| People choose to own fish for a variety of | | | | chemicals you need to keep your tank in balance |
| reasons, but one of the main ones is the beauty | | | | adds up to a lot of extra maintenance. |
| and variety of colors, shapes, and sizes that the | | | | While many species of fish subsist just fine on |
| fish come in. Owning exotic tropical fish can add | | | | flake food or store-bought food pellets, exotic |
| to the enjoyment of an aquarium, these fish | | | | tropical fish may require live feed, and they may |
| often have more unusual color; some are bred | | | | be quite picky about the food they eat. Live food |
| specifically for their unusual colors and markings. | | | | is typically frozen or freeze dried and tends to |
| However, before you head off to spend your | | | | cost more than the usual pellets or flakes. The |
| hard-earned cash on the highest priced exotic | | | | additional feeding costs should be kept in mind |
| tropical fish you can legally get your hands on, | | | | when thinking of adding exotic tropical fish to your |
| you may want to keep the following words of | | | | aquarium. |
| caution in mind. | | | | Also, be sure to consider the life span of exotic |
| First, it should be understood that exotic tropical | | | | tropical fish. While some may live as long as ten |
| fish are quite picky about their habitat. Most | | | | years, most of these fish have a life span that |
| species can withstand slight changes in the | | | | averages a few years at best. These types of |
| chemical balance, pH levels, and bacteria and algae | | | | fish can be extremely expensive, so it is a good |
| amount of their water, but exotic tropical fish | | | | idea to consider their life span versus the cost of |
| may need very precise water conditions. Of | | | | purchasing them. Do you want to invest such a |
| course, any responsible fish owner will properly | | | | large amount on something that will only live a |
| care for the tank's pH level and watch for a | | | | few years? The decision is yours alone to make, |
| buildup of algae and bacteria, but with this type of | | | | but keep in mind that investing in exotic tropical |
| fish this might mean taking on a much higher level | | | | fish is not like investing in fine art or crystal; those |
| of maintenance. | | | | items will last possibly forever, but the fish you |
| It is common to test the water in the aquarium | | | | purchase will die after a few years. |
| once a week, or sometimes once every two | | | | All of the above points should be carefully |
| weeks, but with exotic tropical fish water may | | | | considered when thinking of adding these fish to |
| require testing at least every other day. This can | | | | your tank. It's not to advise you not to buy |
| more than double the maintenance involved! Be | | | | them, just to help you be fully prepared if you do |
| prepared for the extra time and work involved in | | | | choose to purchase them. |
| making all those adjustments, as adding the | | | | |