Friday, February 23, 2007

Tropical Fish For The Beginner.

Keeping tropical fish is a great hobby. For the Beginner it is also a great way of getting away from it and has a soothing effect in any home. The best way to decide which tropical fish is best for your tropical fish aquarium is to follow these simple rules. In the beginning you must decide if you want a freshwater or saltwater aquarium. Remember it is best to start your tropical fish hobby by choosing freshwater tropical fish. It is always good to read a good book when starting out. A good read at an extremely affordable price on tropical fish is found here…Click Here!
1. Social breeds: These tropical fish will get along with other types of fish. Examples of such fish are Danios, Tetras, Guppies, Swordtails, Mollies, and Corydoras.

2. Semi-social breeds: These tropical fish get along with other fish that are approximately the same size and are not aggressive. Examples are Barbs, Angelfish, and Gouramis.

3. Aggressive breeds: You do not want to mix these tropical fish with other breeds. Just keep them in pairs with more fish of the same breed. These fish include Male Bettas, Oscars, and Jewelfish.

When starting out make sure that all tropical fish that you purchase should have been kept in quarantine for at least two weeks. Fish that are put up for sale before being quarantined are likely to catch infections. The quarantine period is basically meant to relieve tropical fish from whatever stress that they might be suffering or sickness.

An important factor while purchasing tropical fish is the color. You should opt for fish with well defined and solid colors. In case the fish has patterns instead of solid color then make sure the pattern does not have any color fading. I need to stress the fact that you should read the following book on tropical fish care which is really inexpensive and would give you a head start…Click Here!

Aquariums are the next concern and these require a lot of work. The water in an aquarium must always be clean and well aerated. Tropical fish must always be supplied with ample food. In case you add plants they must get sufficient light and nourishment. Algae control is another chore. But with the right filter this becomes less off a burden. Always ensure that your circulation and aeration equipment are suitable for the size of your tank.

The following is a bare essential list you need to get started:

Ø Aquarium.
Ø The aquarium stand.
Ø Aquarium hood. This is to prevent water evaporation and also to keep the fish safe from pets.
Ø Water filters. Chemical, mechanical, or biological.
Ø Lights. Plants in indoor aquariums need a source of light.
Ø Decorations. While most decorations are up to personal taste there are some things like backgrounds that are a must in order to hide all the wiring in the tank.
Ø Substrate. The gravel or sand that is usually found at the bottom of most aquariums.
Ø Plants. You can purchase live plants (better but they need extra care) or plastic imitations.
Ø Heater. Remember that tropical fish come from warm climates so they need the water temperature to be slightly higher than room temperature.
Ø Thermometer. This is to check the water temperature.
Ø A Net. For scooping things (including fish) out of the aquarium. Do not use hands or plastic bags.
Ø Cleaning agents.
Ø A scrubber.
Ø A brush, a bucket for exclusive aquarium use.
Ø Food. If you keep fish in a tank then they need to be fed.

You will need the above to take proper care of your tropical fish. Another free source can be Found Here!

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Tropical Fish

Welcome to my tropical fish blog where you will find tips and advice on starting your own tropical fish aquarium as a hobby. You will also learn about tropical fish care, feeding, breeding and keeping them free of sickness.