| Donna Monday | | | | frogs aren't technically fish, we never |
| | | | thought that our well-fed fish would enjoy |
| Growing up, our family maintained at least | | | | frogs for dinner. |
| two tropical fish tanks at all times. There | | | | |
| was the "big tank" (the traditional rectangle | | | | I still shudder at the memory of seeing that |
| aquarium) and the "little tank" (the | | | | poor helpless tiny frog hanging from the jaws |
| decorative jug-shaped tank that doubled as a | | | | of that fish. We also saw aggressive fish |
| lamp). I remember tapping on the glass gently | | | | pick on and take bites out of other |
| to get the attention of the fish and being | | | | non-aggressive fish. If you don't separate |
| delighted when they seemed to respond by | | | | them, eventually the non-aggressive fish will |
| swimming close to my finger. | | | | die. |
| | | | |
| | | | Freshwater Aquarium Care |
| | | | |
| Freshwater Tropical Fish | | | | Aquarium care maintenance is a real |
| | | | responsibility. This is where your fish live |
| First, I suggest finding some credible | | | | 24/7 and they need a clean environment. This |
| freshwater tropical fish information and | | | | is a chore that needs to be done regularly so |
| reading up on the subject before going out to | | | | keep that in mind when considering setting up |
| buy your first freshwater tropical fish. | | | | a home fish aquarium. |
| These fish are delicate. And some need | | | | |
| special care. | | | | A good aquarium care guide can show you how |
| | | | to clean a fish tank with the fish in it, or |
| We had (at any given time): tropical angel | | | | you can transfer the fish to another holding |
| fish, red Oscar fish, plain guppie and fancy | | | | tank while you clean the dirty one. How do |
| tail guppie fish, kissing fish (these are fun | | | | you clean a fish tank? Usually it involves |
| to watch!), popeye fish (my sentimental | | | | taking a hose and draining out the dirty |
| favorite), scavenger fish (keeps the tank | | | | water, then replacing it with clean fresh |
| clean), and even a small pet shark. | | | | water. Don't forget to turn your pump back on |
| | | | after cleaning the pump filter. |
| While many of these fish may all come from | | | | |
| the same waters, they may not all get along | | | | If you have aquarium plants, you'll also want |
| when plopped together in a small space. A | | | | to read up on aquarium plant care. |
| good tropical fish guide can teach you how to | | | | |
| keep and breed tropical fish and give you | | | | Tropical Fish Diseases |
| recommendations for tropical fish to keep | | | | |
| together. Believe me, if you make a mistake, | | | | Unfortunately tropical fish are prone to |
| you'll see your share of fish fights! | | | | diseases. Tropical fish medicine is available |
| | | | if your fish come down with fish ich or ick |
| Feeding Fish | | | | (a sticky white film on their bodies), or |
| | | | some other disease. You want to catch any |
| One of the most important basics of tropical | | | | disease in time before it kills them. |
| fish care is learning how and what to feed | | | | |
| your fish. Tropical fish need a special diet | | | | More Tropical Freshwater Fish Information |
| and goldfish food won't do. When you buy your | | | | |
| tropical fish online or from a reputable | | | | You can get complete fresh water tropical |
| tropical fish dealer, you should also | | | | fish information online that can tell you all |
| purchase the correct fish food for the | | | | you need to know and more about live |
| specific types of fish you are keeping. If | | | | freshwater tropical fish. There are also good |
| you don't know what to buy - ask. And, please | | | | articles on tropical fish keeping that are a |
| don't overfeed the fish - they can die from | | | | good guide to keeping tropical fish healthy |
| overeating. | | | | and happy. |
| | | | |
| Oh yeah. Better learn about semi-aggressive | | | | Tropical fish are a wonderful addition to |
| tropical fish for tanks as well. We used to | | | | your home. With proper care and maintenance, |
| have a couple of mouth breeder fish that | | | | you will get many hours of enjoyment out of |
| really liked those cute little frogs we put | | | | your exotic home aquarium. |
| in their tank to add to the atmosphere. While | | | | |