| If you're getting into the hobby of running | | | | recessed or seeming small, or "filmed over" - |
| an aquarium, particularly of the salt-water | | | | the eye of a fish is the most common place |
| variety, understand that there's more to it | | | | for infections to show symptoms, and it's |
| than simply putting a bunch of water and fish | | | | worth checking over the course of a week or |
| into a fishbowl. Talk to your ADMA certified | | | | so at the store to make sure the fish is |
| pet store about handling requirements for | | | | healthy. The soft tissues around the mouth |
| specific kinds of fish, how to maintain the | | | | are another place where fungal or bacterial |
| pH (percent Hydroxide, or acidy) of the | | | | infections can show, and it's better to find |
| water, and what levels of salinity are needed | | | | out about them at the store. Mouth injuries |
| to keep everything working nicely. | | | | can also affect the fish's willingness to |
| | | | feed itself. |
| Fish for saltwater aquariums are rated by | | | | |
| their difficulty to handle, and how quickly | | | | For overall body characteristics, make sure |
| they adapt to new circumstances. The five | | | | that the fish is moving fluidly - that it's |
| categories for handling are Beginner, | | | | passing water through its gills regularly, |
| Intermediate Skill Required, Reef Only, | | | | rather than spasmodically. Check for tears |
| Advanced Skill Required, and Requirements | | | | and raggedness on the fins; this can be a |
| Unknown. Make sure that your selected fish | | | | sign that it's fought with other tank mates, |
| meet the skill requirements you'll need to | | | | or that it's suffering from ammonia burns |
| thrive and survive in your aquarium, by | | | | from improper filtration. Check the |
| talking to the store owner. | | | | abdominal region and the scales; if the |
| | | | abdomen is "fat", the fish is eating well, |
| When looking at fish in the store, take the | | | | and can probably adjust to the shocks of |
| time to observe them for a while before | | | | moving to a new tank. If the abdomen is |
| buying. Far better to find out that the fish | | | | sunken in, the fish isn't eating well and may |
| is sick or injured before you buy it than | | | | not be viable. Likewise the coloration and |
| after you've taken it home. Comparison shop | | | | status of the scales should be smooth and |
| between multiple stores. | | | | even; missing scales and discolored blotches |
| | | | are signs of infection, particularly when |
| There are some easy to check items that will | | | | matched with spasmodic gill action. |
| help you get the most pleasure out of setting | | | | |
| up your aquarium, and help make sure that the | | | | Finally, don't neglect plants for your |
| fish you get is healthy; all of them boil | | | | aquarium, but do make sure that they aren't |
| down to checking the behavior and appearance | | | | ones that will cause problems with your new |
| of the fish before you buy. | | | | fish! Again, talk to the fish store owner to |
| | | | make sure that the plants and fish are |
| In particular, look at the eyes - the eyes | | | | compatible! |
| should be bright, and active, rather than | | | | |