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It’s not only children that clamor to have pets. Some adults do too. People have different tastes as some might want to have ponies, puppies, kittens, and others prefer to fish for pets. If you or your children want to have fish as pets, what a great choice! Watching your fish swim inside the aquarium can have such a soothing effect. After all, fish do not take as much space in your home. Unlike dogs and cats, your fish do not need to be taken out for a walk; neither do they make any noise like your beautiful German shepherd. Fish do not have any inconveniences like you needing to take them to the spa for grooming neither will they tamper with soil on your entrance garden. They are so peaceful, and at times you can forget you have a fish until you miss watching them swim. This does not mean your fish does not need care. If any, they need to be handled more carefully than most four-legged pets. If you feel you want to own a fish, here’s everything you need to know.
Research First
Don’t just wake up one day and head to the shop to buy fish. Research a lot to know what you need to get started. Understand the environmental conditions within which fish can thrive best. Know what type of fish is more appropriate to own. Know the cost of setting up a fish tank at your home. Know the maintenance costs for the fish once you have them. Alternatively, as fish enthusiasts at aquaticly.com recommend, you can consult a fish guru to seek recommendations on how and when you can get started. From experts, you can get information on the right type of glass and size to use. These experts can also show you where to buy your fish from and where to source the materials you need for your aquarium. Some companies can go ahead and do the setup for you and for you, you will just have to watch and wait to enjoy living with your fish. You can also research to identify such companies and understand what their charges are.
Choose the Right Type of Fish
Do you need just one fish, two fish, or three fish? Do you want the redfish or the bluefish? All these questions are a must-answer before you start your fish ownership journey. You should choose the right number of fish you want to keep and choose the ideal type of fish you want to keep. It can help if you go for fish that has experience living in captivity as opposed to getting started with a wild-fish. The fish bred in captivity have acclimatized to the aquarium’s environmental conditions, and they will not struggle to adjust to your new fish tank once you bring them home. It shall also be easier for you to cater for these fish. You also need to be sure of what maximum size your fish can grow into so that you prepare for the ideal fish tank size. Decide whether you want one or many fish and base your selection on the type of fish. For instance, if you want a community of fish, you should research and select the best companions for each type of fish you stock. You should also remember that some fish communities have a minimum number of companions they need for them to survive, so choose wisely for you to ensure your fish are healthy.
Regulated Stocking
Start small and increase the number of fish in your fish tank with time. This will give you enough time to learn how to maintain the fish and be prepared to keep much fish. Consider freshwater fish as they have low maintenance costs compared to their saltwater counterparts. What type of gallon fish do you have? Remember, different gallons can accommodate a certain number of fish, so choose your perfect fit. Further, beware there are fake plants and real plants you can use in your aquarium. Each has its do’s and don’ts which you ought to consider too. Real plants are the best ones for natural ecosystems, while fake plants have low maintenance requirements.
Understand Fish Tanks
You need to understand the type of water in your tap. Perhaps you will need to run some water tests to determine whether you have hard or soft water. It can help if you test your water for acidity and basicity. With this basic information, you can easily monitor the water quality in your fish tank. You can also buy water from your fish community if your water is not suitable for rearing fish. Talk to your expert for further guidance. You also need to learn how to use the various kits and test strips available in the market to check your water quality. This is essential as it influences the health status of your fish. Learn about fish tank cycling as you might not have the experts to do it for you all the time. Determine what type of filters and heaters your fish tank needs. Know everything you should do with your fish tank to make the environment ready for fish rearing.
Once you have done all the above; you can now proceed to your local store and acquire the fish. Remember you need to research a lot for you to make an informed decision on whether or not to keep fish. Consider such aspects as maintenance practices, start-up costs, and water quality. You can also ask around to know whether there are fish clubs within your local area. Joining these clubs before you start fish keeping can help you acquire a lot of information that will influence your fish-keeping decision.