Tropical Fish for beginners
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Keeping pet fish in you own home fish tanks and aquariums can be a lot of fun. Don’t be fooled into thinking that it is all too easy though as there is a lot to consider when setting one up. Let this be a quick overview of the things you need to think about and guide you in the right directions of a happy fish tank owner.
There are a few main categories of fish that you need to know about. These are Freshwater or tropical fish, saltwater or marine fish, Cichlids, and of course gold fish. The main differences between these are: freshwater/ tropical fish are kept in fresh water and come from warm water tropical climate areas such as south America, Africa and Asia. Saltwater/ marine fish come from the sea and are found in reef areas such as the Great Barrier Reef and include the now famous clown fish thanks to Nemo. Cichlids are fish like Angels, Oscars and Discus which are also fresh water fish, but require different water conditions to tropical fish. Gold fish and Koi are the type of fish that are easily kept by the beginner as they require the least detailed care and can survive in un-heated fresh water.
Tropical fish can be fairly easy to keep but sometimes also quite difficult. Some of the best and easiest to start with are Guppies and Mollies. These fish are happy in most beginners tanks and are resilient to bad conditions. Of course being livebearers make these some of the cheapest fish also as they have a lot of babies, something that needs to be taken into consideration when choosing the size of the tank to keep them in.
You absolutely must consider the size and amount of fish you wish to keep before purchasing your fish tanks. It is generally a good rule to get a tank that is twice as big as you thought you wanted to accommodate all the fish and allow for expansion. The larger tanks allow for much more planting, ornaments and filtration along with the fish. The larger tanks will also take a lot longer for the water to become toxic without adequate filtration. You must also consider when deciding on which fish to buy if the particular fish are compatible and won’t eat each other or require different water conditions.
Setting up a tropical aquarium is not as simple as getting a tank, filling it with water and chucking the fish in. You will need accessories that will keep the water clean and healthy. The first major thing you will need is a good filter to remove the waste and harmful chemicals from the water. get the best filter you can afford! Next you will need a aquarium heater to keep the tank at the correct temperature for the type of fish you intend to keep. Another major thing you will need is a water test kit that can test for things like ammonia and ph so you know if there is a potential problem and can rectify it before fish start dying. Other things that will be useful are gravel, gravel siphon cleaner, water conditioner, fish net etc. If you are interested in keeping guppies and mollies think about the things you will need to keep the water in a ph range of 7.5 and temperature of 25 degrees Celsius.
Mollies and Guppies are livebearers and will breed like mad if there are males and females in the same tank. This is great if you want a great supply of new fish and have enough space for it but can also be a major problem if your tank is too small to handle an extra 20 or so fish every time they give birth. Breeding them can be very rewarding though and interesting to see what colour combinations you can make from different parents.
One of the biggest problems you can face with tropical fish tanks is disease of the fish. Fish need to be carefully monitored to ensure they are not sick. There are a few obvious signs that your fish are sick like: white spots on the fish, not eating, bulging eyes, rotting fins, unusual behaviour, panting and hanging just below the water surface. If you notice any of these symptoms, immediately make sure the water is clean and do a water test for ph, ammonia etc. First try a 30% water change with fresh water that has been treated to remove chlorine and other chemicals. if there is no improvement take note of the symptoms and a small water sample to your local pet store and ask their advise on treatment.
As you can see there is more to this hobby than most people first think, but don’t let that deter you as it is a lot of fun and very rewarding. Please take the above information and advise when starting out and you will be thankful you did.
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