Keeping fish as pets can be a wonderful idea for people who don't have a lot of time to devote to animals in general. They just need to be fed, the water kept at the right temperature and the tank cleaned.
But where to start. That's why we've created this special page to advise on the types of product you will need.
Tips on Choosing the Right Fish
Aquarium:
One
of the main things that should be included with any pet supplies fish
needs is the right aquarium. There are many different types and styles
to choose from, and this can make it a little overwhelming to buy.
There are of course your cheap tank kits that can cost around
10-30 dollars. They come complete with everything the novice needs to
get started, tank, filter, aerator, and of course some basic gravel.
These kits may even have a few basic ornaments, and some fake plants to
entertain your fish. While these tanks make great starter aquariums,
there are many different draw backs.
These kinds of tanks don't last very long, and are made with materials that are not the best quality, that is why they are cheap. Unless you are going to stick with having just one or two fish, you fish collection is going to out grow the tank in a fairly quick amount of time. If you are planning to raise fish as pets, you should skip the cheap pet supplies fish tanks, and go with a higher quality, more expensive tank and equipment.
When picking the right pet supplies fish needs, it is a good idea to take the time to do some planning. You should think about what fish you are going to be raising. Are they going to be basic fish, like goldfish, or are they going to be more exotic, like Betas, or some kind of miniature sharks. Then you really need to do some research on the particular kind of fish you want to keep. How easy are they to take care of, and breed? Do they need any special water conditions, or more aeration in the water itself? How well do they get along with other fish in the tank, are they aggressive, are they going to be so timid that other fish will bully them?
You want to find pet supplies fish aquariums that are going to be large enough to have some growing room, not just for your individual fish, but to add other fish into. Sure you may not want a starter tank that will take up half the room, but you also don't want a tank that is going to be crowded once you put in your tank equipment, ornaments and fish. Ideally, you want most of the equipment out of sight as much as possible. You need a set up where the aerator, filter system and even the heater are in the base of the aquarium, under that floor plate and gravel. That way your tank is open for the fish to swim around in, and won't get trapped in the filter or aerator.
There are many different styles of aquariums for pet supplies fish. Some are small, yet well made, and are ideal for loner fish that don't do well with others. There are huge tanks that will take up a whole wall area, and some that are actually built into walls, getting them completely out of the way. You need to make sure that where you are going to put your fish tank is sturdy enough for the weight of the tank, the water, the fish, and all the equipment to keep the tank running at top performance.
A pet fish can be an easy pet to own, and they don't require a lot of upkeep. They can be ideal for people who are out a lot, because they don't need the same attention that a mammal, a reptile, or even a bird requires. There are some things though that a fish needs to be healthy and happy. They need an aquarium that is large enough to really move around in, oxygenated water, the right temperature, and food. They also need to have a clean tank in order to keep from getting sick. Just like any pet, if you feed them too much, or don't take care of them in the right way, they will get sick and die.
One of the first things you need to look for is if the employees come right up to you within a short period of time when you come in. There are many stores where you wander around for ten minutes before someone assists you. Another thing to be on the look out for is how knowledgeable the staff is. You want a store whose employees know what they are talking about, can make good recommendations not only about the kind of fish that is right for you, but also what are the best pet supplies, fish products and helpful information about taking care of them. This can be really important when you have a sick fish, since there are not a lot of fish 'doctors' that you can just call like you can with a veterinarian.
When looking for a good pet supply store you really need to
look around the aquarium section. Check the tanks themselves, how clean
are they, are the fish sick looking, or are they overcrowded in their
tanks?
Looking around, seeing how neat and orderly the store is in general,
are all clear indications of how well they do regular maintainance, and
how well they keep their store. How friendly are the employees? Do they
try to bend over backwards to find the item or product your looking
for? Do they stop and really listen to what your saying, and answer any
questions you have, make suggestions about products that will work for
you,
and treat you like a person and are not more interested in your
money?.
It is a good idea to visit some websites on what specific questions you should ask, and the right answers, as well as the wrong answers. Some basic suggestions are to ask how large a tank you should start off with. If they suggest that the best aquarium is the largest one you can afford, then you are on the right track. Ask how many fish can be kept in a tank. For example, an 8 gallon aquarium can hold half a dozen guppies, a couple of white clouds or a single Beta. Anybody that says 'oh you can keep as many as you like,' is not very knowledgeable about fish.
