| I wanted to talk a little bit about fish that might look | | | | dedicated hobbyist, but again, not the best first stop |
| tempting in the store, but should probably be avoided | | | | for the beginner. |
| by beginning aquarists. All of these fish have their | | | | A discus is a beautiful fish, but they can be very |
| good points too, or the fish stores wouldn't be | | | | expensive, which means that any newbie's errors you |
| stocking them at all, but it's best to have a little more | | | | make in water care, maintenance, or overcrowding |
| experience before adding these, or setting up a new | | | | are going to be very expensive for you too. I'd |
| tank for them. | | | | recommend the inexpensive angelfish instead, which |
| If I start with goldfish, you're going to say "What? | | | | are similar in shape and a little hardier. |
| Goldfish are difficult? Since when?" Well, they | | | | Birchirs are fun, but you need to remember that they |
| certainly can be if you try to put them in a tropical | | | | will eat any smaller fish they can catch up with. |
| tank with other fish. First of all, goldfish like colder | | | | Unfortunately, a birchir can grow quite rapidly, and |
| water than other tropical freshwater fish, and trying | | | | fish that weren't "smaller" when you introduced him |
| to compromise on a temperature will make both sets | | | | may soon find themselves in danger. These guys are |
| of fish unhappy. Secondly, goldfish are DIRTY | | | | also famous for jumping out of the tank. |
| – they add too much ammonia and other | | | | The plecostomus is an amiable and hardy bottom |
| wastes to the water for a delicate biological filtration | | | | feeder, but they also grow quickly, and most will |
| setup to handle, and will require you to do a LOT | | | | outgrow the standard 40- or 55-gallon tank long |
| more tank scrutiny and maintenance if you don't | | | | before you're ready to start a larger one. Similarly, |
| want a catastrophe on your hands. In short, get | | | | Bala Sharks and Hatchet Fish can grow to up to 10-12 |
| them their own tank and you're good to go. | | | | inches long before you know it. With any fish it's |
| Mollies are sweethearts, and very social, but they | | | | important to learn the maximum size they'll grow to, |
| tend to do well in water that's a little more brackish | | | | and the speed of growth, before you lay down your |
| (that is, salty) than what other tropical fish like. Like | | | | cash. |
| the goldfish, they'll be happier in a tank that's set up | | | | Like with everything else about aquariums, the key |
| specifically for their needs. Setting up a brackish | | | | to choosing the right fish is to do all the research you |
| water tank is a really interesting process for the | | | | can before adding anything new. |