by Bob Evanston

Freshwater fish are perhaps the easiest fish to care for in comparison to saltwater species because they are usually hardier.  A basic aquarium set up will be required.  You will need a tank, some rocks or substrate to line bottom of the tank. You will also need a filter, and some lighting.

The fish in your tank must be compatible in terms of temperature, P.H. and food requirements. You should also keep in mind a basic fact of nature –fish eat other fish. If this happens, don’t be discouraged, but learn from it. You can keep this to a minimum by keeping fish of roughly the same size.

Feed your freshwater fish twice daily; only give them a small quantity of food at a time, what they can consume in around five minutes. Overfeeding, a common mistake made by novice aquarium owners, will cause the excess food to dirty the tank. It’s important to keep the water regulated; you should test it weekly, and correct and discrepancies in P.H. and temperature. This will minimize stress to the fish.

You cannot ignore stress, because it is a major cause of illness. That’s why it’s vital to closely monitor the general behavior and condition of your fish. Do not overcrowd your tank; this can be a cause of stress. It isn’t hard to spot signs of stress. If you notice fish that are slow-moving or lethargic, purchase a stress coat at your local pet store.

Only change about one third of the aquarium’s water at a time; this reduces any disturbance to the tank’s inhabitants. Change this much water every two or three weeks, using either a bucket or siphon. When adding water, be sure to remove any loose or floating debris you spot. It is also crucial to make sure that the new water is close in temperature to the water already there, within two degrees or so.

The sides of the aquarium should be scrubbed regularly to remove an algae build up.  Again be careful not to disturb the fish. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling the aquarium. Lastly, check the manufacturer’s recommendation on filters and change them accordingly. Filters collect any fish waste or left over food. They can’t function properly unless they are clean.

Start your aquarium with hardy fish such as danios, barbs, gouramis and live bearers. These kind of fish are able to withstand the higher nitrite levels that are present in a new tank. Before adding fish, check with your pet store or other expert, as acclimation times vary per species. As a rule, do not add more than three or four small fish per week.

If you would like to learn more, go to Complete Tropical fish care , for much more information on Tropical fish care. Click here for other unique ‘tropical fish’ articles.

Tags: aquarium maintenance, aquarium decorations, live aquariums