Owning tropical fish is both relaxing and fun. You can throw your stress and worries to the wind when you sit in amazement, watching your fish swim and frolic. If you have never owned tropical fish before, here\’s a tropical fish guide to help you get started. Do some research on the kinds of fish you might like to buy so that once you\’re ready to buy, it\’s not a drawn out event. The first thing you need to do is purchase a tank.
The first thing you need to do is figure out what you have room for and what you\’re prepared to take care of. Knowing how big of a tank to buy can be tricky. The people at your local exotic pet and tropical fish store can be a huge help to you. Typically the best size for new tropical fish owners is anywhere from 10 to 20 gallons. You can manage this size easily and once you\’ve got good experience handling this size tank, you can move up to a larger tank.
If you don\’t have a tank already, go purchase a small one. You also need a filter and light as well as other supplies to clean the tank. Buy the food you\’ll need ahead of time as well. You can design a tank that is creative and colorful or if you prefer, very basic. Just make sure that whatever you do, you buy quality products. Things you buy that are less than well crafted can cost you down the road.
You of course need a strong and well built tank. Make sure the tank has no cracks or obvious defects. You will also need a hang on the back filter and a 5 watt light to keep your new pets happy and healthy. Wash your tank out well when you get it home and make sure that the water is pure before you begin introducing fish into it.
Make sure that your tank is completely clean and then add about an inch of rocks to the bottom of the tank. There is a variety of colored and ornate gravel that you can purchase for your tank. Get creative and give your new pets a beautiful home to enjoy.
Begin adding water and set your tank heater to approximately 80 degrees. This is the ideal temperature for most tropical fish. Be sure and check with the pet store before putting your fish in their new home.
Make sure that you are setting your tank up at least 3 feet away from any direct light source or source of heat such as windows, sliding glass doors and heating vents. Your fish love the light, but natural sunlight helps algae to grow and you\’ll have a very messy tank to clean. The 5 watt light you bought should be more than enough light to keep them swimming around happily. You\’ll want to begin filling the tank once you get the stones and toys in place. Now that you\’ve got everything ready, you can go select your fish.
Since you\’re new to this, ask the pet store owner to show you the lower maintenance fish they have to offer. Select a few of several kinds of fish that will be both bright and fascinating to watch and also easy to care for. Some fish, contrary to popular belief, do not get along well. They may not warn you at the pet shop, but some fish are highly predatory. Read up on the kinds of fish that you shouldn\’t mix together before buying your new pets.
Feed your new fish the right kind of food and always feed them at the same time of day. Don\’t give them too much food and don\’t starve them, either. This can lead to fish cannibalism. Again, not a pretty sight, especially for the young ones. Make sure your tank stays clean and your fish will be very happy to call your tank home.
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