Selecting Fish Care Guide

SELECTING THE TYPE OF FISH YOU WANT

• Selecting fish for a newly established standard rectangular aquariums equipped with a quality power filter is not too difficult. In the beginning it should have a fish capacity of 1 inch of fish per gallon of water when it is first installed.

  An added air stone or power head can double this carrying capacity. It is the growth of two types of fish-waste eating bacteria in your filter sponge that allows your fish to live. Taller aquariums support less fish due to the decrease in the surface area of the water resulting in less oxygen in the water.

• When selecting fish, keep your initial fish purchase to no more than 25% of your aquarium's capacity. This, along with the addition of commercially available bacteria supplements like "Cycle", allow your filter to establish itself within 2 1/2 weeks of the addition of your first fish. You can then add more fish.
• After this initial two week period it is important to come to a Centre D'Animaux NATURE Pet Centre with a sample of your aquarium water in a zip-loc or baggie to be analyzed. This is a Limited Free Service to see if your filter is established.
• Keep a journal of your aquarium. Notes taken during the initial start-up and subsequent months can be useful. Comment on the behaviour of your fish so that you can recognize changes.

  While most fish fit general guidelines of behaviour for their species, there will always be one that breaks the rules. We highly recommend a water test kit to record your results. NATURE offers various test kits to suit your specific needs which is a simple way to identify problems that might arise.
  To better serve our high volume of customers on Saturdays and Sundays, we are only able to offer our Limited Free Service during the week and not on the weekends.

• Fish in a new aquarium set-up are susceptible to ICK. This is a common, deadly, but easily cured disease that takes the appearance of grains of salt usually located on their fins and tails. This should be treated immediately. Consult with your NATURE sales person for the best treatment required.

• Most fish need 3 to 4 minutes of feeding (consuming food) every day. Time your first few feedings. If there is still food floating about the tank after 4 minutes, then net out the excess and at the next feeding, feed less. If you feed twice a day, the duraton should be 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per session. Mollies and Gouramies love multiple feedings.

• Your fish's diet should contain a variety of foods for best colour and longevity. A recommended diet is:
  • 40% Base Flake food (regu;lar or colour enhancing), such as the "Nutra-Fin Max" line of foods
  • 20 - 30% frozen foods with a weekly feeding of frozen brine shrimp for all fish.
  • 30 - 40% freeze dried foods (red grubs, tubifex wormsm krill, etc...).
  • Sinking pellet type foods are good for catfish and bottom feeders.

• Tetras and Rasboras - Schools of 4 or more
• Barbs - 1 only or 4 or more
• Angels, Tri-Colour and Irridescent Sharks, Gouramies, Danios, Corydoras and catfish - 2 or more
• Livebearers (Swordtails, Platies, Guppies, Variatus and Mollies) - 2 females for each male
• Some fish, such as redtail black or rainbow sharks need a cave to hide in. Without one, they can become aggressive.