How to Choose Aquarium Freshwater Fish for Your Tank

By Colin Barton


So, you've got your fish tank set up. Or you're ready to set up your tank, and you need a whole host of swimming, happy fish to fill it, right? Well, slow down and decide exactly what sort of fish you want in there.

Maybe you want some that are extremely active, so they're always moving an entertaining you. Or maybe you're interesting in those with bright, vibrant colors.

You could have something totally different in mind. Whatever your desires are you will need the fish to go in your aquarium.

Choosing the type of fish that you want can take some time, especially if you plan on having several breeds together. Remember to research before buying anything, because you risk fish loss and eventual death if you don't!

The Research isn't Difficult

Staff at a fish supply store should be able to tell you a lot about what you need to keep your potential fishes happy and healthy in their tank, and you might find that they're more knowledgeable then you previously expected.

There are several questions to ask:

* Does this fish like open areas, or plenty of plants?

* Does the fish need low, neutral, or high pH?

* Do the fishes live together without fighting?

* What feeding needs does this fish have? Is it a bottom feeder or a top feeder?

* How much actual room does the fish require?

* What level should the temperature be at for the fish to thrive?

If you are going to put more than on type of aquarium freshwater fish into your aquarium, you need to make sure they need close to the same environment and conditions. The better you match them up like this the better your aquarium will be.

While we could give you the breeds of fish, you're just going to get confused - and you won't really be able to fall in love with the fish this way. This is the exact reason that we're recommending a different option.

Visit your local fish store and look at what is in stock there. In fact you would be wise to go to more than one store in the area! Take something to keep notes with on the different fish that you are attracted to, and talk to the store's expert about what the various fish needs, and write it all down.

Take it all home and see which species matches the best, then cross reference the information the staff gave you to information on that species. This really is the best way to know what fish species is for you.

This is the best method for knowing which of the aquarium freshwater fish suits you best.

Food They Love

Some people forget to think of the food needed when buying several species of fish. All fish do not eat alike; some are top feeders while others are bottom feeders.

Try to choose fish with similar dietary needs, and a group that doesn't steal together will live happily together, and happy fish tend to live longer and be brighter.

Be sure too that the combination of fish you have won't eat the other ones, this is no joke. It does happen when people are not careful.

You can have some other risk factors too such as fish that bite other fish, this usually happens to the smaller fish that can't ward off attacks easily. Any fish with flowing, long fins usually wind up being targeted.

Match temperaments of the fish too for the perfect fit. This keeps the bullies at bay, and serious problems from happening.

Temperament Problems

Numerous fish can be aggressive especially with the males, so try not to have more than one aggressive specie male in your aquarium, with the less aggressive aquarium freshwater fish though you can have more than one.

Sometimes the fishes can have coloring on them that is alike and this can set aggression off, so again be cautious as to which fish you pair together. A few female fishes per every one male fish should work well (look at of guide for breeding), but it will depend on the breeds.

The Worst Way to Handle This

The absolute worst thing that you can do is to just stock your tank with exotic looking fish and hope for the best. This is sadly something that many owners do.

This will normally cause disastrous results, so don't buy your aquarium freshwater fish randomly. Do the research to find which ones like to live together, so that they will lead long lives.




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