Do Fish Make Good Pets?
Puppies are cute little balls of energy. Kittens are adorable, and baby bunnies make most people just want to go “ahh.” But, not everyone is looking for those adorable, cuddly animals.
Some prefer birds they can train to talk while others opt for a more docile pet like the guinea pig. But, what about fish? Are they really good pets?
Sure, fish can’t fetch or go for walks, but if you’re the kind of person who doesn’t like getting up early in the morning to take Fido outside to go to the bathroom or who abhors the thought of changing a dirty litter box, a fish might just be your ideal pet.
Therapeutic. Pets can have a therapeutic affect on their owners, and fish are no different. Simply sitting back and watching (and even talking to) your fish can help you relieve the stress of your day and allow you the relaxation you need.
Studies have actually shown that fish can help people calm down which, in turn, can help lower blood pressure. The next time you feel stressed, sit down and imagine the calm humming of an aquarium and the soothing gurgles of the bubbles. Calming image, isn’t it?
No pets allowed. If you live in a rental, you’re probably all too familiar with the concept of “no pets allowed.” But, have you asked your landlord or apartment management if you can have pet fish?
Chances are you’ll be allowed to have an aquarium with fish, though individual landlords and management companies may have restrictions on how big of an aquarium is allowed.
Roommates. People who live with roommates often find that getting a pet can be a sticky subject. There are some people who just do not like animals or who may be allergic to certain animals. In that case, you may find that a happy compromise is an aquarium of fish.
Allergies. Unfortunately, some people can’t have pets with fur or feathers because of severe allergies, making fish an ideal option.
Limited space. If you live in a tight space, fish may well be the perfect pet. While you can purchase a small aquarium to fit your space, make sure the tank has plenty of room for your fish to swim freely.
Less maintenance. Most pet owners know how much work it takes to care for a pet. Fish, however, are lower maintenance pets who require feeding and cleaning of their tanks. However, before you purchase fish, do some research to make sure the different types of fish you want can get along peacefully.
The last thing you want is to buy fish that are not compatible and that will eat each other.
Still not convinced? Talk with other people who have pet fish and find out what they like (and don’t like) about having fish. Go to your local pet store and talk to an associate who is knowledgeable about fish, and just browse the aquariums to get a better feel for whether or not you think you would like to add an aquarium to your home.
Aquariums, Fish Tanks & Fish Supplies
An aquarium or fish tank can not survive in a vacuum. Neither can the fish. For the fish to have a happy and healthy existence they are going to need a lot more than someone pouring a bucket of water into a tank.
The tank must be maintained properly and the key to this is purchasing the proper inventory of fish tank supplies.
Fish tanks supplies are not necessarily expensive nor are they add ons that the tank could do without. There are some items that are a major must have for the tank to function properly.
Common indispensable fish tank supplies include various types of filters, air pumps (internal or external), gravel, a fresh water testing kit, a heater, etc. Clearly non these mentioned items would ever be dismissed as unessential.
Regarding fish tank supplies, consider the following analogy: a fish tank’s survival is similar to the survival of a start up business. Two of the main reasons a start of business fails is because of lack of capitalization and lack of understanding of the marketplace.
Lack of capitalization refers to the fact that there is not enough money available to keep the business afloat. Lack of understanding of the marketplace is a nice way to say the person running the business had to idea what they were doing.
How is this similar to fish tank supplies? Instead of under capitalization, the fish tank suffers from lack of fish tank supplies.
In terms of lack of understanding the marketplace the fish tank owner either did not know enough about maintaining pet fish that they didn’t purchase enough fish tank supplies or they purchased the supplies but did not know how to utilize them properly. Both of these situations should be easily avoided if one takes the issue of supplies with the utmost seriousness.
There are some fish tank supplies that would help make the process of maintaining an aquarium more convenient and tolerable. These fish tank supplies should be considered as necessities for any fish keeper. Let’s take a look at them.
* Methaline blue. Methaline blue is applied to the new supply of water to make the fishes hardier. Additionally, since it would give the water a bluish color (hence its name), your aquarium would look more pristine and fresh.
* Anti-chlorine. Tired of having to prepare fresh water at least 12 hours before replacing the old supply? Anti-chlorine quickens the process by eliminating harmful chlorine with a few drops per gallon of water. You’d only have to wait an hour before you could replace the old water with the new supply.
* Aquatic vacuum cleaner. You won’t have to dig up the gravel to clean the particles. With an aquatic vacuum cleaner, you could just suck the dirt that has accumulated in the pebbles or the sand, without having to remove them from the fish tank.
* Glass cleaner. Much like a window cleaner, you could clean up the inner sides of the aquarium glass with this accessory. Don’t add soap though, as this is poisonous for the fishes.
* Nets. It would be very difficult to transport the fishes by hand. You’d need to capture them with nets. These fish tank supplies come in a variety of sizes, and there should be one perfect for the size of each fish you’re keeping.
