Taking Care of Fish Habitats

Habitats for Fish

1. Choose aquarium size carefully. A 10-gallon tank is a good size to begin with, though the bigger the tank, the easier it is to care for. Keep the fish population within reasonable limits. Allow at least a gallon of water per inch of fish; one expert says that you should have only one big fish or tow or three little fish in a 10-gallon tank.
2. For the aquarium you need: a hood with a light, a heater, a thermometer, a filter, air pump, a gang valve, airline tubing, gravel, a fishnet, water conditioner, and food.
3. To set up the tank: (1) rinse it out with tap water; (2) assemble the under-gravel filter and put it in the tank; (3) rinse the gravel (but not with soap or detergent) and add to the tank; (4) set up the air pump, connect the airline tube to the air stem on the filter and to the gang valve; (5) pour in the water and put in water conditioner (in amount suggested on the package); (6) set up the heater, but do not plug it for 15 minutes.
4. To introduce the fish: place the plastic bag containing the fish on top of the tank water for several minutes. Then open the bag, but leave the fish in it for a few more minutes before removing it.
5. About one-fifth of the water should be changed once a month.

Fishbowls for Freshwater Nontropical Fish

1. Fish in fishbowls are not easier to care for than fish in aquariums for tropical freshwater fish, but the initial investment is less.
2. You can buy bowls from pint-sized to two gallons.
3. The water is at room temperature, so you can raise only goldfish or Siamese fighting fish.
4. Siamese fighting fish must be raised alone. You can put one goldfish in a small bowl, up to three in a large one.
5. Change the water twice a week. The night before you change it, let the new water sit so that the chlorine dissipates.

General Dos and Don'ts

1. In the first month, test the water every day; after that, weekly. Water temperature of about 74F, works for most fish.
2. Don't put the aquarium in direct sun; use a fluorescent light on the tank.
3. Do not overfeed fish. Feed them once a day, only the amount of food they will eat in about 30 seconds. Otherwise the food and waste material from the fish begin to break down and create toxic byproducts. You can buy slow-release feeder tablets for times when you are away.
4. If fish get sick, take them to the pet store. Take little fish in a half-filled mayonnaise jar. Take big fish in trash can liners half-filled with water in a five-gallon bucket; blow some air into the bags. Also take a sample of tank water (3-4 oz.).

This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pets.