Selecting Fish

There are hundreds of types of fish to choose from. You really have to give some serious thought as to which kinds of fish you want to own before buying. This will not only save the fish, but will save you time and money.

Different fish have different requirements. You need to know what these are before you end up with a problem. These are some of the things to consider when choosing fish.

Water- Most tropical fish like to live in a tank that has a ph of about 6.5 to 7. There are of course exceptions to this. Some fish also prefer more acid water than others. You also have to decide if you are going to have a salt or marine tank.

Temperature-As a general rule a tropical tank is between 75 and 82 degrees F. Are the fish you are choosing going to be able to survive at this temperature?

Temperament- you want to be certain that the types of fish you get are going to be compatible. Many fish are very aggressive and are territorial. If you are getting this kind of fish, be careful what else you put in the aquarium. You do not want to buy an exotic fish, just to discover that the more aggressive fish have just had a gourmet dinner.

Size of tank- Fish grow. Many beginners do not realise exactly how large certain breeds will get. You need to know exactly how large the adult fish is going to be. You may not have a tank that is big enough to accommodate a fully grown fish. A good example of this is an oscar. An adult oscar can grow to be 12 inches in length, these fish require a very large tank to keep them happy.

Male and Female- In most cases females get along, but you may have a problem with males of certain species. They either like to live alone, or you have to provide them with enough females to keep them happy. Sword tails are a good example. They do best if you have a one male to three female ratio.

Schools-Fish like zebras and tetras like to live in schools. They are happiest when they are with other fish of the same type. Other fish are solitary and do not like to have other fish around even if they are the same sex and species.