Instructions
Research how to prepare a water garden for fish and how to care for the fish once you've got them. Preparation can save you from trouble down the road and the more you know about how to keep fish in a water garden, the more likely you are to succeed at it.
Find a good source for water garden fish. You may want to ask others who have fish where they bought theirs or look for a reputable store that seems to have healthy, well cared for fish. You want to find a source that offers a fish guarantee, has healthy fish and is knowledgeable about the topic.
Watch how the fish swims to see if it seems healthy. The fish should be actively swimming and should react quickly when you tap on the glass. You don't want fish that lay on the bottom, tilt when they swim or have a slow reaction to you.
Look at the fish's fins to see that they appear healthy. You don't want fish that have damaged or rotten fins. If you are buying goldfish for your water garden, make sure the fish has two anal fins as one can indicate that the other is growing inward.
Talk to the dealer to find out as much as you can about how the particular fish you are buying were kept. Ask about whether any medications have been given to them, if salt has been used in the water and where the fish come from.
Bag the fish correctly to keep them healthy on the way home. You want there to be enough water to completely cover the fish as well as some oxygen at the top of the bag. Bags that are too big can lead to folds where the fish can get caught so it's best to also get the correct sized bag.
How to Buy Water Garden Fish
Many people like to add fish to their water gardens for interest and beauty. Buying water garden fish doesn't have to be complicated, but you do want to do your research about putting fish into a water garden and buy healthy fish. With careful selections, you can have a beautiful, living water garden.