9 Must – Know Things For Beginner Fishkeepers (Tropical Edition)
Just over a year ago, I began to start looking after freshwater fish. Since then, I have expanded my knowledge to 3 different tanks, and have learnt a lot along the way. Here’s a list of 9 must-know things before you start to take care of your fish.
1 – Choose your tank size carefully
Your tank size is very important, as it determines the type of fish you will be able to keep. Some smaller fish such as neon tetras will need a medium sized tank at least, as they like to shoal around together. Other larger fish such as kissing gouramis will need a larger tank, as they are bigger fish and will need more space to swim around. If there’s a lack of space in a tank, it may stress the fish out.
2 – Don’t overload your tank with decorations
Most newbies may have the tendency to try and make their aquarium look as cool as possible by decorating it top to bottom. Whilst it’s important to add items to your tank, it’s also important to remember your fish will be living here, so you don’t want to overload the tank with decor. Give them enough space to be able to comfortably move around the tank.
3 – Know what is required for your freshwater fish to live
Compared to coldwater fish, freshwater is a big step-up in terms of looking after them. There are some necessary items you will need in order to ensure your fish are happy and healthy.
- FILTER – a filter is a necessity for most fish tanks, in order to keep the water in the tank clean and healthy.
- HEATER – as you will be looking after tropical fish, they will need a heater to keep the water temperature similar to what they would have in the wild.
- SUBSTRATE – make sure you have substrate at the bottom of your tank! You may not think you need it, but it will help a lot.
- SOMETHING FOR BACTERIA TO COLONISE ON – this could either be a live plant or some rock. The bacteria will need somewhere to attach itself to, in order to keep the nitrogen cycle going. Most people either have plants or rocks (both is even better.)
4 – Don’t mix fish sizes!
When building up your tank, make sure you don’t mix sizes in a bad way. Including large fish with smaller fish is a no go, as you may find that one day your smaller fish begin to mysteriously disappear. Make sure you keep the size difference fairly similar, otherwise the larger fish may mistake the smaller fish for food.
5 – Monitor the temperate of the fish!
Another thing to note is that your fish all have different personalities. Some are community fish, which means they will happily live peacefully with other types of fish. But, some fish are a bit more aggressive, and may start to cause fights in your tank. When going to most aquatic centres, information on the fish will be available when you go to buy your fish. This will advise you on whether you can mix your fish with others or not.
6 – Make sure you don’t overfeed
Feeding your fish may prove tricky if your fish require different types of feed. Most tropical fish will accept ordinary flake food, but some fish (like betta fish) may want something else, such as bloodworms. When feeding, follow the guidelines on the feed to make sure you don’t overfeed your fish. If you do, it could result in debris being left over in your tank, or your fish becoming bloated.
7 – Regular water changes are KEY.
It’s important to do water changes, as this keeps the environment for your fish safe and healthy. Some people do them monthly, others weekly. It’s up to you depending on personal preference, but making sure you keep your tank clean is key.
8 – Algae is usually a big problem if not tackled
You may notice a week or so into your fishkeeping that you start to see algae covering either the substrate or the walls of your tank. There are several solutions to tackle this;
- Anti algae water treatment
- Fish that feed on algae, e.g pleco, catfish, shrimp
9 – Air stones can be incredibly beneficial
Air stones are used in most tanks to help circulate oxygen around the tank. This helps keep the water healthy, and can also look pretty cool!
