| Buying the right aquarium fish for your | | | | then adding more fish will just make |
| tank is key to the success of your | | | | things worse and endanger the health of |
| aquarium. When selecting fish, you may | | | | all the fish in the tank. Also, you |
| not simply be able to pick out the fish | | | | should be careful not to overload your |
| that catch your eye in the pet store as | | | | tank with too many fish as this will |
| not all fish can live in the same | | | | cause stress on all the fish as well as |
| environment. Additionally not all fish | | | | cause your water quality to degrade. |
| get along with each other so you will | | | | The general rule of thumb for freshwater |
| have to be careful to choose the types | | | | tropical fish tanks is 1 inch of fish |
| of fish that are compatible. | | | | per gallon of water. If you add too |
| If all this seems like hard work, don't | | | | many, you will have to spend more time |
| worry, you will soon become familiar | | | | changing the water and will need really |
| with the types of tropical fish that | | | | good filtration in order to keep your |
| work well in your tank and even have | | | | tank healthy. |
| some favorites that you like to keep. | | | | 4. Water Temperature. Not all tropical |
| When choosing fish for your aquarium, | | | | fish like the same temperature water. |
| here's some tips to keep in mind: | | | | While most will do well with temps in |
| 1. Fish appearance. Observe the | | | | the mid 70's some do better in cooler |
| particular fish you are interested in | | | | waters while others like it on the warm |
| carefully to make sure he is active and | | | | side. |
| swimming around properly. Make sure his | | | | 5. Fish size. Before you buy a new |
| fins are not chewed and he doesn't have | | | | fish you might want to find out how big |
| any growths or white fuzzy patches. | | | | he can be expected to eventually grow. |
| 2. Tank condition. Dealers tanks can | | | | Since your tank can support about 1 inch |
| have parasites and disease that might | | | | of fish per gallon, you wouldn't want to |
| not be apparent in your fish right away | | | | put a fish that might grow to 5 inches |
| so you need to observe the other fish in | | | | in your 5 gallon tank or he might be the |
| the tank and take a good look at the | | | | only one you can have! |
| tank conditions. Is the tank clean? If | | | | 6. The type of fish. Is your new fish |
| not that is an indication that the | | | | aggressive or does he play well with |
| dealer probably doesn't care for the | | | | others? Is he OK being the only one of |
| tanks well. Make sure the other fish in | | | | his kind in the tank or will he do |
| the tank are alert and swimming around | | | | better in a school. Make sure you only |
| actively. Avoid buying a fish from a | | | | put fish that will get along in the tank |
| tank that has dead fish floating in it. | | | | or the more aggressive fish will pick on |
| Even if your fish appears to be healthy, | | | | the others. Also, some fish are |
| he could already be infected with | | | | territorial and you should only keep one |
| something that might not show up until | | | | per tank. |
| days after you get him home. By then it | | | | 7. The food. Find out what type of |
| might be too late and you could risk | | | | food your new fish likes to eat. Most |
| infecting your other fish. | | | | eat flakes, but some like freeze dried |
| 3. Water Conditions. The condition of | | | | worms or other types of food. When you |
| your water is important as well as the | | | | bring home your new fish be sure to also |
| number of fish you already have in the | | | | take home some of his favorite dinner. |
| tank. If your water condition is poor | | | | |