subject: Fish Keeping: Tips And Advice [print this page] Keeping fish is a great hobby and is extremely popular throughout the world. Many people take up this past time as not only do they get to keep some pets, aquariums also look fantastic and can add atmosphere to any room. The choice of fish species, and aqaurium styles is huge and there is bound to be an option out there to suit you. This article aims to give a few bits of advice to anyone who is considering keeping fish.
Choosing the size of aquarium will depend on many different things. You will probably be limited by space as to what size tank you can have. It's at this point you should also be thinking of what fish you would eventually like to keep and how many of them you'd like to have. You need to carefully weigh up what space you have available to you, against what fish you like. With a bit of logic and common sense you should be able to gather a good idea of what is possible for your situation. As a rough guide, you should aim to have at least 1 litre of water to 1cm of fish. This is only a general suggestion due to the large amount of species of fish and size of aquariums.
Unfortunately, keeping a healthy aquarium is a little more complicated than filling a tank with water and dropping some fish in. Choosing fish on appearence alone is not the best idea. All fish will have different requirements so make sure you do your research before you purchase any stock. Some species like to live in shoals, and some species are solitary; others will require flowing water or plant life. Always consult with your local aquarium shop to get the best advice before you set your tank up.
Fish will rely on bacteria and other micro life forms in the water to survive, and a new aquarium will just not have these even if you add special bacteria solutions it is likely there will not be enough. So, to start with it is important you choose hardy species to make sure they survive in the new environment. For example, fish such as algae eaters should be avoided until there is enough algae for them to eat. Try to start with around 4-6 fish first and leave it at least a week before you add any more. this will give the aquarium the oppertunity to develop its natural cycle and provide a good environment for fish.
Your local fish retailer or aquarium shop should always be able to give you good advice on buying an aquarium, setting it up and then populating it with fish. The biggest peice of advice is not to rush into it. Make sure you do your research and take your time, always trying to seek as much advise as possible.
