Something Fishy. Essential Things to Know about Fish and Fishkeeping

In order to be successful in this kind of hobby, we need to gather and learn essential information first about fish and how to keep them. For your convenience, i'll list down all the important stuff, some guides and the do's and dont's.

Tropical fishes are commonly seen on tropical regions and are the popular picks for fishkeepers mostly because of their attractive colors.

photo from D&G Pets
http://www.dandgpetstore.com/battle-of-the-betta-fish-sexes-how-to-breed-beta-fish/

Please  be reminded though that fish are NOT toys or decorative pieces for display. They are animals that needs to be treated the same way we treat other life forms. Think of your fish as pets, they also need love and attention.

 There are two kinds of commercially available tropical fish in the market.

1. Saltwater or Marine Fish. They live in water with strong salt content or salinity. Such are found on oceans and seas.
2. Freshwater Fish. As the name suggest, are fish that lives in fresh water only.

This article will revolve around freshwater fish since; they are more suitable for beginners, setting up their aquarium is much simpler, they are easier to raise and, they are more budget-friendly than the saltwaters.

Before the big setup, let us first arm ourselves with this tiny bits of important details that would help us along the way.

Natural Habitat

Freshwater fish in the wild can be found mostly on lakes, swamps and rivers. These are their natural "home". Considering their natural habitat is a huge factor in setting up an aquarium especially when caring for sensitive fish. Think about the following pointers for your aquarium:

• Type of substrate (clay, gravel or sand)
• Presence of rocks or caves. Some fish are shy and needs rocks or caves to hide.
• Kind of plants if it's a planted aquarium. Some fish are herbivores so addition of plants may be good or bad.

Consider adding the natural objects found on its origin so the fish could live as close to it's natural habitat as possible. this can also reduce their stress for living in captivity.

Water Condition

This is the fishes' number one absolute need but get this, you should be aware that the natural water that fishes live in the wild is different from the water you drink from the tap. You can't just add water from the faucet to fill your tank and put the fish in it. The water from your faucet did came from the freshwater reserves but have already undergone multiple treatments. If you are a city dweller like me, you might already by know by now that the water we drink contains chlorine. this chemical harms our fish. In order for your tap water to become suitable for aquariums, you must remove chlorine first. We only need to add anti-chlorine chemicals to the aquarium to become suitable. These are commercially available and very affordable.

Water properties are also important in determining its suitability for our little fish friends. One important property is its pH or the level of acidity or alkalinity. Another is its salinity or salt content, hardness or softness, and most observed is the water's temperature. I know, these are all high school chemistry topic but they are important since every fish has certain requirements for them to survive.

Fortunately, we dont have to worry about all of this yet. Not now since we are beginners. "...but how about the fish," you say? If you are worrying about the tap water, actually, it's safe for the fishes as long as chlorine is removed since tap water did came from freshwater.

Plus, all the fish i'll introduce to you as your first fish are all hardy fish. Meaning fish that can tolerate a wide range of water parameter. They are very good in adapting to new tanks and also helps in stabilizing the water's parameter.

Nitrogen Cycle

Okay, this is a nosebleeder so I'll make it more simple. It is a cycle that happens not only in water but also in the very atmosphere you are in.

In aquariums, this is the process that breaks down toxic chemicals to lesser or safer forms. Where do the chemicals come from? Fish breathes, they poo, plant and fish dies and decays, and unconsumed foods all contributes to this. If these chemicals build up, fish wouldn't survive.  In order to get the cycle going, filters are installed to make your aquarium clean, safe and keep the chemicals to a minimum.

Safety

An aquarium setup includes electric devices such as lighting and motors on filters to create the right conditions for your fishes. However, we all know that electricity and water are not good together. So precautions and safety measures should not be taken for granted. Be sure to practice safety all the time.

• Use only equipments that are specifically made for aquarium use.
• Use a power strip with fuse, circuit breaker, or other safety features.
• Regularly inspect your equipments. Discard items that are questionable.
• Unplug the equipments if you are working around the aquarium.
• Never attempt on fixing the electrical devices yourself unless you are a certified technician.

You're probably old enough to know what's right from wrong so I assume you're good from here. As for your finned friends, here are some safety guidelines when handling them.

• ALWAYS wash your hands first before working on your aquarium. You might have been in contact with strong chemicals somewhere which can be harmful to your fish. Wash your hands up to your elbow with soap and rinse thouroughly, and i mean THOUROUGHLY! Rinse atleast two times.
• Fishes are slimy. Do not grab them with your hands. Use appropriate fish net when transferring fishes. It stresses them when being held.
• When cleaning equipments and decorations, just rinse them with tap water or water from your tank. DO NOT wash them with soap.
• Always observe for dead fish or plants and uneaten foods. Get them out of the water to avoid affecting the water's quality.

Now that we are equipped with basic information, we can now gather the materials in setting up your own aquarium and adding your first fish! Yeah!

Read the next topic. How to Setup your Own Freshwater Aquarium


Have a piece of Oreo.