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