Buying Aquarium Fish
Selecting your aquarium fish is critical to the success of your tank. Not all fish thrive in the same environment and not all fish get along with each other.
Some fish are more comfortable in schools so you will want to buy more than one. Some fish grow to large sizes and can take up too much room in the tank.
After a while you will become familiar with the types of fish that work well in your aquarium but until then, your best resource is your local aquarium center. When buying new fish for your aquarium, be sure to let the sales person know what fish you already have and how many plus the size of the tank so they can steer you in the right direction.
When selecting new aquarium fish, you should consider:
The temperature of your tank - some fish like a cooler temperature and others like it to be quite warm. These different types cannot be put in the same tank and be expected to thrive so you’ll have to choose one or the other.
The water conditions - is your tank in good condition with clear water and no excess ammonia? Is there room for more fish? Overcrowding your tank will surely lead to sick fish and possibly even some of your fish dying off.
The eventual size of the fish - most aquarium fish will only grow to the size of the tank - the bigger the tank the bigger they will get but you need to know how big the fish can possibly get so you can be sure he will be a good match for your tank. Buying a fish that will grow too big might mean that you wont be able to add new fish to the tank.
The type of fish - Is he aggressive or will he get along with others? You need to make sure you keep either all non aggressive or all aggressive fish in the aquarium.
The food he eats - Many fish do well with flake food but others need something more, some frozen brine shrimp or meal worms. Find out what the fish needs to eat and make sure you bring some home along with your new pet.
How does the fish look - you only want to buy fish that look good, have good color and are swimming around actively. Make sure they don’t have any fuzzy white stuff or other growth and their fins are not chewed.
Make sure there are no dead fish floating in the tank. You should only buy fish from tanks where all the fish are healthy. Even if your fish does not look sick now, other sick fish in the tank could indicate an illness that your fish just might not be showing symptoms of. Once you get him home he could fall ill and infect all the other fish in the aquarium.
The key to having a successful aquarium is to provide the fish with the best possible atmosphere so that they are happy and stress free. This means that you need to buy healthy fish that are compatible with your tank conditions. And don’t forget to acclimate them properly!
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