You can find a good pet supplies fish store in your neighbor
hood. There may be commercials about stores, and you can also look them
up online. Be sure that you specifically request FISH pet supply
stores. This way you know that they specialize in just fish,
and not every other animal. Finding the right pet store to buy from is
just as important as finding the right fish tank, fish, and food. If
you are serious about getting into raising fish as pets, then
you should be just as serious about finding a store that knows about
fish.
Keeping fish as pets can be a wonderful idea for people who
don't have a lot of time to devote to animals in general. They just
need to be fed, the water kept at the
right temperature and the tank cleaned. They are there when
you have had a bad day, and it is kind of hypnotizing to watch fish in
an aquarium, putting you in a
different state of mind. There are many unique fish pet supplies,
including an assortment of different aquariums cleaning supplies, and
gadgets to keep your fish
entertained.
f you are one of those people that doesn't like to clean your aquarium, getting your hands wet, and dealing with all the build up, then the aquarium magnet may be just the right product for you. It attracts algae and floats so there is no need to get submerge you hands all the way in the water to remove it. There are available in different sizes, and all you have to do is open the package and stick it on the tank. These work for both glass as well as acrylic tanks, and you don't even have to take it out of the tank to clean the interior collector. They vary in price, depending on size, averaging from five to sixty dollars. While these are great for walls, they don't work on corners, or where the tank sealant is, so there are also cleaning pads that have long handles to help scrub these hard to reach places.
If you are looking for ideas on aquarium decorations, there
are a variety of different fake plants, buildings and air activated
toys for aquariums. One unique plant idea is glowing hairgrass
for your fish tank. This grass is plastic, and changes from a blue
color during the day, to a soft glowing green when the lights are
turned off. It is available in two different sizes, 6" as well
as 12", and will attach to the floor grill of the tank bed. Both of
these sizes are reasonably priced, just $1.99
for the small size, and $4.49 for the larger variety. For
ornaments there are even more choices, from solid structures, to air
operated ornaments. There is the rice mill turning ornament
with a turning mill. There are also many other items including treasure
chests, sunken ships, opening dinosaur eggs, and air
breathing dragons, just to name a few. These products provide
entertainment as well as help aerate the tank.
Then there are the many different
ideas for fish tanks. One of
them is the BiOrb aquarium. Part aquarium, part living art, these tanks
are shaped like a fish bowl, but are also complete fish tank
systems, without the distractions of regular tanks. They are made from
Plexiglass acrylic, which is ten times stronger than
glass, and crystal clear. Five different filtration systems
keep the water free of algae and other contaminants, and the filters
last up to seven months without being changed. The aerator, pump, and
filters are all hidden in the base, and it includes a low voltage
halogen bulb concealed in the top, which gives of a nice soft
glow. One
single transformer provides enough energy for everything. It is
available in 4, 8, and 16 gallon sizes.
.
A one or two gallon tank is adequate for a small fish like a Beta or goldfish. The more fish you plan to have, the bigger the tank. You also need to have a thin platform at the bottom to aerate the tank, covered by some kind of gravel or sand. There are many different mediums to choose from when it comes to flooring, but whatever you choose, make sure that the materials are non toxic, and if colored, that it is color fast, meaning that it won't leach out into the water. You can also decorate you tank with all kinds of fake or real plants, as well as ornaments. Remember that some fish like to hide out, so a building or two that they can call home is always welcome. The best aquarium ornaments are those that move, which not only provides a little added entertainment, but also helps to aerate the water.
This is another part about taking
care of your fish, making sure there is a constant supply of oxygen in
the water. There are many aerators to choose from, but it has to be one
that can't hurt your fish. You may need a tank heater, depending on the
fish and where you live, but you want to make sure that the
heating element is well insulated, if not, you fish will get
electrocuted. Then you have the filtering system. This cleans out feces
and other matter that builds up in the water, and the water will flow
into the filter dirty, with clean water coming out. This too you have
to make sure is safe for the fish, with openings small enough
not to trap you pets. Algae will still build up on the sides
of the tank, but you can help this problem buy purchasing an algae
magnet that attaches to the inside of the tank. You can also
buy snails and other fish that clean algae off the glass or acrylic
surfaces.
The best thing to do is buy a tank
kit for your fish. These will come with everything you need to get
started. The best ones have all the aerators, heating element,
and filtration systems under the base plate, so you don't see any of
these in the tank. The best small fish tank, which comes totally
complete is the BiOrb Aquarium. These aquariums come in different
sizes, and are a piece of living art. They come with all the
requirements that a fish needs, and everything is hidden in the base.