Tropical Fish are Fun, Economical and Easy to Keep Pets

Of all of the pets that we humans like to have live with us, tropical fish are probably the most rewarding, low maintenance pets we can bring into our homes. Not only is a properly maintained and cared for aquarium beautiful as a living room addition, just watching the fish swim in their watery environment is said to be by many doctors a stress-reducing therapeutic activity. (You've probably seen aquariums in many doctor's offices).

There are all kinds of advantages for keeping tropical fish as pets. Obviously there is no fur, feathers or "accidents" to clean up around the home. There are no expensive trips to the veterinarian and fish don't need to be exercised every day. And they certainly won't escape. Tropical fish do not make any noise and they don't eat very much and are not fussy about their food. Also, an aquarium is suitable for almost anyone's living arrangement. A tropical fish aquarium will fit as comfortably in a tiny apartment as it will in a giant mansion. The care of the tank and the fish are the same.

The time required caring for your new pets and their home is minimal. They only need to be fed once or preferably twice a day. You will also need to spend an hour or two once a week to test the water quality and make any needed adjustments to keep the water sparkling clean and healthy for your fish. Every three to four weeks a partial water change (about 25%) is imperative to the health of your fish. You should also change the carbon filter at this time. The outside filters that use carbon filter cartridges are a snap to change. The water will stay beautifully clean if you change the filter on a regular basis. The type of filter you purchase will tell you the recommended routine for replacement. Also, if you have an algae problem, you're going to want to scrub down the inside walls of the tank with an algae scrubber periodically. This task only takes a few minutes of time.

After the initial outlay, an aquarium doesn't require a lot of money for its upkeep. The main capital will go towards purchasing the tank and accessories. This will be your biggest expense. The day to day running and replacement costs are usually minimal. After the set up and running of you new aquarium, your next expense is purchasing the fish. Tropical freshwater fish are typically cheaper to keep than tropical marine fish since the prices for marine fish are higher than their freshwater counterparts. Also, the expense of setting up and maintaining a saltwater aquarium is much higher than that of a freshwater tank, and also a bit more complicated to properly care for. For beginners, a freshwater tropical aquarium is normally recommended.

Once your tank is stocked, the running costs are generally low. Only a small amount of electricity will be needed by the heater once the proper temperature has been reached. The tank light should also be shut off at night, not only to conserve power, but to give the fish a normal night and day environment. And although air filters, aerators and pumps must be run constantly, these items consume only a few watts of power. When buying fish food, try to buy in the larger sizes as this will save you money in the long run. But don't skimp on your fish's food. Buy a variety of good quality tropical fish food such as flakes, freeze dried tubifex worms and baby shrimp, and also occasional live food such as brine shrimp and blood worms. The type of food you buy will be determined by the species of fish you own. This variety will help to keep your fish fit and healthy.

There are many benefits of fish keeping. As already stated, just by watching the fish is very relaxing. And as you become involved in the daily running and care of the aquarium, you will start to acquire new skills and knowledge about your fish and the maintenance of their home. Your fish's behavior may spark an interest in biology, and by studying their original habitats, your geological knowledge will be expanded. If you have children, fish keeping can be an important part of their learning development due to the responsibility of caring for the welfare of other living things. It can be an ideal introduction to a youngster about animal care.

Keeping tropical fish can also be addictive! I started with my first aquarium when I was eleven years old after begging my parent's permission. It was just a small ten gallon tank, but I loved it and soon became hooked. To this day, 35 years later, I still have my aquariums with me at home. It is a very rewarding hobby, and you'll always learning something new about your tropical fish pets.