| There are so many types of fish. Tangs, wrasse, | | | | If you are going to be keeping a reef tank on of the |
| blenny, clownfish, damels, cold water, carnivore, | | | | most important things I can stress is to choose fish |
| herbivore and more. In this short and sweet article I | | | | based on what actually swims the reef and is |
| will summarize the easiest way to go about choosing | | | | generally beneficial to your aquarium. Algae is a |
| your fish selection or even adding new fish to an | | | | nuisance so find fish that consume it on a regular |
| existing aquarium. | | | | basis such as a lawnmower blenny. |
| Nearly all fish you see in a saltwater aquarium come | | | | Parasites are never a good thing so find a type of |
| from the wild. So the first step is research the fish | | | | fish such as a scarlet wrasse which eats flatworms |
| and here are some things to consider. Was this fish | | | | and other unwanted pests. But stay away from fish |
| caught responsibly? Is this fish over collected for the | | | | that need to stay in the ocean such as cleaner |
| aquarium trade? Who is the importer? Do they use | | | | wrasse.(Removal of Cleaner Wrasse fish is very |
| cyanide? Or even better is the fish aqua cultured? | | | | detrimental to wild reefs as they are what keeps |
| Doing some simple research you are helping to make | | | | those wild fish parasite free). |
| this hobby more sustainable for the future by not | | | | Do you prefer a sand bottom? Purchase some fish |
| making uninformed purchases. | | | | such as sand sifting gobies that keep that sand |
| Next you want to consider if you are purchasing a | | | | sparkling clean. So as you can see when keeping a |
| fish for a "Fish Only" or "Reef Tank". Depending on | | | | reef tank make selections that make not only your |
| what type of aquarium you are keeping there are | | | | life easier, but also create a natural self-sustaining |
| many fish you want to stay away from as they are | | | | environment. |
| not compatible in certain situations. For instance | | | | Fish Only Aquariums |
| mandarin fish would not survive in a fish only | | | | Fish only systems can be a bit tricky sometimes as |
| aquarium as they require a large diet of small | | | | many new aquarist want to keep fish in a tiny |
| invertebrates. Many types of wrasse are also very | | | | aquarium that just grow way too big for the average |
| detrimental to the health of a reef tank as they | | | | aquarium. Choose fish that don't outgrow your |
| actually consume coral as a part of their diet. So do | | | | aquarium. Don't EVER purchase a fish thinking "When |
| your research and make sure these fish are | | | | it gets to big I will just sell it or donate it" This is |
| compatible to your current aquarium situation. | | | | what gives the industry a bad name. Be responsible |
| How big will this fish get? Be sure to find out exactly | | | | with your decision. Do a search for invasive lionfish |
| how large your new addition will grow to. Many tangs | | | | for example. |
| grow up to 2 feet and no serious aquarist will | | | | Big fish eat fish. Make sure you are choosing animals |
| recommend one in a tank shorter than 6 feet and 2 | | | | that will not consume each other. In essence with |
| feet wide. Wild caught fish have never ending | | | | just a little common sense, responsibility and research |
| swimming space. How would you like to be locked in | | | | you will be well on your way to having a flourishing |
| a 10x10 room for the rest of your life? Give them | | | | fish or reef aquarium. There are endless resources on |
| some room to swim. If you have a small tank, get | | | | the net to find out compatibility and diets on just |
| small fish that don't swim to far in the wild. | | | | about every species held in the aquarium industry. |
| Reef Tanks Fish Selection | | | | |