i'm seriously considering getting one. i love watching live fish in a glass container. i just wd rather make an informed decision than a blind one abt owning one considering the initial investment.
2007-05-09 21:12:14 · 10 answers · asked by ask_my_daddy 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
I don't think you'll regret it as long as you know the time and effort you'll have to put into it. I love my tanks.
I own 3 freshwater tanks now and they're doing really well, but when I was in college I killed a whole lot of fish. :( The two most important things to learn in order to have fun watching your fish rather than watching them die are
1) how to cycle your tank.
A fishless cycle is faster, much less labor intensive, and you won't damage or kill any fish doing it.
2) how to stock your tank.
Overstocking causes stress, illness, and aggression. Research the kinds of fish you want before you start so you can buy a tank with enough room for their adult size, energy level, and territorial needs.
Good luck! Keep asking questions and remember: Google is your best friend.
2007-05-10 08:12:42 · answer #1 · answered by ceci9293 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Right, i'll keep it as short as i can.
I'm guessing that you are just considering getting a decent sized aquarium: not too big, not too small.
Aquariums can often be expensive to begin with but they are well worth the money. You initial investment will include...
The tank
Plastic or live plants for your tank
Gravel for your tanks base
Heater (if you are buying tropical fish)
Filter
The fish :)
Your new tank will provide you with hours of entertainment as your fish dart around the tank and chase one another in a frenzy. :]
However, there are many other things that you must consider about owning an aquarium. You have to remember that time will have to be dedicated to cleaning your aqaurium and changing a certain amount of the water (preferably per week) so that the fish remain healthy. This won't use up too much of your time but, if you are buying a filter for your tank, you will need to purchase filter pads. Also, you will need to dedicate money towards the upkeep of your fish's health.
Sometimes, diseases can enter your tank and you will require to buy the appropriate medication for this. It isn't too costly and they fish usually manage to fight their disease with the right care. Ontop of medication, you will need to buy your fish food (this is very cheap and wont need to be purchased often)
You should feed your fish a variety of foods. I would recommend a variation of flake foods and blood worm.
You will need to buy some decorations for your tank if you would like to create the strking display that most aquarium owners aim for. These can be purchased from your local pet store.
I would recommend you get a part-time job at one of your local pet store as you will get a feel for what can go wrong in a fish tank. It will also give you an insight to the fun you can have looking after your fish.
Well, i hope i helped you in your question about aquariums. Good Luck with finding the perfect one for you! :]
2007-05-10 11:25:56 · answer #2 · answered by Fraser :] 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The first word to remember is commitment. You must be willing to do the require maintanance and feeding to keep the tank and the fish healthy. The second is what you have already started and that knowledge.
Here's a link to a site that offered a lot of sound advice for setting up, cycling and maintaining an aquarium. Start with that and if you are still interested buy an aquarium book, read through it, look at the differences and similarities between the informaiton and make you decision as you say in an informed way.
Hope you join us in the hobby!
http://www.firsttankguide.net/
MM
2007-05-10 09:16:52 · answer #3 · answered by magicman116 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Keeping fish is all about your initial set up. Take your time and do it right the first time. If you are serious then go for the biggest tank you can, More water = less chance of problems. I cant stress enough that you have to get your water right before you put any fish in. Then only add a few fish at a time and make sure you research the fish first and decide wheather they are compatable with any other fish you are going to buy. You can have a matured,stocked tank in about 6 months.
2007-05-10 07:14:30 · answer #4 · answered by bodtheimpaler 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Fish are fabulous pets. I watch mine every day. I have a 2.5g tank with water, rocks and a fake plant but nothing living in it. I have a 10g tank with a fancy guppy and 3 feeder guppies and then a 30g tank which I'll be setting up once I rearange my room to where the tank can be seen. Freshwater Fish are relatively easy to be kept. To have a good quality of water you should use conditioner when you do any water changes *good conditioner is more expensive than the not so good ones but it's still pretty cheap. Mabey 5 dollars* Plants are great for keeping oxygen in the water. They arent very expensive either. When getting fish make sure that they wont get too big for your tank. Also, make sure that the fish that you put in the tank are compatable. Freshwater fish are cheaper than saltwater but they arent as pretty. I only have freshwater but once I help my neighbors mom and another friends mom set up their saltwater tanks I should know enough to set one up. Fish are great pets. It would be a good investment.
2007-05-10 10:51:02 · answer #5 · answered by Kitty 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the ideal set up for beginers is a 29 or 20 gallon tank. you need to buy everything first, the tank, gravel cleaner, decorations, gravel, filter, heater etc....get the water in there and have everything up and running for 3-5 days, then add fish. then you want to do a 25% water change every week and test the water every week for the first month. if you want to do the cleaning and maintence the tank it is supposed, its a worthwhile hobby, i have a 90 gallon cichlid tank and a 30 gallon community tank, and then a little 5 gallon tank for my betta imbelis, these bettas can be housed together,,,unlike the betta slplendis..... its a nice chunk a change to get everything going.....have fun!
2007-05-10 08:25:05 · answer #6 · answered by Twilite 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I used to have a marine tank 3 tropical tank and a pond.now had just the 1 tropical and the pond...i wasnt obsessed honest!!!
Anyway yes they are nice to keep as lon as you are willing to put the work into keeping them.every now and then they will need partial water changes,filters kept clean ,water quality kept to a good standard which should be ok normally if fish stocks kept ideal to the tank size .
good luck with a tank.dont rush in quickly and fill your tank with fish.the idea is to build stock slowly so the nitrifying bacteria can build in your filter.
2007-05-10 05:52:11 · answer #7 · answered by lorraine h 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
fishkeeping is an addictive hobby. i started off blindly with a fish bowl (which are ill-advised and terrible ways to house fish) which progressed to a tank...which, 3 years on, has progressed to 6 fish tanks. if i had room for more, i'd have more!
when buying a fish tank, buy the largest tank you can afford, for your first tank try not to go below 15 US gallons, the bigger the better and the easier to keep! then buy a book or two on fish, register with a few fish forums, learn how to fishless cycle your tank, and a month on you should finally be ready to buy your fish! remember, buy fish based on their ADULT size and tank requirements, buying a fish too large for your tank with plans to upgrade when it grows, never works out. an understocked tank is far happier than an overstocked one!
2007-05-10 06:11:29 · answer #8 · answered by catx 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Do yourself a favour. See if you can help out at a petshop part-time, that way you'll be learning far more, and see the full scope of what problems can happen. Most people only have certain problems, that teaches you a lot about a lot, not a lot about a little.
2007-05-10 05:58:44 · answer #9 · answered by Unicornrider 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
um... of course aquariums are great. and it's good that ya like to watch the fishies, they can relieve yur stress.
2007-05-10 05:43:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