| Saltwater aquariums should generally contain | | | | cucumbers. The third type is the fish and |
| fewer fish than fresh water tanks, because the | | | | invertebrate saltwater aquarium. These are more |
| species tend to grow bigger in size. Marine species | | | | difficult to maintain than either of the two |
| may be bred in a captive environment, or caught | | | | categories separately. Certain invertebrates feed |
| in the wild. Captive bred species are easier to | | | | on certain fish, and the reverse is also true. |
| care for and usually hardier than caught species. It | | | | Therefore, it is important to research the species |
| generates a great amount of stress for a fish to | | | | carefully to ensure that you do not put predator |
| be captured in the wild and then introduced into | | | | and prey together in the same aquarium. Diseases |
| an aquarium environment. It is often difficult for | | | | can also spread more rapidly and are more |
| them to figure out how to eat. Whenever | | | | difficult to prevent and cure in aquariums |
| possible, purchase your fish from a retailer that | | | | containing both invertebrates and fish species. |
| deals only with breeders or from the breeders | | | | The next type of saltwater aquarium is the coral |
| themselves. There are five different types of | | | | reef aquarium. Reef aquariums can be tricky to |
| saltwater aquariums. | | | | maintain and must be thoroughly researched |
| The first type of saltwater aquarium is the fish | | | | before attempted. The last category of saltwater |
| only aquarium. This is probably the easiest to care | | | | aquariums is the specialty aquarium. An example |
| for of the five types, simply because you are | | | | of a specialty aquarium would be an aquarium full |
| only dealing with one type of species. Amongst | | | | of sea horses. Sea horses should not be kept |
| the saltwater fish there are both tropical and | | | | with any other type of fish or marine life, |
| coldwater types. They can't be kept together for | | | | because they are timid and slow eaters. Their |
| obvious reasons. The water temperatures vary | | | | food source could easily be taken away by other |
| greatly. Tropical fish are usually brighter in color, | | | | tank mates. Seahorses prefer to swim vertically |
| and therefore more appealing to aquarium lovers | | | | rather than horizontally, and should be placed in a |
| than the fish available in the cold water variety. | | | | tall tank. An octopus and a shark or a ray are |
| Most people are somewhat familiar with a few | | | | other examples of fish that require special needs |
| tropical fish such as the Clownfish or the Angel | | | | and would fall into the category of specialty |
| fish. However, few people have heard of such | | | | aquarium. |
| cold water varieties as, the Shanny or the | | | | Regardless of which type of saltwater aquarium is |
| Tompot Blenny. | | | | chosen, research is highly recommended before |
| The second type of saltwater aquarium is the | | | | purchasing any marine life. Make sure you are |
| invertebrate only aquarium. These types of | | | | willing to make the commitment required to care |
| aquariums usually consist of shrimp, prawn, hermit | | | | for a saltwater aquarium. |
| crabs and perhaps even starfish or sea | | | | |