Practical Tips to Successful Fish-Keeping
When planning and maintaining a successful aquarium, much depends on knowing and following the correct procedures based on the collected experience of expert aquarists and seasoned enthusiasts.
Good Preparation Today Will Mean Less Frustration Tomorrow
Having installed your tank with all the necessary equipment to establish the optimal environment for your preferred aquarium, the next obvious step towards success is selecting compatible species. There are some very good compatibility Charts available online which will assist you in making the right selection. It is quite crucial to do due diligence at this stage in order to benefit from effortless assimilation of all tank inhabitants. It is also worth bearing-in-mind that these charts serve merely as a guideline, and there may be exceptions whereby a particular fish may show oddball traits.
It is paramount to undertake this selection process with care and keep a high regard for the wellbeing of the new fish and the health of the more sensitive fish. These fish tend to deteriorate quickly when stressed and are prone to disease. We need to take every effort to detect any signs of, and eradicate dis-ease. I highly recommend having a hospital/quarantine tank available to help acclimatize newcomers and quarantine sickly fish. This will greatly aid you in controlling any spreading of disease and help facilitate the recuperation of the diseased fish.
It is well worth ensuring that Optimal Water Conditions are maintained to provide a healthy environment for the tank inhabitants. You will experience less aggressive behaviour when your aquarium provides sufficient shelter for fish to hide in and allow them to avoid unnecessary harassment. When you add small fish to your aquariums you may discover that it is better to add several fish at once to avoid any bullying. This simple step will diminish the chance of any one fish being picked-on by a territorial fish.
Some aquarists suggest slightly unsettling established fish by making subtle adjustments to their surroundings in order to help facilitate the integration of newcomers . You may find by shifting some decorations in the tank that established fish with territorial tendencies become more excepting to newcomers. It places all the fish on a more equal footing sociologically speaking. You may also want to ensure that the established fish have fed reasonably well and are therefore more satisfied with their lot. A satisfied fish is usually more excepting and therefore less aggressive. I guess we do share similar traits with our aquaria after all.
A final tip: By keeping a log-book on your selections and making short notes on any findings this will prove immensely beneficial to you down the track. This book can also be utilized for a straightforward maintenance schedule and a log for recording water quality readings.
I wish you every success with your selection and acclimatization process.