HERE FISHY, FISHY, FISHY
By Stacy E. Smith

Looking for a great family pet – either a first pet or an addition to your existing menagerie? Have you considered fish? If your taste leans towards the exotic, and are up for the challenge of learning how to set up and maintain an aquarium, fish keeping might be just the thing for you! It's hard to beat the beauty of a tank full of gracefully swimming, dramatically colored fish. Not only are fish beautiful, but fish tanks are great stress reducers.

Fish are also a great choice if you have limited space, are allergic to animal dander or prefer a pet that won't wake you up in the morning demanding to be fed. True, they require a lot less work and time than other types of pets, but there are still some key skills that you will need to master.

Maintaining the water quality is the single most important task you’ll have as a fish owner – a contaminated tank can kill your pets. Your job as a fish owner is to keep the water free of waste and chemicals and rich in oxygen. That means you must set up a proper filtration system and replace at least some of the water in the tank on a regular basis (the amount will depend upon the type of fish you have). You may also need to regularly check the pH of the water to make sure that it is at the correct level for your fish.

Sound like a lot to learn? It is – and that's why it's so important to find out as much as you can before you bring your fish home. Read books, surf the Web, check out local pet stores that sell fish (preferably one that specializes in fish and/or aquariums), seek out clubs for aquarium hobbyists and be sure to ask lots of questions. Selecting fish that get along with one another and thrive in the same type of water conditions is important, and the staff at your aquarium shop or pet supply store can help you make the right choice.

Anyone selling pet fish will (or should) tell you that tropical fish are only recommended for those who have had some prior experience. If you're a beginner, experts suggest that you start with fish that live in cold water. The upside, in addition to being less complicated, is that a coldwater aquarium requires much less equipment than a tropical or warm water one making the whole endeavor generally less expensive. Coldwater species, such as goldfish and loaches, are readily available, very hardy and the easiest to care for. Goldfish are by far the most popular cold water fish out there. You're probably familiar with the common goldfish, a sturdy orange-red fish that can grow up to eight inches long and live 10 to 20 years (believe it or not), but more than a hundred other varieties have been bred.

Although you do not need to use a heater in a coldwater tank, you will need to ensure water quality with a powerful filtration system. Because coldwater fish consume more oxygen than other species, you must also provide a fairly large space-to-fish ratio. In other words, you’ll be buying a larger tank for your cold water fish than the size required for the same number of similar-sized tropical fish. Keep in mind the old rule of thumb; one inch of fish per gallon. In a 10-gallon tank, for example, you could keep 10 one-inch fish or 5 two-inch fish.

Whether you're just starting out or you already have your “sea legs” as a fish owner, patience goes a long way. Unfortunately, you won't be able to set up and stock a tank in one day. The tank must be up and running BEFORE you add any fish to it. The water in a new aquarium requires anywhere from several days to several weeks to "age" before it is safe enough for your new pets. I remember always having a gallon or two of “aged” or distilled water on hand when I was a kid for changing my gold fish’s bowl every week.

Once you’re ready to introduce fish to the tank, it is recommended that you start your underwater community with just a few individuals of the hardiest species. After that, you can add a couple of fish every week or so. But remember, that'll give you lots of time to design and decorate your tank and to learn about new species.