| I'll tell you right now, that some purists who keep pet | | | | specific needs. Your friend may have some really |
| fish might feel what I am about to say is too | | | | great equipment, but they may have acquired their |
| simplistic, but I have been a "true believer" myself in | | | | equipment, and experience, over the years. XYZ Fish |
| the past and recognize the syndrome. | | | | Emporium may also mark their stuff up pretty |
| Of course, you will probably want to get some | | | | steeply. |
| advice from people who already keep pet fish, but | | | | Now, I do not often advise people to go to Walmart, |
| take what they tell you with a grain of salt...at least | | | | but you might want to make your first step the |
| for now. | | | | purchase of a complete (small 5 gallon) aquarium kit |
| You see, people who REALLY DO know a lot about | | | | from there. Yes, you could go to Petco, PetSmart or |
| a subject, also often have acquired a lot of arcane | | | | other such place as well. If you find that you really |
| knowledge and personal likes and dislikes on the way | | | | like keeping and taking care of pet fish, you can |
| to the spot they are at. They also are acquainted | | | | always upgrade equipment and move into caring for |
| with others like themselves, people with lots of | | | | more expensive and sensitive fish once you have a |
| knowledge on the subject and years of experience, | | | | little more experience and are sure that this is for |
| and forget what happened the first time their new | | | | you. |
| neon or tetra died because of their ignorance or | | | | Remember what I said earlier about the cost of an |
| negligence. | | | | aquarium being hundreds or even thousands of |
| As you might expect, many people like yourself who | | | | dollars? A simple starter aquarium kit from Walmart |
| are just beginning in the hobby of keeping pet fish, | | | | can cost about $50. If it doesn't work out, you can |
| actually know very little about the subject. They | | | | sell it and get a few bucks back or donate it to |
| don't know what fish are the best to keep, they | | | | Goodwill and get a tax deduction out of it. |
| don't know how to set up the aquarium, and they | | | | You will also want to start with some low |
| don't know how much work can be involved! | | | | maintenance (and cheap) fish, but attractive ones, |
| Often, after they go through the expense, time and | | | | again, from Walmart or some such box store. Look |
| effort of setting up their first home aquarium, they | | | | at it this way. Many of those fish are in the fish |
| begin to have some misgivings about pursuing the | | | | version of hell, or at least purgatory, and taking a |
| hobby, and once a few (often expensive) fish die, | | | | few such as Tetras or Neons home might be doing |
| the aquarium winds up with a lot of other "projects" | | | | them a favor. True, Tetras and Neons are pretty |
| in the garage. Since some home aquarium setups can | | | | commonplace as fish go, but they are also good to |
| cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, it's a | | | | learn with. |
| good idea to decide whether you really want to | | | | What is there to learn about keeping pet fish? |
| pursue this hobby or not before you lay out the big | | | | Well, there's conditioning the water, controlling algae, |
| bucks. | | | | dealing with fish diseases, and making sure that fish |
| One of the worst mistakes a person new to the | | | | with compatible personalities are in the tank and are |
| hobby can make is to run out and buy a lot of | | | | not eating each other or chewing up fins. |
| expensive equipment and fish. Another major | | | | What? Fish have personalities? |
| mistake is to listen to one of those experienced | | | | Yes, and that's just one thing you may eventually |
| friends who says, "Don't mess around with cheap | | | | have to become acquainted with as you pursue this |
| Walmart fish. Go to XYZ Fish Emporium and | | | | hobby. |
| buy_______ (fill in the blank with Angelfish or some | | | | Start small, and grow slowly, stop when the next |
| other beautiful fish you can think of)". | | | | step begins to look like work and not fun, and you |
| Many of these fish are expensive. Some have very | | | | should enjoy keeping pet fish. |