Raising Animals in an Aquatic Tank

More than 10 million U.S. households have pets in aquatic tanks, according to the American Pet Products Association. These tanks house many types of fish, shellfish, reptiles and amphibians. They also make fancy centerpieces for a room at home or an easy way for young students to care for a class pet. When raising animals in an aquatic tank, consider their environment and nutrition by carefully designing and maintaining the tank and feeding them appropriate foods.

  1. Goldfish and Guppies

    • As the most common freshwater aquarium pets, goldfish and guppies need little maintenance and peacefully coexist in tanks together. Goldfish and guppies can survive in any size tank but will die without conditioners that dechlorinate the water. Replenish the water at least once a month or whenever dead fish or too much food pollute the tank. Avoid overcrowding the tank with fish and keep it indoors and away from direct sunlight. Carefully add a pinch of fish flake food to the tank once a day but never overfeed the fish.

    Saltwater Tanks

    • Using large saltwater tanks helps to keep water chemically balanced and provides ample space for a variety of fish. Most saltwater tanks hold 30 to 55 gallons of water. Saltwater tanks need filters to clean the water continually and heaters to maintain the temperature. Carefully select marine animals for your saltwater tank that will inhabit the tank without eating each other. Avoid mixing small fish with larger ones that can easily swallow them. Fish that have fewer similarities and relations to each other tend to get along better. Feeding freshwater fish varies, depending on the specific fish. Herbivores eat plants and algae, carnivores prefer smaller fish, shrimp or blood worms, and omnivores eat both plant- and meat-based foods.

    Frogs

    • Frogs make low maintenance pets for aquatic tanks, and you can watch them develop from tadpoles. Choose a tank size based on the amount of frogs you have and dechlorinate the water as you would with a freshwater aquarium. The tank should stay out of the sun but have exposure to a fluorescent light that provides the frog with vitamin D3. Make sure to use a proper screened lid for your aquatic tank and secure it tightly to keep the frog safe. Every few days, frogs should eat crickets, which you can find at any pet store, or supplement with calcium gut pellets.

    Salamanders and Newts

    • For newts and salamanders, design an aquatic tank that has separate areas for land and water. Use a partition to divide the habitats or just add an island or lily pad to the water. Secure a ventilated lid on the tank to prevent the animals from escaping. Salamanders and newts enjoy a diet of bloodworms, night crawlers and brine shrimp every few days. Use a filter along with cleaning the tank and changing the water each week.