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How to start a fish aquarium
Having an aquarium is cool – and easy! Here’s how to start yours.
WHAT TO DO:
- Pick starters. Starter fish are more able to adapt to a new tank. Zebra Danios, White Clouds, and Platys are great starters.
- Pick fish that get along with each other. For example, don’t stick two male betas together; they will fight. Also, think twice if you want to add cichlids – they’re territorial. Labyrinth fish such as Gourami are calm.
- Remove chlorine from the water. Buy water-cleaning drops at the pet store.
- Regularly check the water temperature with an aquarium thermometer.
- Do partial water changes to keep the water clean and your fish healthy. Don’t change all the water at once. Your fish might have trouble adapting in there is too much change.
- Use the right equipment for cleaning – bucket, net, filter and siphon.
WHAT NOT TO DO:
- Don’t overfeed.
- Don’t put things in the tank unless you are sure they are safe. Some woods and rocks can be bad for your fish. Never use meal. Shells aren’t safe for most tanks, either.
- Don’t put your tank in a window or next to an air conditioner or heater.
- Don’t buy fish from dirty tanks or ones that have sick or dead fish in them.
- Don’t buy only one of a “schooling fish.” These like to be in groups. Neon Tetras, Zebra Danios and Tiger Barbs are schooling fish.
- Don’t make stops when bringing your fish home. Get it home and into its new environment as quickly as possible.
- Don’t put fish in the tank right away. Float the bag in the tank for about 10 minutes so the temperature matches better.
- Don’t add too many fish at one time.
- Don’t buy fish before you set up your tank.
WHAT TO ASK AT THE STORE:
- How big will the fish grow?
- How many fish can you keep in your aquarium? (This depends on the size and kind of fish you buy, and the size of your tank.)
- What do the fish eat?
- Do the fish need a heater?
CHECK OUT THESE FUN AQUARIUM WEB SITES:
The Shedd Aquarium: www.shedd.org
The Monterey Bay Aquarium: www.mbayaq.org/lc
Read 25 comments about “How to start a fish aquarium”
If you enjoy disapproving looks from those around you, then this trick is for you!
January 26th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
i wish i had read this i just lost $50 worth of fish because of no heat, clorine, and tons of other reasons.
December 27th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
I will start mine today.
December 26th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Hi iIm in fifth grade! I am almost a profesinal fish breeder! I have six (6) tanks running.I have Mollies,guppys,swordtails,platies,an oscar that I feed western and eastern mosquito fish,two(2)gourimus,a giant apple snail and wild caught mollies.Need tips about breeding livebeares or any other type of fish?Just type it!!! I am ten(10) and I have three(3) years of breeding expierence.
December 26th, 2007 at 10:36 am
these are nice tips i have three tanks a 55 gallon a 10 gallon and a 5 gallon and im sure i will have more but you did not put anything in about an aquarium heater the type of starter fish you named require tempertures not atainable with out one also a quick paragraph about the land scape would be nice like that fish need shelter like pots plants castles and a filter system is need to keep the water clean oh well
December 24th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Fishies are cool. I am a scuba diver. I met a chick who was afraid of fish and she went scuba diving. She freaked out. I was funny.
December 15th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
i have two boy betas and they get along fine……
December 15th, 2007 at 10:45 am
awsome!
December 10th, 2007 at 6:28 pm
i do not have fish but i want to have a fish. time for dinner
November 19th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
I used to have fish. They died. I’m planning to ask my parents if we can start another herd of fish. Most of the information will come from you! I’m in 2nd grade. Bye! Time for dinner!
November 15th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
I have like 12 fish in my fish tank and I have a beta fish that has been living for 4 months. I am in the fourth grade.