| Fish make excellent pets. You don't have to have | | | | to fit in your home, and you've figured out how |
| any | | | | many fish |
| special skills for them. You need only have the | | | | body inches that tank can support, the next step |
| right fish | | | | is to |
| and equipment, and then give them the right | | | | select the fish you'd like to have for your |
| care.As a dry spectator to their watery world, | | | | aquarium |
| you can actually | | | | community. Think this through before you start |
| lower your stress levels - their bright colors and | | | | buying the |
| graceful | | | | fish.Fish behavior is ultimately more important to |
| movements have a calming effect. You can | | | | your |
| enjoy them if you | | | | decisions than color and size. You are creating a |
| have very little space, or if you haven't time for | | | | community of living creatures in which all |
| more | | | | members are |
| demanding pets.There are two types of | | | | forced to live, so plan ahead to save some of |
| aquariums: fresh water and salt | | | | your pets |
| water. Because fresh water aquariums are much | | | | from becoming another pet's dinner.Each type of |
| easier to | | | | fish will prefer a different water level |
| maintain than salt water tanks, creating a tropical | | | | within the tank. Here are just a couple of your |
| fresh | | | | many |
| water fish community is the best place to | | | | choices among many tropical fresh water fish |
| start.When choosing the tank, you will need to | | | | families.The Anabantid Family. This is the family of |
| consider two | | | | the famous |
| things in particular. | | | | and popular Siamese Fighting Fish. Since the |
| 1) Where the tank will fit in your home, because | | | | males will |
| that is a | | | | fight to the death, it is critical that you only have |
| determinant of the size of the tank. | | | | one |
| 2) The water surface area of the tank, which | | | | male per tank. In the same family is the calm |
| determines | | | | and peaceful |
| the number of fish you can have.In general, it | | | | Gourami, which grow from 1 to 5 inches. The |
| doesn't matter how deep your tank is so | | | | stunning Gold |
| much as how much water surface area the tank | | | | Gourami and the Kissing Gourami are two |
| shape creates. | | | | types.The Characin Family. This fish family includes |
| This is because fish need oxygen, and it comes | | | | everything |
| to them | | | | from the tiny neon tetra to the piranha - which is |
| through the water's surface. If you overcrowd a | | | | not a |
| tank, the | | | | recommended pet! The beautiful tetras, |
| fish can suffocate!The following formula will help | | | | however, are |
| you decide on the right | | | | excellent for aquariums. They prefer the middle |
| tank for the number of fish you'd like to have, | | | | level of |
| given the | | | | the tank. The Hatchet Fish prefer the upper |
| space in your home that's available for the tank. | | | | water levels.There are species in the Characin |
| For | | | | Family for every water |
| every inch of fish body length, you'll need 12 | | | | level. You will need groups of at least 4 fish for |
| square | | | | the |
| inches of surface water area.So, let's say you | | | | schooling Characins to perform satisfactory |
| have two one-inch Neon Tetras. That's 2 | | | | schooling |
| linear inches of fish times 12 square inches of | | | | behaviors.Careful selection will make your tank |
| water | | | | interesting and |
| surface apiece, which equals 24 total square | | | | variable. Do your homework before you start |
| inches of | | | | buying the |
| water surface needed for the Tetras to have | | | | fish, and you will have long-term pleasure in the |
| enough oxygen.A 5-inch by 6-inch rectangular tank | | | | community |
| would create 30 square | | | | you've created.Jeanine Hughes has developed her |
| inches of surface. That would support those two | | | | expertise about fish and fishing over the course |
| Tetras | | | | of a lifetime and enjoys sharing her interest with |
| nicely, but wouldn't be big enough for three of | | | | others. For articles by Jeanine, vist Free Aquarium |
| them.Once you've thought about the size of tank | | | | or Fishing Junky. |
| you have space | | | | |