The first thing you need to do is figure out what you have room for and what you're prepared to take care of. Knowing how big of a tank to buy can be tricky. The people at your local exotic pet and tropical fish store can be a huge help to you. Typically the best size for new tropical fish owners is anywhere from 10 to 20 gallons. You can manage this size easily and once you've got good experience handling this size tank, you can move up to a larger tank.
Many pet stores these days sell tank kits. They can be useful when you aren't very familiar with what fish need to live and what they like. However, be careful that you don't buy a kit that is cheaply made. It's going to be a little bit expensive when you first start this venture. Don't go the cheap route; you could end up putting your fish in jeopardy. Cheap parts can fall off and kill your pets.
You need to buy a solid tank with a lid and a stand that will hold your fish tank. You also will need to buy a light and a filter for your fish tank. Before you do anything, clean your fish tank with warm water. If you use any sort of soap or detergent, it is imperative that you rinse your tank thoroughly. You don't want to poison your fish!
Make sure that your tank is completely clean and then add about an inch of rocks to the bottom of the tank. There is a variety of colored and ornate gravel that you can purchase for your tank. Get creative and give your new pets a beautiful home to enjoy. Begin adding water and set your tank heater to approximately 80 degrees. This is the ideal temperature for most tropical fish. Be sure and check with the pet store before putting your fish in their new home.
Tropical fish should not be kept near windows or other bright, natural light sources. The light helps produce algae that can dirty your tank and kill your fish. A 5 watt light should keep your fish happy and under the right lighting. Once your tank is full and at the correct temperature, you are ready to go pick out your fish.
Since you're new to this, ask the pet store owner to show you the lower maintenance fish they have to offer. Select a few of several kinds of fish that will be both bright and fascinating to watch and also easy to care for. Some fish, contrary to popular belief, do not get along well. They may not warn you at the pet shop, but some fish are highly predatory. Read up on the kinds of fish that you shouldn't mix together before buying your new pets.
Make sure that you are feeding your fish the right food. It's important to do this unless you want to make your fish sick or possibly kill them. Feed your fish the right amount of food and feed them at the same time, every day. Don't overfeed fish, they can actually eat themselves to death! Keep your tank clean and keep a close eye on your new housemates, especially for the first few days after you bring them home.
If you want to look at a tropical fish guide and get some FREE information about tropical fish, then please click here: tropical fish guide
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