Puppy Care

Now your aquarium has been set up, and your water tested ok. You want to buy a bunch of fish, but is it really time to go runnning to the fish store? If you wish to keep a healthy aquarium, you must follow the right steps.

Do not get confused with so many variety of fish for your aquarium. Aggressive fish do not belong in a peaceful community tank. Make sure that your fish are approximately the same size since the larger fish sometimes attack the smaller ones. To find out what a mature fish of your chosen species is like, do a little research. A happy tank is stress-free, so make sure you pick fish that can live peacefully with each other.

The best thing you can do to avoid issues is to decide what fish you like best and do some research to see if they like the other fish you want. If you want more than one species, make sure they are community fish that get along with others. The fish you choose should prefer the same water conditions of hardness and temperature. They should also eat similar things and like the same live aquarium plants.

Some fish, like damselfish, are territorial. They will try to scare off other fish that look like it because they like to be on ther own. Peace-loving fish like guppies don’t disturb other fish by pursuing them or picking on them. Slower fish at times have problems when aggressive fish chase them or nip at their fins.

An aquarium with a species that tends to be aggressive wouldn’t be a good environment for fish that are shy or slow as they would be bullied. Extremely vulnerable fish, like bubble-eye goldfish, may be picked on by almost any other fish, even if they are normally peaceful. Some fish that may grow aggressive as they mature should never be added to a tank with smaller or shy fish. As they mature they will start picking on the other fish, stressing them out and possibly causing them injury.

Another thing to consider is fish hardiness. A fish that has a hardy constitution, like the blennyfish, can resist many diseases and can withstand many different water conditions. A fish that is of average hardiness should do fine in a healthy aquarium. If the water quality isn’t just right,a fragile fish like a flagfin angel may fall victim to disease or stress.

Eating habits are also important. Carnivorous fish such as an angler or an arrowana will eat other fish. They do not make a good addition to a community aquarium. Herbivorous fish like angelfish need vegetables to eat, and may be harder to maintain in a healthy condition in a combination tank. An easy way to keep all of your fish on similar healthy diets, is to find fish that will be able to eat the same easily distributed foods, like pellets and or flakes.

Last but not least, you should also consider including some algae eaters in your tank. When it comes to keeping your aquarium clean, certain species of snails, shrimp or catfish can do a great job.

A lot must be considered prior to adding new aquarium fish. A salesperson at your local fish store will gladly field any questions you have. Also, the internet has great advice and information. You’ll end up with a healthy aquarium that you can enjoy.