Freshwater fish can make wonderful pets. There are hundreds of species which can be placed in a home aquarium. Before you consider which varieties would look best in your living room it is important to understand how to correctly care for the animals. Maintaining a clean aquatic environment and understanding how often to add food to the water are both vital considerations.
It would be useful if prior to visiting a pet shop you conduct some amount of research into the different breeds. There are plenty of books that can be perused to bolster your knowledge of the subject, you can visit your local library, book store, or search online for digital guides on the topic.
Try and familiarize yourself with information relating to the resilience of various species as some are much harder to care for than others. Another important consideration is to understand which types of fish can live harmoniously in the same tank, and which would eat each other alive when placed in a confined space. If possible, speak with other aquarium owners.
Keeping a home aquarium requires more than just filling the space with water. You will have to ensure that the water is kept at a precise temperature and that it does not become contaminated with waste products.
The aquarium you choose needs to be of an adequate size for each individual to swim around comfortably. As a guide, try and have at least three to four square inches of space per fish. If you were to try and cram too many into a small tank the result can be sickness and disease. If you are not sure as to how large particular species will grow consult your local pet shop for advice.
You will need to purchase certain equipment to ensure that the fish thrive and are happy. A water filter, thermometer, heater, and a pump should all be thought of as essential.
It is important to regularly test the quality of the water in the tank. There are kits available online, as well as from traditional pet shops, that can be used to quickly check the levels of chlorine, ammonia, and nitrates that are present in the water.
When it comes to diet every species has a different requirement. There are certain breeds that will need feeding every day and others on alternate days. A varied diet is also essential to maintain healthy fish.
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