So you have set up your aquarium. Or you’re ready to set up your tank, and you need a whole host of swimming, happy aquarium freshwater fish to fill it, right? Well, slow down and decide exactly what sort of fish you want in there.

Possibly you are looking for fast moving, shoaling fish that will constantly entertain you by darting around the tank. Or maybe your interest lies with brightly coloured species.   Or possibly its none of these. However you look at it you’re going to fish for a fish tank.

If you intend to have a few breeds together then you should take time to select the right fish. You risk fish loss if you don’t do some research before buying anything!

Research: Nothing Complicated

Staff at a fish supply store should be able to tell you a lot about what you need to keep your potential fish happy and healthy in their tank, and you might find that they’re more knowledgeable then you previously expected.

Here are a few questions that you should ask:

  • Does this fish like open areas, or plenty of plants?
  • Does this fish prefer alkaline or acidy water (Lower pH verses higher pH)?
  • Does this fish get along with others?
  • What are this fish’s feeding preferences?
  • Is this fish a top or bottom feeder?
  • Does this fish need a lot of space?
  • What temperature does this fish thrive in?

If you want more then one species of fish in the same tank, try to match these as closely as possible. Your tank is going to have a much better future if you get this as close as possible.

While we could give you the breeds of fish, you’re just going to get confused – and you won’t really be able to fall in love with the fish this way. We recommend a much better option.   Head for your local fish supplier and see what they have. Heck, go to several in your area! Talk to the resident expert and write down the names of the fish you like and their requirements.
At home read up on the fish you have just seen to find the species that best match, cross check this with the information you just gleaned from the fish store.   This way you will know which are the best fish species for you.

We All Love Food

Not everyone takes account of the food needs of community fish. Different fish eat at different levels – some prefer the top some the bottom.
Mixing these are just fine, but try to avoid aggressive top feeders – pellets that go to the bottom might not get to the bottom feeders!
Try to choose fish with similar dietary needs, and a group that doesn’t steal together will live happily together, and happy fish tend to live longer and be brighter. You also want to try and ensure that your fish aren’t going to eat each other while you’re away. This is completely serious, and there is a risk.

Smaller fish getting bitten by other aggressive fish is another serious risk. Fish with long extended fins are almost always targets. You should match levels of aggression this usually produces a good match. Big bullies know when to retreat so serious confrontations can be avoided.

Aggression Problems

With the exception of less aggressive varieties you should try to avoid pairing more than one male, males tend to be aggressive to each other. Even fish with similar colors can sometimes set it off, so be careful who you pair with whom. Several females to one male usually works best, but it does really depend.

The Cardinal Sin

You should never never ever just take pot luck when stocking your community tank. A lot of owners do this and sadly reap the consequences. Don’t leave it to chance – the road to disaster, do your research and your fish will live happily for a very long time.

John A Thomson is a freshwater fish expert. For more great tips on freshwater aquarium fish visit freshwateraquariumsecretsonline.com