There are many people who want to keep pets. Among all the pets, fish could be a wonderful pets. They do not ask much from us. They are beautiful and soothing to watch and they are fun to have around. Even better, you can always manage more fish than you would ever be able to deal with lots of puppies or kittens at the one time! Enjoying of having a pet fish is simple. In order to pet a fish it is important to take good care of your fish, feed them regularly and give them an interesting environment to live in.
Caring for your fish
You must be sure enough about your tank which should be big enough to hold your fish. The little betta bowls at pet shops are not big enough even for one fish.
You must take good care of your fish. If your fish is a happy fish then your pet fish will be more alert, active, and colorful and will live longer. You can take the help of “How to take care of your fish” article or book as a guide. In particular, you need to do a good research on the specific needs of the fish in your tank. You must always use a filter to keep things clean and make sure that your fish have enough room.
You must feed your pet fish a varied diet. You will be amazed to know that proper nutrition is part of good care and it will have a marked effect on the color and behavior of your fish. You must try to feed breed-specific food mixed with nutritious treats such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, algae wafers and even fresh veggies.
You can also do a research on which foods your fish like best before trying anything new. You must feed small portions twice a day and your fish may come to associate you with food, darting out to greet you when you walk by.
You should try to create a beautiful environment in which you are likely to keep the fish. A well designed aquarium will not only be pleasant to look at but also decorations and plants will give your fish an interactive habitat.
You should be gentle and should never startle your fish or tap on the glass. This behavior of yours will only teach them to hide when you walk by. You should try to avoid frequent, large water changes as these can send your fish into shock. Instead, you must maintain your water chemistry with weekly small (10-25%) water changes.
It is very important to spend time with your fish. You should find a comfortable spot nearby and watch your fish. You can even settle in and let the gentle movement relax you. Your fish tanks are great stress relievers, and beautiful living works of art. With time, you will get attached with your pet fish and you would be able to know each fish individually, and may even be able to spot illness in time to treat it.
You should try to train your fish. If you hold patience and your fish is willing then it may be possible for you to train your fish to do basic tricks.
You can even get a flake of fish food and put it next to your fish tank and then put your finger in the water. Putting your wet finger on the flake of food and it should stick there. You must be sure that your finger is not too wet, just damp.
You can hover your finger just over the water and wait. Your pet fish should jump up and get its food. If your fish does not jump then it may not be big enough.
Broadening your Fish Varieties
After keeping a pet fish you can now experiment with different kinds of fish. For example: - A single betta or goldfish can be beautiful to watch and these fishes are considered to be intelligent fish who often form bonds with their caretakers. These and other solitary fish like bettas, goldfish, and oscars can often be taught simple tricks and many will perform entertaining antics without any encouragement.
You will be busy if you have a large tank with many community fish. Small schooling fish, such as danios and tetras, will interact with one another and often chasing each other about. You can even mix large groups for dazzling color combinations or even can create one large school. If you plan carefully then many different kinds of fish can be kept peacefully and their individual personalities will delight you.
Guppies are prolific breeders and come in every color and pattern you can imagine. They do great in a tank of their own and get along with most community fish too.
You should not forget about invertebrates. While not strictly fish, small shrimp and apple snails are fascinating to watch. Ghost shrimp have transparent bodies and when they eat you can see their organs working. These invertebrates will also help keep everything clean, eating algae off the walls, and the leftover food from the tank floor, and should get along with most fish.