes almost fifteen minutes. | | | | them only once a day, it is generally best to do |
| Food, of course, will have to be provided regularly | | | | so in the morning. |
| and it should be varied from time to time. It can | | | | The conditions that cause fish disease are |
| be as simple as buying dried or frozen prepared | | | | principally the same as respects all living creatures, |
| foods for fish; or you may serve them a tasty | | | | namely, overcrowding, chilling or fluctuating |
| dish of mosquito larvae, worms, ants or flies, to | | | | temperatures, poor diet, overeating, insufficient |
| mention but a few. You can also add from your | | | | light and nearby dead or decaying matter. Any of |
| own table a bit of grated beef heart, finely | | | | these can lead to the breakdown of the fishes' |
| chopped raw spinach or lettuce or bits of fish. | | | | natural immunity. |