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A GUIDE TO BUYING FRESHWATER FISH

Today, we see the number of people choosing to keep freshwater fish growing. The reason is due to busy schedules that make caring for traditional pets too challenging. With more people working high-pressure careers and trying to stay involved with growing kids’ activities, keeping a dog or cat is just too much. However, families still want a pet, one that will enhance the home.

We now see the sale of fish aquariums climbing. After all, fish have personalities, they are colorful, interesting, active, and require less care. Keep in mind that freshwater fish still need consistent care but unlike a dog that you need to rush home to let out, or a cat that has an overflowing liter box, fish can sustain longer between feedings and the tank generally only needs cleaning once a week.

Keeping a freshwater fish aquarium still provides children the chance to experience life in the form of a pet while teaching them the responsibility of caring for that fish. Best of all, freshwater fish can be something the children sit and watch as entertainment or a relaxing distraction when you finally get some much-needed down time. This type of versatility is why freshwater fish are so popular. Then when you consider the thousands of species you could keep, the prospect of an aquarium in the home becomes exciting.

What you will discover is that a freshwater aquarium is a rewarding hobby. In fact, many people that keep fish will agree that setting up the tank, designing the look, and the overall maintenance is a great, creative outlet. Watching the small fish as they dart about the tank playing, hiding, or eating is both fun and relaxing. With less hands-on needs than other animals, we can see why sales are skyrocketing.

Freshwater versus Saltwater Aquariums

Although some people choose keeping saltwater fish opposed to freshwater fish, you need to remember there is a big difference. Freshwater fish live naturally in freshwater such as streams, lakes, and rivers, whereas saltwater fish live naturally in the salted water of the ocean. Now, the interesting thing is that some fish live in brackish water, which means they are actually freshwater fish that can acclimate to salt water.

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For the person just starting out with fish keeping, especially in situations where kids will be involved in the care, we highly recommend a freshwater tank in that they are easier to maintain and less expensive as far as equipment and fish. Although saltwater aquariums have more colorful fish, technical care goes into maintaining a saltwater tank, specific to water chemistry.

Fish Considerations

When thinking about a freshwater aquarium, some considerations comes into place such as those listed below:

• Fish Size – Remember that just like dogs, cats, and other animals, fish will grow. Therefore, while you choose small fish as babies, buy for the adult size. One of the causes of fish becoming stressed, which can lead to death, is overcrowding so you want to buy based on the size the fish will become, not the size they are as juveniles.

• Feeding – Since different fish eat different things, you want to try to buy fish that eat similar diets, which will make feeding easier and less expensive.

• Compatibility – The best option for a healthy and happy fish aquarium is buying fish that are compatible, which will eliminate fighting and possible death.

• Water Temperature – Different species of fish are more comfortable in specific water temperatures. Therefore, you want to choose fish that can live in the same temperature range.

• Water Chemistry – To keep a healthy fish aquarium, you need to maintain a certain water chemistry, which would include things such as nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, pH, and so on. Again, different species have different requirements so choose those that have the same preferences.

• Life Expectancy – When buying your fish, think about the life expectancy since some fish can live upwards to ten years, which is quite a commitment.

• Cost – You do not have to spend a fortune to have a beautiful and healthy fish aquarium. Therefore, just because you pay more for a fish, do not think that means the fish will live longer and be healthier.

Fish Species

Finally, we want to provide you with some options to consider when it comes to fish species. Again, you literally have thousands of options so buying fish is fun

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and exciting. We recommend you work with a reputable pet store or fish breeder so you buy healthy fish. The last thing you want to do after going through the cycling process is to put sick fish into the aquarium.

Clown Loach (Chromobotia macracanthus)

Clown Loaches are a great choice for a freshwater fish tank. They are colorful and comical, making them fun to watch. You will notice the Clown Loach lying on its side when resting and they will even making a clicking noise, especially during feeding, that can be heard. The Clown Loach is an active fish that does best in groups instead of pairs or singles.

