Choosing The Right Fish For Your Aquarium

You’ve set up your aquarium and the water has tested fine. It’s time to run to the fish store and buy a bunch of fish, right? If you wish to keep a healthy aquarium, you must follow the right steps.

Take a few moments to decide what species is best, before you go wild in the fish store. Aggressive fish do not belong in a peaceful community tank. One important thing is that all fish should be around the same size or the big ones will eat the smaller ones. To find out what a mature fish of your chosen species is like, do a little research. A happy tank is stress-free, so make sure you pick fish that can live peacefully with each other.

The best thing you can do to avoid issues is to decide what fish you like best and do some research to see if they like the other fish you want. If you want more than one species, make sure they are community fish that get along with others. Your fish selection should be based on the toleration of the same or similar water conditions. They should also eat similar things and like the same live aquarium plants.

Some fish, like damselfish, are territorial. They will prefer to be on their own, and will attempt to frighten off other fish that resemble it. Peace-loving fish like guppies don’t disturb other fish by pursuing them or picking on them. There are some aggressive fish which may terrorize slower fish.

Shy or slow fish won’t fare well in an aquarium with a species that is a little aggressive because they will be the victims of bullying. Extremely vulnerable fish, like bubble-eye goldfish, may be picked on by almost any other fish, even if they are normally peaceful. Some fish that may grow aggressive as they mature should never be added to a tank with smaller or shy fish. As they mature they will start picking on the other fish, stressing them out and possibly causing them injury.

Another thing to consider is fish hardiness. A fish that has a hardy constitution, like the blennyfish, can resist many diseases and can withstand many different water conditions. A fish that is of average hardiness should do fine in a healthy aquarium. If the water quality isn’t just right,a fragile fish like a flagfin angel may fall victim to disease or stress.

Another key point is eating habits. Meat-eating fish such as the angler or arrowana will devour other fish. They are not something that you will want to add to a community aquarium. Herbivorous fish like angelfish need vegetables to eat, and may be harder to maintain in a healthy condition in a combination tank. Find some fish that will eat similar diets so they can stay healthy with a food that is easy to distribute, like flakes or pellets.

Last but not least, you should also consider including some algae eaters in your tank. When it comes to keeping your aquarium clean, certain species of snails, shrimp or catfish can do a great job.

As you can see, there is a lot to think about before adding new fish to your aquarium. Be sure to discuss any questions you may have with the clerk at your local fish store. Also, the internet has great advice and information. You’ll end up with a healthy aquarium that you can enjoy.