Adding The Right Fish to Create an Aquarium Community

Now your aquarium has been set up, and your water tested ok. Is it time to go pick up some fish from the store, yet? If you wish to keep a healthy aquarium, you must follow the right steps.

Before you go wild in the fish store, take a few moments to decide what species is best. You don’t want to add an aggressive fish to a peaceful community tank. Make sure that your fish are approximately the same size since the larger fish sometimes attack the smaller ones. To find out what a mature fish of your chosen species is like, do a little research. A happy tank is stress-free, so make sure you pick fish that can live peacefully with each other.

The best thing you can do to avoid issues is to decide what fish you like best and do some research to see if they like the other fish you want. Make sure they are community fish that get long with others, if you want more than one species. Your fish selection should be based on the toleration of the same or similar water conditions. They should also eat similar things and like the same live aquarium plants.

Some fish, like damselfish, are territorial. They will try to scare off other fish that look like it because they like to be on ther own. Guppies are fish that are peace loving and they never chase or pick on or disturb other fish. Some fish are a bit aggressive and may chase after slower fish or nip at fins.

An aquarium with a species that tends to be aggressive wouldn’t be a good environment for fish that are shy or slow as they would be bullied. Extremely vulnerable fish, like bubble-eye goldfish, may be picked on by almost any other fish, even if they are normally peaceful. Some fish that may grow aggressive as they mature should never be added to a tank with smaller or shy fish. As they mature they will start picking on the other fish, stressing them out and possibly causing them injury.

Another thing to consider is fish hardiness. A fish that has a hardy constitution, like the blennyfish, can resist many diseases and can withstand many different water conditions. A fish that is of average hardiness should do fine in a healthy aquarium. A fragile fish like a flagfin angel may fall victim to disease or stress if the water quality isn’t just right.

Another key point is eating habits. Carnivorous fish such as an angler or an arrowana will eat other fish. They are not something that you will want to add to a community aquarium. Herbivorous fish like angelfish need vegetables to eat, and may be harder to maintain in a healthy condition in a combination tank. Find some fish that will eat similar diets so they can stay healthy with a food that is easy to distribute, like flakes or pellets.

A final item to consider is including some algea eaters in your aquarium. Some species of catfish, snails or shrimp can do very well at keeping your tank clean.

A lot must be considered prior to adding new aquarium fish. A salesperson at your local fish store will gladly field any questions you have. Also, the internet has great advice and information. You’ll end up with a healthy aquarium that you can enjoy.