tropical fish collecting

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grass guppies

Tropical fish collecting is a hobby enjoyed by fish owners country wide. If you have a simple freshwater fish tank or a sprawling seawater fish tank, taking care of your own aquarium is a rewarding and gratifying pursuit. Not only do you get to enjoy the company of a diversity of different fish, but you get to care for your own little window into the natural world. I'll tell you a few tips on tropical fish collecting to help you get started.

The first step to start your own fish tank is to find the right supplies. These include gravel or sand for the base and a diversity of plants, pieces of driftwood or stones. Also necessary is a fine heater, a thermometer, a filter and a quality test kit for examining levels of elements such as ammonia, calcium, nitrate and more. This concept applies to both freshwater and saltwater tanks.

The type of gravel or sand that you select can be very crucial for both your fish and your overall sense of aesthetics. For gravel, there is a broad choice of colours, textures, sizes, and more. Not only is it some kind of base necessary for grounding plants, logs, and other furnishing, but some species of fish really use it to lay eggs in.

Choosing the right plants for your fish tank is a significant part of tropical fish collecting. Live plants provide your fish tank with much required oxygen and are useful for fish to glide against, hide behind or sleep near. 

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Dwarf rasbora

However, keep in mind that if you have any herbivorous or omnivorous fish, they may eat your live plants if you don't include a vegetable supplement with their food. Fake plants also come in a broad diversity of shapes, sizes, and colours if you'd like some more variety.

Similarly, driftwood and large rocks can provide your fish with much required privacy and sleeping spots.

Once you've completed these essentials, it is time to begin your tropical fish collecting. Many new fish tank owners start with simple fish such as tetras, guppies, and rasboras. 

Once you've kept these fish healthy and pleased for a few months, you can start cautiously introducing new fish into your environment. Keeping in mind that some species of freshwater fish are rather aggressive and may not be well-matched with your fish. 

Also, if you have a diversity of small fish, avoid including bigger predators, such as cichlids, as you may wake up to find your fish tank empty except for one lone, smug fish.  

Learn more about tropical fish collecting on my blog. I hope this article was of some use to you. Please browse around the site and review some other articles.