I want to get some fish, and a small tank. I know NOTHING about fish, and only want small ones. Help?
Where do I get started? I'm sorry but I know absolutely nothing about fish so you'll have to explain everything to me in very simple language! I wanna know what I need and basically everything about owning fish.
what is a pump and filter for? do you need these? how long do fish live for? what's the different between fresh water fish, warm water cool water etc. fish?
thanks
Pleaseee hehe
full points for best answer
cheers
XXXXXXXX
The Pokey Cow2009-03-18T13:26:50Z
Favorite Answer
Start with a 10g tank or larger.
A filter cleans the water, but you'll still have to do weekly water changes with a gravel vacuum:
http://www.arcatapet.com/fullsize/10749.jpg
Pumps hooked up to tubes and decorations basically create more oxygen in the water. It makes the tank healthier, but one is not necessary as long as you have decent water disturbance from your filter.
Fish can live short lives (bettas, 3 years) to long lives (goldfish, 20+).
Freshwater is warm water (aka tropical) and cool water. Tropical fish need heaters for temps around 78-82*F whereas cold water can do without a heater at 65*F.
Get your tank and set up all the equipment, then follow this guide:
http://www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_fishless.php
After this is completed, you can add your fish and do weekly water changes of 15-25% based on your bioload (how many fish you have and the waste they put out).
...Any little fish (that stays little) you happen to come across. Be sure to research whatever you're interested in. Little fish often become big fish (example: Oscars).
If you're going with a livebearer (fish that easily reproduce, like mollies/guppies/endlers/platies, etc.) be sure to get all males or all females. Babies may be cute, but you'll soon be overrun with them and have to get rid of them somehow--either to a pet store, culling (killing) them, feeding them to a bigger fish, or rehoming (hard to do with common fish).
Good luck! If you have any other questions, be sure to e-mail!
I agree, fish bowls are death traps and no fish will live in one for more than a few days. Unless you want to be treating a fish like they do in walmart-dont use a bowl!! Seeing as though you want small fish, you should try neon tetras. They get about 1.5 inches and do best in schools. For a school of 5, your going to need about a 10 gallon tank. Don't whine. They sell 10 gallon tanks at walmart for 13 dollars, but DON'T buy fish from there. Please. Buy them from an aquarium store where people actually know what their talking about. If you get a betta, bettas do not live in bowls. I know you'll see bowls that say 'perfect for bettas!' ignore that. their DEATH TRAPS!! As I said on your other question, bettas need a 2.5 gallon tank. Just because bettas are hardy fish don't ignore the fact that they need a filter and a heater. Neon tetras need a filter, too. Check the tempertures reccomended for fish and DO NOT mix fish who have a different requirment for temperture for water. DO NOT and I can't emphasize this enough DO NOT get a goldfish! "aww their so cute and tiny i could get about 4!!" no. the common goldfish typically grows up to 16"!! I don't think that would fit in whatever tank your getting. Plus, their VERY messy fish and raise HIGH ammonia levels which call for constant cleaning. They are not good time first fish. I hope this helps, just please, keep researching fish until you think your educated enough to take one in. Best Regaurds, ♥Nichole♥
The very first thing you need to do is to go to your local pet store, book store, or public library, and get some beginner's books on aquarium keeping. It is impossible to tell you everything you need to know here. A good beginner's book will get you off to a good start. To answer your specific questions, a pump pumps oxygen into the water, and operates those cute animated decorations like the scuba diver that goes up and down, etc. Some people say fish benefit from the extra oxygen being pumped into the water, others disagree. I like the bubbles, so I do it. A filter helps keep your water clean. Every fish produces waste, so every fish can benefit from use of a filter. Most require it. A well cared for fish kept by a knowledgeable fish-keeper can live for years. Mine tend to average about 5 years per fish. However, if you just buy a fish and throw it in some water without knowing what you're doing, that will usually result in the fish dying in weeks if not days. The main groups of fish are cold water, tropical, and marine. Cold water fish are goldfish and minnows, for example. Goldfish need no heater but very good filtration, and at least 10 gallons of water per fish. They are huge waste producers. Tropical fish require a heater and filter. Most fish you'll find at the fish store will be tropicals. These fish are what most people keep and are easiest to care for, if you learn the basics of aquarium keeping. Marine fish are salt water fish, and are only for very experienced aquarium keepers, as they are a lot harder and more expensive to care for. Most places (including Walmart) sell starter kits, with the tank, filter, heater, etc, all in one package. These aren't usually top-of-line systems, but they're okay to get you started. I'd recommend a 20 gallon tank to start with, or at least a 10 gallon. A bigger tank is usually better, because a common mistake people make is to over-stock a tank. A rule to follow is "one inch of fish per gallon of water." This is relevant to the size the fish will be when it's full grown, so if it's only one inch now, but will be 3 inches when it's full grown, you have to allow for the 3 inches. So, a 10 gallon tank will not allow you to have very many fish, when most fish are 1-2 inches when grown. Please, get some books on the subject, and you'll end up with a very successful first attempt at aquarium keeping. Good luck!
I would start with a tank of no less than 50l (10 gal) and preferably 100l as the more water you have the easier it is to maintain.
Whatever size tank you get you will need a filter suitable for at least 25litres larger than your tank (because manufacturers always state the maximum not the optimum) and if going for tropical a heater. Air pumps are not essential but I use them and would reccommed using one.
Once you have a tank you need to 'cycle' it - without fish. Read up on the Nitrogen Cycle and Fishless Cycling on any good fish forum.
After 4-6 weeks you will be ready for fish, if you want tropical then start with good, hardy, forgiving fish - what you can have will depend on tank size but good starter fish could be danios, corydoras, platys or other similar fish. Try to avoid neon tetras and guppies as these can be quite fragile.
Other things you will need: A liquid water testing kit, syphon/gravel vac, at least 1 bucket kept just for fish use, dechlorinator, thermometer, whatever substrate and decor you like and of course suitable fish food for the fish you get.
You will not need chemicals like ammo-lock, ph altering stuff etc and will only need medicines if your fish get sick.
Definitely join a fishkeeping forum for advice (preferably several!)
OK, check your other question like this for more of my answer but:
Filters are so they can help purify the water. Even though you'll need to clean it out yourself sometimes, this helps you so you wont have to clean the tank everyday, and is required for any fish.
The age of fish all depends on what kind you get and the care it's given. Bettas seem to live for 2-4 years, while my grandma took special care of hers and it lived for 6 years and outlived her, still living.
The temperture fish need all comes from their natural climate. Goldfish are naturally coldwater fish while angelfish are warm water and tropical fish.
Freshwater fish are the kinds that live in lakes and stuff without salt, and saltwater fish live in the ocean. I reccomend highly to start with a freshwater tank, saltwater tanks are extra hard to maintain..