Comments on: How to Choose Fish for a Freshwater Aquarium

on 8/8/2006 Let the tank get a little dirty on the bottom, (about 2 weeks) and then add an algae eater. Apple Snails, Black Mystery snails, and some catfish are okay. Be cautious with catfish and sucker fish, some grow very large (12"+).

on 8/8/2006 Many people have addressed the topic of making sure the fish you have purchased will be polite to the fish one already has. This is a very important part of setting up your tank. Be sure the fish you purchase are compatible.

on 6/30/2006 Dyed fish are fish that would otherwise be white or very plain looking. Dying fish kills many of them and leaves the remaining with serious health risks. Berry Tetras are among them. I have 2 berry tetras I bought before I realized they were dyed. My two are healthy, especially my blue one who is full of personality! Just beware; they are pretty, but they may die.

on 3/23/2006 Under no conditions can male beta fish be in the same tank, an experiment was made where two male betas were put in a lake, on two different sides of the lake, they met close to the center of the lake, and one beta killed the other. Another thing, beta fish can be hard to have in a larger size tank, their natural habitat is usually around air pockets in the water. They are use to a smaller closed in space, and tend shy from other fish, but because they require to breath out of water, they stay toward the top. It would be hard to find a hiding place at the top of a large tank. One last thing with betas, each one has a personality of its own. Some betas can be mixed with other fish and get along fine, some beta fish will kill everything else in the tank, more so if they do not have a place to hide and shy away from the others.

on 1/13/2006 First, you need to know how much space you have for a tank. There are many sizes. Bigger tanks means more fish, but it also means more money. Usually a 10 to 30 gallon tank will do, a 10 gallon tank will hold up to 5, 1" or 2" fish. You will also need a sturdy table, the tanks usually have stands you can buy.
Now for choosing fish, you usually get the fish that are inexpensive just to start off with. Those fish can be any kinds of tetras, goldfish, guppies, or fish that don't cost much. You want to get tetras or guppies in groups, and you don't want to get expensive fish until you have more experience. Ghost shrimp and plecos are good too, because there bottom feeders and they control some or the algae.

on 1/13/2006 To keep your fish healthy just follow these steps:
Feed them as needed.
Keep an eye on the temperature.
Be sure if any fish is sick, treat them before it spreads.
Change 75% of the water every month or two.
Be sure to not over crowd the tank.
Keep pH levels fair.
Beware of extreme water changes.

on 1/13/2006 I only have a few years experience with fish, but hear me out, Bettas do not mix with other fish! You should always keep Bettas in a separate bowl or tank. I had just put a Betta in my 10 gallon tank, a few days later it died because my group of guppies had nipped on his fins and my Betta had too much stress and died. Then I got another Betta and had put him with my goldfish, and they both killed each other! Now I have a Betta in a separate bowl and he is perfectly healthy and happy.

on 12/12/2005 Try not to put Algae eaters with Bettas. Algae eaters sometimes nip at the tails of other fish, especially with the male bettas. I have three Algae Eaters and two male Bettas in separate tanks. One of my male Bettas had half of his tail eaten off.

on 11/22/2005 Sometimes tetras like to gang up on a fish and nip at their fins, especially ones with flowing, big fins (like the betta). Once again, just make sure there is plenty of space for everyone to avoid problems.

A word on bettas: They can make lovely additions to any freshwater aquarium, both visually and temperamentally. Just make sure (no matter if it's male or female) to limit to only one of them per tank to keep stress to a minimum and avoid injury and death.

on 11/22/2005 Keep in mind that keeping your aquarium light on for extended periods of time can make your tank look better, it can promote algae growth as well as raise the water temperature. Not only does the light light up the tank, it i like a mini-heater, which can either be a negative or a positive. Be careful not to cook your little fish!

on 11/22/2005 If you are planning on buying a gourami, buy two! If you have a small tank (a 5 gallon tank) and you decide later to add another fish - don't do it! Your fish will suffer because the gourami will eat the fins off of it! Gouramis are territorial, they need their own space.

on 11/22/2005 Betta fish are very good for beginners, as they take up very little space and are easily kept in a small fishbowl with no filters. The males are very beautiful, although the females are pretty too, and the females can be kept together. A betta are good bedroom pets.

on 11/22/2005 Semi aggressive can be mixed and make for a colorful tank. Careful reading is required and matching is a must as they are going to need care. Take the extra time to look up information on each fish, as many are called aggressive but are more on the 'eating of smaller fish' side (such as Ctenopoma or leaf fish), but are fine with others of the same size. Rams and Barbs can be dangerous if mixed with others. Even faster moving fishes can starve out others in the tank. In the long run either cracking open a book or even going to a web page can save you a lot of money and time. Face it, part of the fun in this hobby is knowing more as we go - have fun and remember the sign in the fish store: "Big fish eat small fish."

on 11/22/2005 I think guppies and Tetras do good together. I raise guppies and they multiply fast. If you mix them with 4-5 neon tetras you will have a beautiful set up.

on 11/22/2005 Most people tend to pick out what they believe is a cute fish without the required knowledge of temperature, climate, or even size and habits. A fine example would be an oscar. After a quick read, one would understand they are not good to raise with tetra neons (although they start out round the same size). Read about your fish before adding any new fish to your tank. The more you know, the better you'll enjoy your tank.