Tank Care: Fish Keeping Tips for Newbies

Aside from dogs and cats, fish are great pets, too! They are more interactive and watching them swim inside their tank and navigate their way in between plants and rock is entertaining. Aside from it being aesthetically pleasing, fish keeping is a great hobby for all ages plus it provides health benefits, such as reducing blood pressure and heart rate, reducing stress, and promoting calmness and peacefulness.

Caring for fish as pets is not a complicated task. Providing them with adequate care, understanding their habitat, and having knowledge of what they need is necessary to keep them alive and happy.

The truth is that fish do not require much maintenance. For newbies, do not be overwhelmed by properly caring for your fish. We have listed simple guidelines that you can follow to have stress-free and successful fish keeping.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT AQUARIUM TANK

The first thing that you want to consider before buying an aquarium is the size. While it is best to start with a smaller size for beginners, bigger tanks are much easier to take care of. Most of the time, you will outgrow smaller tanks and would end up regretting not getting a bigger one.

Tank size also depends on the type of fish you decide to buy and how many of them you want to get. You do not want to have an overcrowded aquarium which can lead to poor oxygen levels and your fish dying. Having a little knowledge of their habitat is vital to keep healthy aquatic life.

DECIDE ON THE PLACEMENT OF THE AQUARIUM TANK

Aquarium tanks should be placed away from windows, air-condition, and direct sunlight. Sudden temperature changes can be stressful to the fish.

CHECK AND SET UP OPTIMAL TANK WATER CONDITIONS

Tap water is okay when setting up your tank, but you may want to test its properties to ensure that it provides the right balance to maintain aquatic life. You can test the water by using a water testing kit to check on the pH, presence of nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia.

The presence of nitrates, nitrates, and ammonia is fine as long as they are on low levels and do not build up. Also, maintaining the right pH level is necessary to keep an optimal aquatic environment.

FEED YOUR FISH AT THE RIGHT TIME

Different fish require different nutrients. Knowing your fish’s nutritional needs is necessary to keep their health optimal. Feed them with the recommended food according to their diet. Feeding them once to twice a day is sufficient.

DO REGULAR WATER CHANGES

Frequent water changes are the key to successful fish keeping. Remove 25% of the water every two to four weeks and replace it with fresh and clean water. This method helps dilute nutrients and chemicals in the water which can help maintain a healthier aquatic environment.

Fish care routine may seem daunting but learning these guidelines can help in providing your pets with a safe, clean, and stress-free environment.