Choosing Your Tropical Fish
Now, before you start choosing your tropical fish, it’s maybe worth mentioning that not all tropical fish can be kept together in the same aquarium. There are some that have special water needs, and there are some that can be very aggressive, although by and large, most can get along.
The best way of starting to populate your home aquarium is by buying what is called community fish, like Guppies and Catfish. These are normally quite active fellows in the aquarium, they look great, you have a good range of choice, and they’re not al that expensive to buy.
Cichlids, Discus, and other freshwater tropical fish species tend to have some special needs, like particular water conditions or habitat. The Piranha fish can also be considered to be a specialised breed because they are very aggressive. Betta Fish (Siamese Fighting Fish) also have a reputation for being aggressive, but they do usually tend to get on OK with the neighbours.
Gouramis and certain kinds of Catfish, although sociable enough, can expand large enough for a medium sized fish tank. They are not so easy to buy now as in the past, and it’s probably just as well, as they could outgrow the fish tank and pollute the water. These species are best left to experts & marine biologists. There are some good Tropical Fish Books for Discus and Betta.
Other Creatures and Plants
There are other creatures you can put in your home aquarium, such as invertebrates, but they do need meticulous care and maintenance. Tropical fish keeping is easy to deal with, but if you introduce marine slugs and snails, they have special needs for them to live in a mock habitat.
Aquatic plants such as Amazon Swords will develop in any kind of home aquarium providing they have enough light and ground to root in. But remember, if you start off with a ready-planted aquarium, you need to make sure that you give the plants enough light, ground and water conditions for them to develop. But more than anything else, have fun with your new aquarium.
