Tropical Fish Guide For Starters

Written by Harold Peterson on February 15, 2010 – 7:19 pm -


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.

It is recommended that you purchase the tank and accessories prior to buying the fish. Your tropical fish will not be happy or healthy for long in a plastic bag. You need to establish a clean and safe environment for them ahead of time. Give them something magnificent to come home to. When buying your first tank, don’t think that bigger is better. Since you’re a newcomer to the world of tropical fish ownership, start small. Once you see that you are good at taking care of them, you can increase the tank size. Just don’t bite off more than you can chew out of the gate.

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 must purchase a strong and well built tank with a lid and a stand that will hold your fish tank. Also ensure that the tank does not have any cracks or obvious defects. You also will need to purchase a 5 watt light and a back filter with a hang for your fish tank to keep your new pets happy and healthy. Before you do anything, thoroughly wash your tank out with warm water when you get it home and make sure that the water is pure before you begin introducing fish into it. If you use any type of soap or detergent, it is important that you rinse your tank completely. You don’t want to poison your fish!

Buy colored gravel or pretty glass beads to line the base of your tank. The fish will enjoy this and it helps trap algae and other things that you may not want to see floating in your tank. You can buy all kinds of cool stuff to put in the bottom of the tank, make sure that if you buy any “hiding place” items for your fish, they’re big enough. The last thing you want is a fish injuring itself by trying to get into a space that’s too small for it.

Once everything is in place, it’s time to begin filling. You’ll want to bring the temperature of your fish tank water to around 80 degrees. This is usually the perfect temperature for tropical fish but always double check with an expert, first.

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.

Make sure that you are feeding your fish the right food. It’s important to do this unless you want to make your fish sick or possibly kill them. Feed your fish the right amount of food and feed them at the same time, every day. Don’t overfeed fish, they can actually eat themselves to death! Keep your tank clean and keep a close eye on your new housemates, especially for the first few days after you bring them home.

If you want to read a more extensive tropical fish guide, then please click on any of the given links: tropical fish guide an excellent tropical fish guide


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