Things You'll Need
- Aquarium
- Fish
Instructions
Buy the biggest aquarium you can afford. With large tanks, you can arrange versatile landscapes with adequate space for a good number of fish. It also allows you to manage a growing community more easily.
Research the various species you want to keep. You want your fishes to belong to the same type of environment in terms of water quality and temperature. You also want them to have similar feeding habits, behavioral tendencies and landscaping preferences. The more similar their requirements, the easier to keep them all happy and healthy.
Plan your community. You can choose to bring together a harmonious combination of peaceful fishes that include surface-feeding labyrinth fish, middle-feeding schooling fish, and bottom-feeding substrate sifters. With the presence of both diurnal and nocturnal species, you will have the pleasure of watching fish activity even under a nightlight.
Set up the tank with your community plan in mind. Cycle the tank for about a week or so before introducing your chosen fishes.
Purchase a few fish at a time. Build your community gradually so that the resident fishes can acclimatize to their environment before new tankmates disrupt their harmony. Give the fish time to settle down by keeping disturbances to a minimum.
Be attentive to the nuances of the community. When particular fishes display aggressive behavior, remove them immediately. Isolate those that show signs of sickness before they contaminate the others.
Always maintain the best water conditions, feed regularly and clean the tank as necessary. Remember that the community can only thrive in the best environment that you can provide.