If you are a first time fish owner, learning how to keep fish can be daunting. While there is a lot of information to absorb, the information is all fairly simple and straightforward to understand.
Some of the things you will need to take into consideration when purchasing fresh water fish is the size of the aquarium, which fish can be housed together, and how to correctly look after them.
In this article, we have provided you with a simple but effective guide to keeping freshwater fish.
Tank Size
To begin with, you will need to take into consideration the size of the aquarium you purchase. Ideally, you will want to purchase the biggest aquarium possible. This will help to ensure that the tank is large enough for the fish you are planning to keep.
As with any animal, the larger the environment they live in is, the better quality of life they will have.
Tank Equipment
When purchasing an aquarium, you will need to ensure you are also purchasing the correct tank equipment. You will need to purchase items such as a filter, heater, lighting, and an air pump.
A filter is essential when keeping fish, as they cannot survive without one. The filter helps to remove toxins and bad bacteria from the water, preventing them from causing harm to the fish. The filter, heater pump have to be the correct size to ensure that they are able to work correctly in the aquarium.
The vast majority of freshwater fish also require a suitable heater to ensure that the water temperature is correct.
Tank Set Up
In addition to the correct tank equipment, you will need to set up the aquarium correctly. The filter has to be turned on at all times, as does the heater if one is required.
Where you place the tank is important. It should not be placed in direct sunlight, and it should be placed where it is safe and secure. In addition to this, the enrichment within the tank should be suitable for the fish you are planning on purchasing.
For example, you will need to purchase things such as live plants, ornaments for the fish to hide in, gravel, and sometimes sand, depending on the fish. They require the correct enrichment that matches their natural habitat the most.
Choosing The Correct Fish
Researching into different breeds is important when choosing freshwater fish. While the majority are community fish and can be kept with others, they will all have specific needs.
For example tetras should only be kept in larger shoals and do not do well on their own, and betta fish can only be kept with certain types of fish. There are some fish, such as the freshwater aquarium sharks, that cannot be placed into a tank with its own species. This is explained well by Kings Of The Aquarium: https://kingsoftheaquarium.com/freshwater-aquarium-sharks/.
The fish need to be suitable for the aquarium you have purchased, and there needs to be enough room to house them when they reach their full size. This is why it is significant to take the time to learn about different species of fish to ensure that you can keep them in a suitable and safe environment.
Correct fish care
Once you have purchased the freshwater fish, you will need to care for them correctly. This includes introducing them into the tank safely and slowly. This is the first step to looking after them correctly.
You should ensure that you are feeding them the correct diet, and that you are not overfeeding them. This is a simple mistake that many new fish owners make. When it comes to feeding freshwater fish, less is always more.
You are required to carry out regular water checks to ensure that the ammonia, nitrate, and nitrate levels within the water are safe and correct. In addition to this, regular water changes have to be made to remove any toxins and bad bacteria.
When looking at the freshwater fish in your aquarium, you should always check for any signs of illness, and treat these illnesses accordingly. Fish illnesses are fairly easy to spot, and can be treated in the majority of cases.
Summary
This is the basic guide of everything you should know about keeping freshwater fish. While there is a lot of information to digest, once you become familiar with it, keeping fish is fairly easy. The most important thing to remember is that you should always research fish species before you purchase them to ensure they are suitable for your aquarium setup.
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