How to Care for Tetra Fish

Tetra fish can make good first pets.

If you want to try out having a fish as a pet, tetra fish are a good place to start. Native to the Amazon River, they are active and fun to watch, easy to feed and great for kids and adults looking to learn the responsibility of having a pet.

Things You'll Need

• Tetra fish
• Glass aquarium
• Aquarium heater
• Aquarium filter
• Aquarium hood
• Gravel or sand for the tank
• Tropical fish food
• Aquarium plants

Instructions

1. Purchase an aquarium kit that contains the elements needed to set up a tropical fish aquarium.

2. Pour the gravel or sand in the bottom of the tank and fill it with (dechlorinated) water. Add finishing touches, such as plants or decorative items.

3. Cycle the water to ensure that the nitrogen and ammonia are distributed properly and that your fish will have a healthy living environment.

4. Put the fish in the water.

5. Feed the fish the right amount of food and make sure it doesn't cloud up the water.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep the water in your tank clean. The more fish in a tank, the more often the water will have to be changed.

• Overfeeding your tetra fish could make them sick.

Resources

• Tetra: Fish Do Come With Instructions