You should provide the Clown Loach with places to hide and play. The average size is between 6 and 12 inches, depending on the size of the aquarium. This peaceful fish likes water temperature between 76 and 86 degrees, soft and slightly acidic water with a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0, and although they are omnivorous, they prefer meaty foods.

Congo Tetra (Phenacogrammas interruptus)

Falling in the Characins category, which includes some 1,500 other species, the Congo Tetra is a popular fish aquarium choice. These fish tend to school, making them enjoyable to watch. The Congo Tetra and other Characins are also easy to keep. The body is compressed, the eyes large, and the scales large. Although the body appears brown, it has an iridescence of blue, yellow, green, and violet with white fringe on the tail.

The Congo Tetra generally reaches about five inches, making it a nice tank size. This fish likes to swim in the mid-section and bottom of the tank and would need at least a 30-gallon tank with adults in a 45 to 55-gallon tank. Tetras need plenty of live plants, specifically floating types to help diffuse lighting. Tetras also prefer really, clean water.

This peaceful fish does well with other fish species, preferring water temperature between 72 and 82 degrees. You can keep them as individual fish or in pairs but keep in mind that some Tetras such as the African Tetra do nip on fins. Although the Congo Tetra can be a timid

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eater, they love brine shrimp, aquatic insects, and live food although flakes and vegetable matter will do.

Elephant Nose (Gnathonemus petersii)

The Elephant Nose is a unique fish that has a trunk used to hunt small food organisms. Interestingly, the Elephant Nose has a slight electric organ used for navigation. Although these fish require a little more care than other species, they are wonderful additions. These fish grow up to 8 inches and need a large tank with sandy substrate.

The Elephant Fish can be somewhat, territorial but in a large tank, are a compatible fish. These fish like water temperature between 72 and 82 degrees with a fairly, soft, slightly acidic water with a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0. They prefer live food but are known to eat frozen and flakes too.

Giant Gourami (Osphronemus gouramy)

The Giant Gourami is a common fish for freshwater tanks. You can choose a regular size fish in this species or the giant type. While the smaller Gourami will grow to about 5.5 to 6 inches, the Giant Gourami will grow to 28 inches, which is why they need an extra large fish aquarium.

Juveniles are very, territorial while the adults are less aggressive. For this reason, Giant Gourami does quite well as adults with other types of larger fish. They enjoy water temperature between 68 to 86 degrees, soft to medium hard water, and a pH level of 6.2 to 7.8. For diet, the Giant Gourami and the smaller Gouarmi like pellet food as a staple, although they also need green food. You can identify the males from the females in that they have pointed anal and dorsal fins.

Guppy (Poecilia reticulate)

Guppies are excellent freshwater fish, especially for those just getting started with fish keeping. Guppies are extremely easy to care for and an affordable species. This type of freshwater fish prefers eating mosquito larvae but with the growing risk of the introduction of disease, you can simply use flake or pellet food designed specifically for guppies.

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Guppies tolerate a wide range of water conditions and come in a wide range of colors. These fish reach size between 2.5 and 3 inches, prefer planted tanks, and are a peaceful fish. We do recommend that you not put Guppies in with fish known to nip on fins. They prefer water temperature between 64 and 81 degrees with medium hard water and a pH level between 7.0 and 8.5. Finally, guppies eat small, live, or frozen food, along with flaked food.

Molly (Poecilia)

These fish come in a variety of colors, which include silver, black, mottled, and speckled, although the Black Molly is the most popular choice. These fish grow to about four inches long and do well in hard water tanks with hardy plats.

The molly prefers water temperatures of 68 to 78 degrees with a pH level between 7.5 and 8.5. For diet, the molly is omnivorous, eating flake, live, and frozen food, along with green food and algae. The male fish has a large dorsal fin and gonopodium. Mollies are livebearers, producing up to 50 babies at one time. We recommend you keep two or more females to every male.

