Something Fishy. Essential Things to Know about Fish and Fishkeeping

If you wanted to start the hobby of fishkeeping, there are certain information you need to know before you even start. These are essential for you and your fish that lays the foundation of the hobby.



Tropical fishes are mostly 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/

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

1. Saltwater or Marine fish. Fishes that live in water with strong salt content or salinity. Such are found on oceans and seas.
2. Freshwater fish. As the name suggest, those that live in freshwater.

My topic will revolve around freshwater fishes since they are more suitable for beginners plus setting up their aquarium is simpler, they are easier to raise, and they are more budget friendly than the saltwaters.

Before the big setup, let us first get aware with some tiny bits of details that would help us along the way.

Natural Habitat

Freshwater fish in the wild can be found mostly on lakes, swamps and rivers, their natural biotope. Considering their natural habitat is a huge factor in setting up an aquarium especially when caring for sensitive fishes. Pointers such as the type of substrate (gravel or sand), kind of plants if its a planted aquarium, presence of rocks, etc should also be checked.

Some fish are hervibores, meaning they eat plants so an addition of plants to an aquarium is good. Some are shy and needs rocks or caves to hide. Some require a place for it to lay its eggs on such as a flat rock or a broad-leaf plant. You must consider adding the natural objects found on its origin so the fish could live as close to its natural habitat as possible. This can reduce their stress for living in captive.

 

Water

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

Water's 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 it's salinity or salt content, hardness or softness, and most observed is water's temperature. I know, these are all highschool chemistry topic but they are important since every fish has certain requirements for them to survive.

Fortunately, we doesnt 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. Freshwater Aquarium. How to setup your own.



oreoisgood~