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