Tropical Fish Keeping

Table of Contents

Home | Finding the Parts | Setting Up | Adding the Fish | Maintenance | A Brief History, etc.
 

Adding the Fish

Now that you have finished Setting Up, you figure its time to dump those fish in and start enjoying.  WRONG!!
Next, you must give the tank a chance to get settled in, before adding the fish.  This time period may last as long as one to two weeks.  It is a tough couple of weeks, waiting for the action to begin, but if you are patient, there is less chance of a potential fish kill later.
 
At this time, it is a good idea to purchase two small test kits that will help you determine when it is appropriate to add the fish, and when you will have to change water in the fish tank to maintain optimum health of the fish (see Maintenance ).   These test kits (one for pH and one for ammonia) can be purchased in any of the aforementioned stores for only a few dollars each.  Each test kit should last the average owner about two to three years. 

Make sure that before adding the fish that the pH of the water in the tank is about 7.0 (neutral) and that the ammonia level is at 0.0 parts per million (ppm).  Follow the test kit's instructions about how to obtain these readings.

When these conditions are met (along with a minimal water temperature of 70-75 degrees F.), you may add a few corydoras catfish.  These catfish are very popular, because they help in cleaning the bottom of fish tanks and are very peaceful creatures.  They will occasionally rise very quickly to the top of a tank, to take a gulp of air (even if the water is high in oxygen).   Also buy an appropriate sized net when you get the fish to able to move them.  .

Corydoras Catfish:

Bronze Corydoras Black-spotted Corydoras Reticulated Corydoras
After adding the corydoras catfish you should wait about one week and then if the water conditions are still stable you may add a few tropical fish.  The selection of the types of tropical fish are as varied as their owners are. There  are:
 
Angelfish                  Black Neon               Black Tetras        Silver Hatchet fishes           Zebra Danios.....
 

     
 
 and many more types (too many to name and identify in this web page).  When buying fish it is a good idea to buy several of a each kind of fish, since fish form schools (but consult the fish store personnel, because some fish are very territorial and will kill others of their kind, such as male bettas and red-tailed sharks) for social interaction.

When looking for fish, be sure to buy them only from reputable dealers that offer guarantees.  However, you should also be cautious and look for signs that indicate that the fish you select are healthy.  Some of these signs include fish that are actively moving about their tanks, but are not scrapping themselves against the walls as if trying to scratch (this can be a sign of skin infection).  Any white tufts or spots on a fishes' body or fins is also a warning sign (this can be a fungus or bacterial infection).  Also avoid fish with obvious physical damage or deformities.

When adding fish be sure to follow the directions that most fish suppliers will provide their customers with.  But if you should lose those directions, just follow these:

First, make sure that you float the bag containing your fish in the tank for approximately 30 minutes.  This is done so that the temperature inside the tank and the bag will equalize.  Next, spill out the water with the fish into a small clean plastic container, that will hold about twice the amount of water that is inside the bag.  Slowly introduce water from your fish tank into this plastic container, adding a few ounces at a time over about one-half hour.  When the container is almost full, scoop the fish out with a net and quickly release them into the tank, but move only one-to-two fish at a time if possible.  Refill the tank to its previous level.  DO NOT ADD ANY WATER FROM THE PET STORE TO YOUR FISH TANK.  Don't worry if the fish appear to be hiding, this is a normal response, and once they realize that this is their new home, they will start swimming about.


TOP OF PAGE