Gorgeous beauties of the water, tropical fish come in a kaleidoscope of shapes and colors. They are breathtaking in their natural environment, but they can also be enjoyed inside. Aquariums offer people the chance to view these stunning creatures up close.
While it looks so effortless in the ocean or a lake, keeping tropical fish alive and healthy outside their original home does require the right equipment and supplies. It’s important to do your research as mistakes can be expensive and frustrating. But with the right knowledge and materials anyone can keep fish as pets.
Some Things to Keep in Mind:
1. Decide on a Budget
Tropical fish, and all the supplies that go with them, can be an expensive hobby. Knowing how much you want to spend will help you decide not only on how big of an aquarium to have, but also what kind and how many to have as well. In general, saltwater types are more expensive to purchase and care for than the freshwater kinds.
2. How Big?
It’s important to decide on the size of the aquarium. Aquariums can be extremely heavy when filled with water, gravel and rocks. You must make sure the structure is sturdy enough to support several hundred pounds. The aquarium size will also determine the density of aquatic life you can have in your tank.
3. What Kind?
Once you pick an aquarium size, you can decide on what kinds and how many when buying fish. It’s crucial to research the different types. Not all kinds get along well with others. Some pretty little guppies can be dinner for larger aggressive ones. You don’t want to spend a lot of money on a lovely and docile discus fish only to watch it be a yummy treat for a hungry cichlid.
4. What Do My Fish Need?
All fish as pets need the right kind of food, healthy water, a place to hide and make a nest and the right temperature. Some will need an algae source to munch on and others will die if there is too much algae in the tank.
Temperature is crucial to successfully keeping tropical fish healthy. It’s recommended to keep a thermometer in the water at all times to monitor the temperature. Too hot or too cold, and your fish will die. Usually, most tropical kinds prefer temperatures between 24-27°C.
The water must be continuously circulated by a pump to keep it healthy and free from unwanted growth and fungus. Pumps vary in size and power depending on the size of your tank.
Lighting adds a lovely touch to aquariums. Different colored bulbs can be used for differing effects as well as to simulate day and night. It’s important to size the light to fit the tank as a large bulb will heat the water too much.
Water also benefits from a filter. You can use a manual filter and swirl it through the water on a daily basis, or you can install an automatic filter along with the water pump.
Keeping fish happy requires a friendly habitat. This means a bottom of gravel or sand for starters. They also like places to hide helping them to feel safe and protected. Larger rocks and plants make excellent places to hide, sleep, breed and nest. Plants can be either fake or real depending on the type you like and aquarium you want to keep.
5. Beware
Keeping your aquarium happy and healthy is a delicate balance. Most owners have issues from time to time. Ammonia poisoning, nitrate poisoning, dropsy, ich, fin rot, fungus and hydras can all be concerns. There are home tests to detect these issues, and usually a relatively simple solution involving medication or chemicals to add to the water.
6. Fun Stuff
Part of the fun of having your own aquarium is designing it to suit your personality as well as the location. Aquariums can be enjoyed in homes, offices, corporate centers, doctor’s offices and even hotels and spas.
Depending on the impression you want, you can tailor the elements to match the desired feel. There is a wide variety of gravel colors. For a serene look, use natural colored rocks and pebbles in tans, grays and browns. Live plants will also promote a natural feel as they serenely sway with the movement of the water.
If you prefer a lively looking tank, you can use gravel in vibrant colors such as hot pink or neon green. Plastic plants come in all sorts of shapes and sizes as well. Brightly colored plants can be a perfect choice for a classroom for children.
Bubblers are a fun accessory to use as well. They come in whimsical designs such as an opening and closing treasure chest, a scuba diver being eaten by shark or dancing turtles. They do double duty helping to aerate the water as well.
The colors of the tropical fish themselves can also be chosen with an overall scheme in mind. Saltwater varieties tend to be brightly colored making them a popular choice. Freshwater ones are usually a little more subdued in color although recent breeding has produced some brightly colored varieties. Specialized food can also be fed producing livelier colors in their scales.
7. Hidden Expenses
There are some obvious costs such as the aquarium and buying fish themselves, but there can also be other costs to consider. Aquariums require electricity to keep running. And they run all the time. Pumps, lights, filters and heaters are all necessary for a healthy environment. And while the costs for running these aren’t enormous, it is important to know about them.
While there are lots of details to consider and many factors to keep in mind, buying fish and taking care of them doesn’t have to be intimidating. Beginners can start easy with a smaller tank. There are desktop kits that often come with everything included but the water and the swimmers themselves
Keeping fish as pets can be a relaxing and rewarding hobby. It’s easy to get started, and a beautifully maintained aquarium can be enjoyed for years.