Neon Tetra (Paracheirondon innesi)

Neon Tetras are fun, small fish that should be kept in six or more since they prefer to school. Considered a favorite species for hobbyist, these fish prefer a dark background or substrate. Neon Tetras only grow to 1 to 1.5 inches and originate in Peru.

They are peaceful fish that love live plants. The only consideration is to be sure that there are no aggressive fish in the tank with Neon Tetras to ensure they are not eaten. Neon Tetras prefer water temperature between 72 and 79 degrees, as well as neutral, soft, or medium hard water. For diet, these fish need small, live, dry, or frozen food. The males have a longer, sleeker body while the females have a deeper-looking body.

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Panda Dwarf Cichlid (Apistogramma nijsseni)

Cichlids such as the Panda Dwarf are excellent tropical fish. This particular species likes soft and acidic water of excellent quality. You would need to provide cichlids with good hiding places and live plants. The male of this species will grow to about 2 inches and the female about 1.5 inches.

Again, the Panda Dwarf Cichlid loves live plants, along with rocks and sandy gravel. The smaller cichlid species is more peaceful than the larger species that can become territorial. These fish prefer water temperature between 75 and 82 degrees with a pH level between 5.5 and 6.8. As omnivorous fish, they like live or frozen food to include brine shrimp or bloodworms but they will take dry food as well. The males are larger with a blue colored sheen and red-edged tail whereas the female has a yellow color with black spots.

Swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri)

Swordtails come in a variety of colors although the Green and Red Swordtails tend to be favorites. The male fish will grow to about four inches in length and the female up to about five inches. These fish need open swimming space and although they are slightly aggressive, they typically do well with other species of fish.

Swordtails like live plants and water temperature between 70 and 79 degrees. The water chemistry should be medium hard with a slight acidic level, usually a pH of 7.0 to 8.0. These fish are omnivores, eating flake, live, and fresh foods. Keep in mind that the males have the “sword” on the tail while the females have a gravid patch. They are live bearers like mollies and guppies.

Thorny Catfish (Doradidae)

In all, you will discover more than 2,000 species of catfish. Because of this, you will often find catfish in freshwater fish tank, as well as saltwater tanks. The catfish is a member of 34 unique families, some that include the Banjo Catfish (Aspredinidae), Driftwood Catfish (Auchenipteridae), Thorny

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Catfish (Doradidae), Glass Catfish (Schilbeidae), and the Old-World Catfish (Siluridae).

Take the Thorny Catfish family as an example, which contains about 70 different species. These fish are medium to large but typically not longer than 12 inches. You will find most catfish swimming in the bottom portion of the tank, where they like to eat algae. It is recommended that you keep most catfish in a 30-gallon tank at minimum with fine substrate for burrowing. In addition, the catfish also like live plants.

Catfish prefer slightly acidic water but can tolerate pH levels between 5.5 and 7.8. For water temperature, this species does best anywhere from 72 to 82 degrees. In general, the catfish does well with other fish. For diet, they eat live, dry, or frozen food once it reaches the bottom of the tank. Because they are bottom feeders and nocturnal, we recommend they be fed in the evening.

Tiger Barb (Puntius tetrazona)

Tiger Barbs come in three colors – and black on yellow striped green and gold. The green variety, which are often called Mossy Barbs have beautiful, dark green patches. The gold species do not have the famous black bars. Tiger Barbs are known as fin nippers but when kept as a large shoal, they do best. However, you will notice Tiger Barbs working amongst themselves to establish the ranking order.

Tiger Barbs will grow to about three inches and need lots of swimming space. They love live plants, need water temperature between 68 and 79 degrees, and prefer a fairly, soft, slightly acidic tank with a pH level between 6.5 and 7.0. Since these fish are omnivorous, they have a varied diet. The males are generally more colorful than the females, along with being slimmer and smaller. Tiger Barbs are a common addition to freshwater aquariums. Tiger barbs should be fed regularly to avoid aggressive behavior.

THE END