How to Choose the Right Saltwater Aquarium Fish

Saltwater aquarium fish are actually very difficult to keep; the problem is that the majority of tropical saltwater aquarium fish and invertebrates will become damaged when being collected, handled and shipped. Plus there are a number of species of saltwater aquarium fish that are for sale which have certain requirements that you as an aquarist will not be able to meet.

A Guide To Selecting Your Saltwater Aquarium Fish

1. It is crucial that rather than purchasing new aquarium fish, you go for ones that have been in the shop for some time, around about two weeks or more. Although the new ones may survive being captured, handled and shipped, they become infected with diseases that you are unaware of and which the owner of the shop can easily deal with.
2. It is vital that when you go to the store to select your aquarium fish, that you spend time inspecting all the live species that they have. So if you are buying some angel fish, hawkfish, butterfly fish, clown fish or any other kind of marine fish that are for sale, spend time watching how it swims and breathes and the way it is behaving.
3. It is a good idea to spend some time, if you are able, watching the fish eating. Make sure that the fish are alert and will eat the food that has been given to them. If you can, avoid having any of the coral feeding fish or sponge eating Rock Beauties in your tanks.
4. When you go shopping for any kind of fish for your saltwater aquarium, it is a good idea to learn a little bit more about the ones you are considering. You should be aware of things such as what they will require in order to survive, and what other saltwater aquarium fish and invertebrates they are compatible with. Also you need to spend time learning about their overall hardiness.

Generally when it comes to keeping aquarium fish, it is best to put in the tank those which have a similar temperament. So those fish which eat slowly, need to be put with fish of a similar nature, while the aggressive varieties such as chow-hounds should be kept together.

What Kinds Of Saltwater Aquarium Fish Are Suitable For Your First Tank?
When it comes to which are the best types of saltwater fish to keep in an aquarium, there are several that are ideal when you first start your hobby. Below we look at just a number of the different species that one should be considering for keeping in a saltwater aquarium.

• Damsels - These are one of the best of all the types of saltwater aquarium fish that someone who is just starting up an aquarium, should have in their first tank. Of all the various different types of tropical fish one can purchase today, these are one of the hardiest of them all. The actual price of purchasing such fish is relatively inexpensive and you should only purchase a couple, as any more than this will tend to make them fight.
• Mollies - Although these are freshwater fish, they can be acclimatized to live in saltwater aquariums also. Again the price of these fish is relatively inexpensive and to get them ready for salt water, retain them in the bag in which they were purchased, and slowly drip in some saltwater over a period of six to eight hours. As time passes you need to increase the amount of salt that is in the water and this will help to get them familiar with their new environment.
• Angel Fish - Although these tropical fish come in a wide variety of colors, if at all possible, these should be avoided initially when you are starting to keep saltwater aquarium fish as a hobby. Yes, even though the Bicolor Angelfish, Black Nox Angel Fish, Blue Fin Angelfish, Cream Angelfish and Cortez Angelfish are wonderful to look at , they are very delicate tropical aquarium fish and will find it extremely difficult acclimatizing to a new environment.

Above we have offered some information that you may find extremely useful when setting up your first tank containing saltwater aquarium fish. If you want to ensure that your aquarium fish live, then make sure that you know how to care for them and make sure that they get the necessary proteins, minerals etc required. A good policy is to actually learn everything you can about each species before you purchase them.

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