I stepped into the door of my local pet store and discovered a whole wall of fish tanks filled with strange looking fish. What have I got myself in for? I muttered under my breath as I start to stroll along the isle. It sure was a daunting experience!
Now I'm a few years down the track, I look back at that time with a sense of fondness and a lot more wisdom. When its time to select new fish, there are generally 3 questions to ask. What sort of water does the fish live in? What are the compatible fish species and How healthy are the fish I'm going to select?
There are three main environments you can choose to select your fish, with each option increasing in complexity. Firstly the cold water fish, most commonly gold fish. These guys are popular for a reason, because they are almost indestructible! Next come the slightly more fickle tropical fish. These species only like to live in temperature ranging from about 24 to 28 degrees centigrade. If your considering these guys, then you'll need a heater and light to go with the tank, as well as a good filtration unit other wise you have to start flushing your toilet more often. The last choice is the Marine fish. In addition to temperature and light considerations you have also got to keep a close eye on the salt levels. Marine fish are beautiful, but a lot of work to keep healthy.
So you want to keep tropical fish? Some good species to get you started are the Guppy, Swordtail, Platies, Gourami, Siamese Fighter and Corydoras. Don't forget some cat fish to clean your tank for you! A word of warning though, I would only buy the same size fish and never mix the fighters or Gourami with the guppies, Swordtails or Platies. They are called fighters for a very good reason! Not withstanding that, always buy multiple fish as many live in shoals and will die of loneliness if they don't have any friends.
Last but not least, I would consider the health of the fish I am going to choose. A good pet shop attendant will allow you to individually select the fish for your tank. But what are the signs of a healthy fish? Some of the most important characteristics are a full solid-looking body, intact and erect fins, 'Bright' eyes, No missing scales, growths, wounds or ulcers, a High level of activity and a Healthy appetite. Don't be afraid to shop elsewhere if you can't find any fish that meet this criteria, as you have probably found a store trying to get rid of old stock.
Peter is an avid fish keeper and owner or fishstore.com/index.php?cPath=1">Pet Supplies fish Shop online and save on your pet supplies plus fish needs today!
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