You want to choose new fish... now what? When it comes to choosing new aquarium fish, you do need to follow a few rules. We've already outlined a few for you in this article, though it's difficult to describe them all. It's a start, and we'll help you get started!
When choosing fish, consider their size, population, diet, temperament, and water parameters. Adjust these to your aquarium's specific needs to prevent problems.
1. Understand the fish's natural habitat
Choose fish that have similar natural habitats for a peaceful aquarium. One where the fish have plenty of hiding places.
It's essential to know your fish's origins, or to gain inspiration. This will help you create an aquascape that mimics their natural habitat. Fish from the same geographic area often have similar needs regarding water quality, temperature, and décor. Combining fish from different environments can cause stress due to their differing needs and negatively impact their health.
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2. Pay attention to temperament compatibility
Fish with similar temperaments create a peaceful aquarium. There are fast swimmers and slow swimmers, fast eaters and slow eaters, shy fish and sociable fish, and so on... choose fish with similar temperaments!
Each fish species has a specific behavior characteristic of that species. Some are peaceful and sociable, while others can be territorial and aggressive. Make sure you choose fish that are well-tempered. Keeping (fast) aggressive fish together with peaceful (slow) species can result in one fish being eaten.
3. Take the size of the fish into account
Make sure your fish are a good size match to prevent cannibalism and overcrowding. What fits through the mouth will go through the mouth.
Size plays a crucial role in choosing fish species. Large fish may view smaller ones as prey, while smaller ones can become stressed by the presence of larger species. You should also consider the fish's potential eventual size to prevent overcrowding and territorial conflicts.
4. Pay attention to the water parameters
Stable water parameters are essential for a healthy fish population. Therefore, make sure the fish you keep in your aquarium are compatible with each other in terms of water parameters.
Different fish have different requirements when it comes to water pH, hardness, and temperature. It's important to choose fish species that require the same water parameters. Incorrect water conditions can lead to stress and disease in your fish. Check the water quality regularly to maintain a healthy environment.
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Of course, we can't compare every type of fish and every rule in this article; there are simply too many different situations and fish species. Therefore, if you have any questions, please always contact our aquarium WhatsApp helpline >
Thanks for reading this short but powerful article! Let me know in the comments what else you think is an important rule . Thank you!
