Aquarium Care For Freshwater Fish
- Date: 2007-07-28 - Word Count: 426
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Freshwater fish are perhaps the easiest fish to care for in comparison to saltwater species because they are usually hardier. A basic aquarium set up will be required. You will need a tank, some rocks or substrate to line bottom of the tank. You will also need a filter, and some lighting.
The fish in your tank must be compatible in terms of temperature, P.H. and food requirements. You should also keep in mind a basic fact of nature --fish eat other fish. If this happens, don't be discouraged, but learn from it. You can keep this to a minimum by keeping fish of roughly the same size.
You should feed freshwater fish twice a day. Use only a small amount of food, that the fish can consume within five minutes. Excess food will quickly become debris and make the tank dirty. The water in the tank must be regulated and tested weekly. Correct and discrepancies in water temperature and P.H. immediately to reduce stress to the fish.
You cannot ignore stress, because it is a major cause of illness. That's why it's vital to closely monitor the general behavior and condition of your fish. Do not overcrowd your tank; this can be a cause of stress. It isn't hard to spot signs of stress. If you notice fish that are slow-moving or lethargic, purchase a stress coat at your local pet store.
Only change about one third of the aquarium's water at a time; this reduces any disturbance to the tank's inhabitants. Change this much water every two or three weeks, using either a bucket or siphon. When adding water, be sure to remove any loose or floating debris you spot. It is also crucial to make sure that the new water is close in temperature to the water already there, within two degrees or so.
Scrub the sides of the aquarium regularly to remove any build-up of algae. When doing this, be careful not to disturb the fish. Always thoroughly wash your hands both before and after contact with your aquarium. Remember to change the filters according to the manufacturer's recommendation. Filters remove left over food and fish waste; they only function properly when clean.
Start your aquarium with hardy fish such as danios, barbs, gouramis and live bearers. These kind of fish are able to withstand the higher nitrite levels that are present in a new tank. Before adding fish, check with your pet store or other expert, as acclimation times vary per species. As a rule, do not add more than three or four small fish per week.
The fish in your tank must be compatible in terms of temperature, P.H. and food requirements. You should also keep in mind a basic fact of nature --fish eat other fish. If this happens, don't be discouraged, but learn from it. You can keep this to a minimum by keeping fish of roughly the same size.
You should feed freshwater fish twice a day. Use only a small amount of food, that the fish can consume within five minutes. Excess food will quickly become debris and make the tank dirty. The water in the tank must be regulated and tested weekly. Correct and discrepancies in water temperature and P.H. immediately to reduce stress to the fish.
You cannot ignore stress, because it is a major cause of illness. That's why it's vital to closely monitor the general behavior and condition of your fish. Do not overcrowd your tank; this can be a cause of stress. It isn't hard to spot signs of stress. If you notice fish that are slow-moving or lethargic, purchase a stress coat at your local pet store.
Only change about one third of the aquarium's water at a time; this reduces any disturbance to the tank's inhabitants. Change this much water every two or three weeks, using either a bucket or siphon. When adding water, be sure to remove any loose or floating debris you spot. It is also crucial to make sure that the new water is close in temperature to the water already there, within two degrees or so.
Scrub the sides of the aquarium regularly to remove any build-up of algae. When doing this, be careful not to disturb the fish. Always thoroughly wash your hands both before and after contact with your aquarium. Remember to change the filters according to the manufacturer's recommendation. Filters remove left over food and fish waste; they only function properly when clean.
Start your aquarium with hardy fish such as danios, barbs, gouramis and live bearers. These kind of fish are able to withstand the higher nitrite levels that are present in a new tank. Before adding fish, check with your pet store or other expert, as acclimation times vary per species. As a rule, do not add more than three or four small fish per week.
Related Tags: pets, animals, aquariums, fish, fish tank, aquarium, tropical fish, pet fish, freshwater fish, fish care
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