| Pets can become a large amount of work. After | | | | can be as breathtaking or simple as you |
| buying a dog or cat, you might realize you | | | | desire. |
| just dont have the time to devote to keeping | | | | |
| them happy and entertained. However, if you | | | | Once youve decided what your tank will look |
| still find you want the liveliness of a pet, | | | | like you are free to decide what kinds of |
| some being other than yourself occupying your | | | | fish youll have in it. There are thousands of |
| home, fish can make a magnificent edition, | | | | species, all of them very different, and some |
| not only as an easy to care for pet, but as a | | | | might not get along as well as others. Before |
| beautiful center-piece to your room. | | | | choosing your fish, youll want to discuss |
| | | | your selections with someone who has an idea |
| The habit of capturing and keeping fish in an | | | | of how the different kinds of fish interact |
| enclosed pool goes back thousands of years, | | | | and what theyll need from you. You would |
| civilizations as old as the Egyptians finding | | | | never want to buy a fish that has a habit of |
| the beauty of natures swimmers too great to | | | | eating a fish you already own. |
| leave to the sea. Today you can do the same | | | | |
| without going to the trouble of capturing | | | | You can add living plants, invertebrates, and |
| wild fish, instead relying on your local pet | | | | other inhabitants to your mini-ecosystem as |
| or fish store. | | | | well, once youve gotten the right balance, |
| | | | giving as much vibrant color and variation to |
| Keeping fish as pets requires a decent | | | | your little world as you can. |
| initial investment though, assuming you want | | | | |
| more than one fish. Of course, a smaller | | | | Once you have your tank set up, you can |
| enclosure designed for goldfish can be just | | | | largely leave it alone, simply observing the |
| as ornamental and considerably cheaper (and | | | | majesty of the tiny sea in your living room. |
| easier to care for) than a full aquarium. For | | | | Of course, you will be responsible for |
| those planning to keep tropical or exotic | | | | feeding them daily and every now and then |
| species though, a decently sized tank will be | | | | youll need to clean the tank if your filter |
| required with a decent filtering system, to | | | | ever breaks, clogs, or falls off, or if it |
| keep the water fresh. | | | | just plain looks dirty in there. Aquariums |
| | | | have a very carefully balanced ecosystem, |
| Once youve made your initial purchase though, | | | | taking into account the nitrogen, pH, and |
| its only a matter of decorating. How do you | | | | oxygen levels and youll want to make sure it |
| want your new fish tank to look? How many | | | | stays carefully balanced. |
| fish do you want? What kinds of fish do you | | | | |
| want and what kinds of plants and ornaments | | | | However, once you have your tank set up, you |
| do you want in the tank? The best part about | | | | can sit back and enjoy one of natures |
| fish is that they are largely oblivious to | | | | greatest gifts, the majesty of fish, right |
| their surroundings. You can decorate their | | | | from within your living room. |
| tanks almost any way you like and the result | | | | |