Adding The Right Fish to Create an Aquarium Community
Posted on 07. May, 2009 by admin in Aquariums, Fishtanks
Now your aquarium has been set up, and your water tested ok. Is it time to go pick up some fish from the store, yet? To have a good aquarium you have to work one step at a time.
Before you go wild in the fish store, take a few moments to decide what species is best. 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. The fish you choose should prefer the same water conditions of hardness and temperature. They should have the same taste in food and live aquarium plants.
Some species of fish tend to be very territorial, damselfish being an example. These fish are loners, and they’ll go after similar looking fish. Guppies are fish that are peace loving and they never chase or pick on or disturb other fish. Some fish are a bit aggressive and may chase after slower fish or nip at fins.
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. Even non aggressive fish will pick on the weakest of fish, like the bubble-eye goldfish. 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.
Also think about the durability of the fish. 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.
Eating habits are also important. An arrowana or an angler, which are carnivorous, will eat 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. An easy way to keep all of your fish on similar healthy diets, is to find fish that will be able to eat the same easily distributed foods, like pellets and or flakes.
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. A salesperson at your local fish store will gladly field any questions you have. You can also get some good advice online. You’ll end up with a healthy aquarium that you can enjoy.
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