Keep Fish Care

Keep Fish Care

Background & Recommended Species

Congratulations, you¡¯re going to be a fish parent! While your role may not be as interactive as that of a dog or cat caretaker, there are some important skills¡ªsuch as tank set-up and maintenance¡ªyou¡¯ll need to master to ensure a happy, healthy home for your fish.

Cost

To get set up, a 20-gallon tank, filters and air pump, stand, light & cover, gravel, plants, fish and food will cost you about $200 to $250. Feeding costs are very low¡ªabout $15-$20 annually¡ªbut there will be some electricity used to run the light and filtration system.

Housing

Tank: Familiar with the image of a single goldfish in a bowl? That¡¯s a great example of exactly how fish care kept. The ASPCA recommends a 10- or 20-gallon-aquarium for beginners, which is large enough for a nice selection of fish. As a general rule of thumb, you can have one inch of fish per gallon of water. That means, for example, you could have 10 one-inch-fish in a 10-gallon aquarium, or 5 four-inch-fish in a 20-gallon. Remember to take into account the maximum size your fish may reach. The experts at your aquarium store can help you select fish who will get along with each other and can thrive in a coldwater tank.

Location: Set the tank on sturdy table, stand, or counter, in a place that is convenient to a sink or water source. Do not put the tank in direct sunlight¡ªthis makes it harder to control the water temperature and may cause excessive algae growth. Deciding on the perfect spot is a big decision¡ªa 20-gallon aquarium filled with water and gravel weighs more than 200 pounds, so you won¡¯t be able to move it once it is set up.

D¨¦cor: Fish may not care if their gravel is color-coordinated, but they¡¯ll greatly appreciate a ¡°hiding¡± place to chill out. You can use a clean, cracked upside-down flowerpot or arrange aquarium rocks into a cave; there¡¯s also a variety of tank d¨¦cor available at the pet supply store. Plastic plants provide great camouflage, too.

Diet

There are very good commercial fish foods available. Dried flakes provide a balanced diet, and fresh foods such as live brine shrimp, bloodworms and tubifex worms provide variety.

Number one rule when it comes to fish nutrition: DO NOT OVERFEED! Excess food will fall to the bottom of the tank and spoil, reducing the water quality. It is best to feed several small meals daily, just enough so the fish care eat everything before it falls to the bottom.

And here¡¯s a quick and cheap (actually, free!) snack for your pets: Scrape off any algae growing on the front glass of the tank so your fish are clearly visible, but let it grow on one end or in a corner. Your fish will enjoy nibbling on the bits of algae growing there.

Water Changes

The key to a clean tank with healthy plants and fish is water changes. These water changes should always include vacuuming of the substrate (or at least stirring it up) unless the tank is heavily planted or contains delicate marine life. Avoid vacuuming extensively in planted tanks. The percent water you change depends on the tank size, number and types of fish and plants, filter strength, and condition of your tap water. First, the larger the tank, the less percentage of water that you need change. The more fish that you have, the more water you should change. The more plants that you have, the less water that needs to be changed. If you have a large, strong filter, the less water you need change. Lastly, the closer your tap water chemistry is to the tank water, the more water you can change. If your tap water is very high in chlorine, chloramine, phosphates, nitrates, metals, etc., then you should change less to reduce fish shock (and be sure to add whatever needed to adjust the conditions to meet those of your tank). Also, the pH or hardness may be off. If you have salt water tanks, obviously you will want to change less water since it is a pain (and costly) to make up salt water. Besides adding salt, you may add other trace minerals, etc.

More info about fish care, please visit ASPCA.