| Habitats for Fish | | | | 1. Fish in fishbowls are not easier to care for than fish |
| | | | in aquariums for tropical freshwater fish, but the initial |
| 1. Choose aquarium size carefully. A 10-gallon tank is a | | | | investment is less. |
| good size to begin with, though the bigger the tank, | | | | 2. You can buy bowls from pint-sized to two gallons. |
| the easier it is to care for. Keep the fish population | | | | 3. The water is at room temperature, so you can |
| within reasonable limits. Allow at least a gallon of | | | | raise only goldfish or Siamese fighting fish. |
| water per inch of fish; one expert says that you | | | | 4. Siamese fighting fish must be raised alone. You can |
| should have only one big fish or tow or three little | | | | put one goldfish in a small bowl, up to three in a large |
| fish in a 10-gallon tank. | | | | one. |
| 2. For the aquarium you need: a hood with a light, a | | | | 5. Change the water twice a week. The night before |
| heater, a thermometer, a filter, air pump, a gang | | | | you change it, let the new water sit so that the |
| valve, airline tubing, gravel, a fishnet, water | | | | chlorine dissipates. |
| conditioner, and food. | | | | General Dos and Don'ts |
| 3. To set up the tank: (1) rinse it out with tap water; | | | | |
| (2) assemble the under-gravel filter and put it in the | | | | 1. In the first month, test the water every day; after |
| tank; (3) rinse the gravel (but not with soap or | | | | that, weekly. Water temperature of about 74F, |
| detergent) and add to the tank; (4) set up the air | | | | works for most fish. |
| pump, connect the airline tube to the air stem on the | | | | 2. Don't put the aquarium in direct sun; use a |
| filter and to the gang valve; (5) pour in the water | | | | fluorescent light on the tank. |
| and put in water conditioner (in amount suggested on | | | | 3. Do not overfeed fish. Feed them once a day, only |
| the package); (6) set up the heater, but do not plug | | | | the amount of food they will eat in about 30 |
| it for 15 minutes. | | | | seconds. Otherwise the food and waste material |
| 4. To introduce the fish: place the plastic bag | | | | from the fish begin to break down and create toxic |
| containing the fish on top of the tank water for | | | | byproducts. You can buy slow-release feeder tablets |
| several minutes. Then open the bag, but leave the | | | | for times when you are away. |
| fish in it for a few more minutes before removing it. | | | | 4. If fish get sick, take them to the pet store. Take |
| 5. About one-fifth of the water should be changed | | | | little fish in a half-filled mayonnaise jar. Take big fish in |
| once a month. | | | | trash can liners half-filled with water in a five-gallon |
| Fishbowls for Freshwater Nontropical Fish | | | | bucket; blow some air into the bags. Also take a |
| | | | sample of tank water (3-4 oz.). |