Freshwater tropical fish are among the most beautiful pets you can own without requiring much daily attention and responsibility. Even so, setting up your new tropical fish tank deserves some research and care to ensure that your tank will become a stable community both you and your fish will enjoy. Here are some easy tips for deciding what species of freshwater tropical fish to buy.
Number of Freshwater Tropical Fish
The number of fish in your tank is very important – too many fish will be overcrowded, which leads to epic fishy battles for territory. It’s best to start out with only a few fish and add on from there. The general guideline is one inch of fish per gallon of tank. For example, if you have a 10 gallon tank, there should be no more than 10 inches of fish in it. This also means fish size is more important than fish quantity. Most pet stores sell young fish who will grow larger as they get older, so check to see how long they will be as adults. Remember also that fish live in schools, so you should aim to have at least three of each schooling species. They will swim together according to species, and fish without a group can get lonely or be bullied by others. It’s like underwater high school – no one wants to be the outcast.
Friendly Tropical Fish
Also similar to high school, even if there is plenty of water for everyone, some fish are just plain antisocial. Most pet stores will have labels denoting whether species get along well with others – look for tropical freshwater fish that do well in a community setting. Usually these will be tetra varieties. Stay away from fish like betas, barbs, and cichlids as they can be known to be aggressive. Tip: Sometimes semi-aggressive species will behave if purchased at a young age and given time to acclimate to their tank-mates as they get older. But for the beginner’s freshwater tropical fish tank, stick to the social types.
Strange as it may sound, a tank will be more self-sustaining if each fish has an occupation. At the store, see where in the display tanks each species is swimming. Some fish are bottom feeders and spend all their time industriously scouring the bottom of the tank to keep it sparkling clean. Others will spend most of their time inside plants, mid-way up the depth of the tank, and still others will be constantly skimming the surface. Each of these fish is part of an ecosystem and they are good at keeping the tank balanced – having some of each variety will not only make your tank look aesthetically better, it will also keep the habitat cleaner! Tip: Every tank should have an algae-eating species to keep the glass spic and span. The most popular variety of freshwater tropical algae-eater is the plecostomus.
Pretty Tropical Freshwater Fish
One of the greatest joys of owning a freshwater tropical fish tank is admiring the variety of patterns and bright colors within. Once you’re certain that the species you’re considering is the right size, socialibility, and occupation for your tank, consider what colors and patterns look best to you. Some people will even choose fish based on their own home’s decor! Make your fish tank a living work of art that will be appreciated by family and friends alike and expresses your own style. Although there are lots of factors to consider when looking at freshwater tropical fish, choosing wisely will let you avoid the most common problems of beginner tanks. Remembering these rules will give you a healthy and vibrant community of fish to admire and enjoy. Sources:
Freshwater Tropical Fish
Scott Brodie has a freshwater tropical fish tank, which he and his cat both enjoy watching.
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