Caring for Saltwater Aquarium Fish
Caring for Saltwater Aquarium Fish
Saltwater aquarium fish are, as a general rule, somewhat more difficult to care for than more standard pond-raised and store-raised specimens. They can be quite a bit more expensive as well. Saltwater fish and invertebrates are always captured in the wild--never raised in captivity. What this means to you, the hobbyist fish-keeper, is that your saltwater aquarium fish cannot deal with radical changes in their immediate environment, which basically entails chemical changes in their water, and that there is a very large risk of harming, even killing such fish whenever they are transported, or moved from their immediate water during cleaning. As equipment goes, saltwater aquariums are exactly the same as regular ones. It is, however, more important with a saltwater aquarium fish not to sacrifice quality when you're in the initial purchasing of the tank and equipment.. Cheap gear can kill your fish, you get what you pay for. Despite what you may have heard, you do not need a filtration system that works beneath the tank's gravel. You do, however, need to purchase crushed coral instead of gravel, a hydrometer, and a sea-salt mixture, so as to better approximate the saltwater fish's home environment. While saltwater aquarium fish are a bit more expensive and somewhat more difficult to maintain, the task is far from impossible. Also, the difficulty of maintaining your aquarium will depend greatly on what sort of saltwater fish you've got in your menagerie. Some species are hardy and more resistant to disease, such as the Royal Gramma Basslet, or the Spotted Cardinal. Others are so delicate that even expert aquarium keepers have problems with them--A good retailer will steer the newbie saltwater fish enthusiast away from these (Or at least warn them.) Your saltwater aquarium can be any size, but keep in mind that the saltwater aquarium fish you're purchasing come from the wild, and should be afforded at least a reasonable amount of space. You should not, however, buy a tank too big for your to personally attend to--if your household budget only allows for quality fish-care in a twenty gallon tank, by all means, don't buy one that takes up an entire wall. Once you've decided on a tank, and have the filtration system working, the water mixed with the sea-salt solution, etc., you can purchase your saltwater aquarium fish. Don't do this before you set the tank up! It is crucial that they spend a minimal amount of time in transport, and they don’t refrigerate well either. However expensive (or otherwise) of a setup you purchase, please remember to feed the fish.