* Filtration system. A good filtration system would control the buildup of unwanted particles in the fish tank. This, of course, would leave fewer particles for you to clean up.
* Plastic buckets. Whether you’re transporting water or providing a temporary place for your fishes while cleaning up the fish tank, plastic buckets are indispensable fish tank supplies for your needs.
Keeping Fish Comfy (and Alive) With An Aquarium Heater
Aquariums are simulated environments. Every living condition in the natural habitat, or at least a good majority of them, should be approximated in the fish tank to ensure our aquatic pets’ great wellbeing.
Though some variables may be allowed, there shouldn’t be too grave a discrepancy, least the fishes would terribly suffer. Hence, fish keepers make it a point to monitor the pH level, the salinity level, and other conditions present in the aquarium.
One of the most important of these conditions is temperature. Temperature varies based on geography and season. And a good number of fish depend on certain temperature. Case in point: salmon migrate in accordance with the solstice.
Turtles migrate in accordance with cold waves. And whales travel thousand of miles to find water with the right temperature conducive to mating.
It is a fact that certain fish require a certain degree of temperature, otherwise, things could potentially become fatal for them. If you just want to keep fishes for pets without the desire to breed them, temperature that mimics a tropical climate can be considered as a universal barometer of what is proper.
This becomes a problem, however, if you’re living in cold places, or during vicious winter when the climate can even freeze the water.
What can be done to enjoy your fish keeping hobby?
Thankfully, you could always use a fish tank heater. A fish tank heater can moderate the temperature inside the aquarium to a level that will promote good health for your fish, regardless of the climate outside of the simulated environment.
There is a control panel on the heater itself, situated outside the fish tank. Simply input the temperature level you desire, and the fish tank heater would take care of the rest.
This device is quite essential for North American and Canadian fish keepers, where the climate can be harshly cold in the northeastern regions, and very much dry in the southwestern parts.
A fish tank heater would balance out the varying climatic conditions and guarantee the perfect temperature for the optimal growth of your fish. Best of all, this benefit can be enjoyed throughout the year, regardless of the changing seasons.
Indeed, a heater will most certainly be a great investment on your part. You don’t have to sacrifice your passion for fish keeping because of some geographic and seasonal concerns. With an aquarium heater, you could always turn the odds to your favor.
Fish Tank Pumps
Purchasing the proper fish tank pump is something that has a tendency to be neglected by novices to the joys of owning pet fish.
A pump is very important to maintaining the health of the fish (tropical fish in particular) as the pump circulates the water and aids in creating a livable environment and ecosystem for the fish.
As such, choosing the right fish tank is important and not something that should be undertaken lightly. Do not purchase the first or cheapest pump that presents itself first. That’s just not smart shopping.
Concentrate on selecting the fish pump that is both right for the fish’s owner’s needs as well as the health of the fish.
When it comes to the choice of a fish tank pump there are two primary tank pumps: an internal fish tank pump and an external fish tank pump. Each of these two pumps have their positives.
Deciding on which one to select is a matter of personal preferences and individual needs. While the primary job of both pumps is the same, both pumps have some slight difference besides one being places inside a tank and the other being placed outside a tank.
Internal pumps have the benefit of being the easier fish tank pump to hook up and are, by and large, less expensive than the external pump. External pumps have the benefit of being much quieter than an internal pump.
This provides more variety to the choice of rooms one can place the fish tank as noise does not become an issue. Also, external pumps give off less heat than an internal fish tank pump.
Selecting a proper fish tank pump is not the most difficult decision to make in life, but it is not a decision that should be made flippantly. Pet fish can provide a lot of joy to one’s life so it’s a wise idea to keep the fish happy and healthy.
Fish Tank Maintenance
The main things required for fish tank maintenance are both keeping the tank clean and a proper environment conducive to the health of the fish in the tank.
The first step one must take is order to achieve this goal of fish tank maintenance is to set a schedule for cleaning and inspecting the tanks and stick to that schedule!
The schedule should include distinct daily, weekly, monthly and yearly tasks. It is when one gets lazy and stops taking care of the responsibilities they should be caring for that disasters occur. You should not see you fish die because of negligence in regards to keeping a fish tank maintenance schedule.
Your schedule should consist of proper feeding (there is a specific art and science to feeding fish correctly), maintaining water health, observing and cleaning the water filter, and being on the look out for anything that appears out of the ordinary in terms of how your fish are acting.
Probably the best thing one can do to keep up his or her duties of fish tank maintenance is to learn as much as one can about the subject. Skim the net, read magazines, purchase books on the subject…whatever one can do.
If one has an expert level of knowledge in regards to fish tank maintenance, then one will be able to eliminate problems before they occur. And eliminating problems before they happen is almost always the best course of action to take.