Choosing The Right Aquarium Freshwater Fish For Your Tank.

You just finished setting up your freshwater aquarium and you’re ready to go fishing. Perhaps you should consider taking a step back and think about the types of fish you will want to display in your tank.

There are a few questions you should ask yourself before grabbing your keys and taking a field trip to the pet shop.



1. Do you want big or small fish or a combination of both?

2. Are you looking for bright vibrant colors?

3. Do you want active Fish?



These are just a few questions you want think about before you do anything. Most tank owners will choose to get a variety of fish but should you just get any beautiful fish you see?



It’s not complicated at all to decide what you want displayed however here are a few guidelines you should follow.



• Research the fish you want to buy. It is a good idea to ask professionals. You can easily find one at the pet shop

• Combine fish that won’t see each other as dinner. Many owners will buy with their eyes, seeing only the beauty and not knowing if the fish can actually live amongst each other

• Get ones that can live in the same water temperature, and make sure the little critter can survive in freshwater

• Determine whether they prefer alkaline or acidy water. (lower pH vs. higher pH)

• Feeding requirements, does the fish eat from the bottom or the top? Yes they do have a preference



While trying to give you the breeds of fish, you will probably not be to interested or fall in love with the fish this way which is why it would be a good idea to go to the store and browse.



Make a day of it and go from store to store and determine which ones catch your eye. Don’t forget to ask questions…refer to the guide above as a start. It would be a good idea to take a notepad with you and if you want use your camera on your phone that way you can narrow down what you like. Once you have in mind what you want, be sure to research the food they eat (it is not one food fits all).



Freshwater aquarium owners overlook the aggressiveness of the fish. Although they may not be predators to the other fish they may decide to become bullies. Some larger fish will (especially male) will try to mark their territory. It is a good idea to avoid pairing more than one male in the tank, with the exception of less aggressive species.



Similar species can sometimes set off aggression so be careful how you pair the fish. In most cases, pair several female with one male minimizing the aggression.



Bottom line: Choosing the right freshwater aquarium fish takes a little homework on your part. People who don’t do this will often see bad results. Buying many fish and putting them all together hoping for the best is not recommended. Or else you may wake up one morning and see many of your species gone.





Become a great freshwater aquarium enthusiast.

For great information on

freshwater aquarium plants,

visit www.myfreshwateraquariums.com.