Match-Making To make your fish tank a dazzling swirl of color and activity, you will want to add a variety of tropical freshwater fish. All fish have different fin designs, patterns, colors, shapes, sizes, temperaments and ideal living conditions. For the welfare of fish and consequently the success of freshwater fish tanks, it is essential that you research the fish you would like, to know which ones can cohabit in health and harmony. For example, you cannot match (i.e. without harming or stressing your fish) aggressive and peaceful fish, ones that like cooler water and ones that need higher temperatures etc. Commonsensical stuff! Space Out Your Fish A good idea is to select fish that occupy different levels in tank aquariums so they don’t need to compete for space. This adds a pleasant amount of activity and variety, enhancing the appeal of your fish tank. Top-Dwelling Fish Top-dwelling fish normally have upturned mouths for feeding at the water’s surface. Danios are energetic and hardy with a long lifespan making them ideal especially for beginning aquarists. One of the most well-liked tropical freshwater fish is the Betta, an easy to look after, peaceful fish with conspicuous fins and an amazing variety of color. Hatchetfish are unusual but are moderately difficult to manage and are powerful jumpers, so you need to replace the lid of your aquarium immediately after feeding and maintenance. Middle-Dwelling Fish Middle-dwelling fish could be most striking and be stocked with a mixture of schooling fish and larger colorful fish. Schooling fish are obviously happiest when they are among their own kind and you need to have at least six. Examples of schooling fish include Rainbow fish and Tetras. Rainbow fish are simple to take care of and their amazing iridescent colorations change when light reflects off these fish. Neon Tetras tend to swim or remain suspended in schools to create a breathtaking display of color. All types of Platies and Guppies are excellent for middle-dwelling fish. They are both easy care fish and come in many bright color variations which add excitement and brilliance to freshwater fish tanks. For something slightly larger, Swordtails are easy to care for and have wonderfully diverse fin and color varieties. Mollies add contrast and drama to any aquarium but require a moderate amount of care. The following small Gouramis are of a quiet temperament and easy to look after: Neon Blue Dwarf, Sparkling Gourami and Dwarf Gouramis. Angels are a dazzling fish to include in your tank but bear in mind they are semi-aggressive and developing to 6 inches they also require at least a 30 gallon tank. For a larger tank (50 gallons), Cichlids are a possibility but many can display signs of aggression. Examples of peaceful ones are Albino Kribensis Cichlid, Acei Cichlid and Brichardi Cichlid. Of course, the Goldfish remains the most popular freshwater fish and comes in many varieties with amazing color patterns and features. Bottom-Dwelling Fish Bottom-dwelling fish have down-turned mouths, enabling them to feed on food that falls to the bottom of the fish tank, thereby keeping the substrate clean. Cory Cats are entertaining, energetic and peaceful scavengers. They remain relatively small and stay alive in a wide range of water conditions. For larger freshwater fish tanks (30-50 gallons), Loaches will add color, beauty and interest to your fish tank. They are active bottom dwelling scavengers ideally matched for the community aquarium. All Peaceful or All Aggressive You will have noticed that I mainly refer to passive fish. These community fish can co-exist calmly with members of their own species and other species of similar size. Being the sort of person who wants to ‘keep the peace’ I prefer easy-going fish for an easy life but if you like a bit more action, by all means select aggressive fish. Just remember to keep all the fish species in your freshwater aquarium aggressive so no one gets bullied! Aggressive fish are assertive toward their own species and/or other species, despite their size. Aquarium Sizes Most of the fish mentioned are ideal for smaller freshwater fish tanks. Bettas, Danios, Gouramis, Platies and Tetras measure around two inches and are fine for the smaller 10 gallon tanks. Though small, Guppies thrive best in at least a 20 gallon tank along with Hatchetfish, while the larger Swordtails, Rainbow Fish, Goldfish, Mollies, Angels and Cory Cats will require at least a 30 gallon tank. Loaches and Cichlids normally require a 50 gallon tank. Do Your Homework! These tropical freshwater fish are only a guide to varieties of fish which would be suitable in fish tanks. It is essential that you research the fish including size, temperament, the tending they require in order to grow and breed, the food they eat, and the water parameters in which each individual type of fish is the most contented with. This will be vital in determining the species of fish that can be suitably matched. Copyright © 2009 Jill Kaestner @ Kaestner Marketing LLC
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Anyone would desire their fish tank to be a spectacular swirl of colour, variety and activity with happy, healthy fish. In this article you can find out how to create ideal freshwater fish tanks with expert ideas on how to space out fish and types of tropical freshwater fish you will love to have in your fish tank aquariums. An important part of planning fish tanks is to know which fish species are suitable for different sized fish tanks and can co-exist with other fish. Read on to discover how ...
Jill Kaestner I have started 'Aquarius', a website to display some of my favorite fish tanks, and to provide you with expert guidance on setting up, stocking and servicing your freshwater fish tanks.
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