| Many Tropical Fish Keeps make the same | | | | All fish have different dietary needs; many fish |
| mistake day in day out when trying to run a | | | | are fine being fed flake all their lives and will never |
| Tropical Aquarium. | | | | have any problems. However, others tropical fish |
| It is hard to know what you need to do to keep | | | | need their diet supplementing. |
| your fish apply? No. | | | | A typical example of a fish requiring a specific diet |
| Do you need to know at least the basics on how | | | | are Oscars, they require a varied diet of |
| to look after these beautiful creatures? Yes, | | | | processed and live food in order to stay in good |
| absolutely! | | | | condition indeed diseases such as 'hole in the head |
| Here are the basic, but crucial requirements you | | | | disease' have been linked to not feeding this |
| need to get the most out of your Cichlid's, | | | | species the correct diet. African cichlids should not |
| Oscars, Tiger Barbs and whatever else you have | | | | be fed foods such as bloodworm as Malawian |
| in your aquarium. | | | | bloat can develop which is deadly and incurable. |
| 1.Water quality | | | | And Discus should be fed a high protein diet. |
| Fish excrete a toxin called ammonia from their | | | | Ensuring that you are feeding your fish the |
| gills, faeces and urine. This is highly toxic to fish | | | | correct food is a sure way of keeping them in a |
| and if allowed to reach levels above 0.2mg/L it will | | | | healthy condition. |
| kill your Tropical fish. Once your filter is mature a | | | | 4. Compatible tank mates |
| bacteria called nitrosommona will establish itself, | | | | It goes without saying that some fish simply |
| not only on your filters bio media but also on | | | | cannot be kept in the same aquarium together, |
| most surfaces of your aquarium i.e. plastic plants, | | | | because of differing water requirements i.e. hard |
| gravel, and rocks. This bacteria will break down | | | | or soft acidic or alkaline or because of aggression. |
| ammonia (NH2) in to nitrite (NO2) Nitrite is still | | | | For example many of the African Mbuna (rock |
| very toxic to fish as it inhibits the fishes ability for | | | | dwellers) cannot be kept with other more |
| its blood to carry oxygen. Once nitrite is in your | | | | peaceful cichlids simply because of their |
| aquarium water another bacteria called Nitrobacter | | | | aggressive nature nor can male Siamese fighting |
| will establish, this will break down the Nitrite into | | | | fish be kept with other males or even fish of the |
| Nitrate. Nitrate is reasonably safe for most | | | | same colouration. |
| species and will be diluted through weekly water | | | | There are many different fish available and some |
| changes; try to keep nitrate levels below 40ppm | | | | are best kept in species only aquariums where |
| as over 60ppm will start to stress fish. | | | | their exacting needs can be met. If you would like |
| 2. Correct type of water for the species | | | | a typical community aquarium with mixed species |
| Fish available on the market today come from all | | | | of fish there are many different beautiful options |
| over the world ranging from Africa to Australia. | | | | available such as Danios, Tetras, Gouramis, |
| All these species of fish require different water | | | | Corydora all these species will live happily with |
| types, for example African Cichlids typically | | | | each other. |
| require Hard and alkali water; whereas cichlids | | | | If you plan on keeping more aggressive species |
| from south America prefer soft and acidic water. | | | | then I would recommend a large aquarium with |
| If your aquarium water does not match your | | | | plenty of places to hide, you should also regularly |
| fishes requirements problems with their health are | | | | move the decoration around in your aquarium so |
| inevitable. If you would like to keep African cichlids | | | | that a particular fish cannot set up a territory. |
| and the water in your area is soft and acidic, then | | | | 5. Right size aquarium for the right fish |
| you can use decoration such as ocean rock which | | | | Always do your research before you purchase |
| will slowly harden and raise the pH of your water. | | | | any Tropical Fish, although they may look small in |
| Alternatively if you would like to keep discus, | | | | the fish shop often they will quickly out grow |
| which originate from the Amazon, adding peat into | | | | most typical aquariums typical examples of this |
| your filter and decorating the aquarium with bog | | | | are giant Gourami, Oscars and some species of |
| wood will help soften and reduce the pH. | | | | Cichlid. |
| 3.Correct food | | | | |