Saltwater
Fish

Saltwater fish are good companions for:

Children under 5

Seniors

Apartments/Condos

Children ages 5–11

Busy People

Rural Homes

Life Span

The life span of saltwater fish can range from two to more than 10 years with proper care.

Typical Behavior

Saltwater fish can exhibit many different behaviors. Some, such as a lionfish, gently float along not moving much at all. Others, such as the damsel, may stay close to rocks or other hiding places, darting in and out when they sense danger. Many fish are territorial and will stake out an area of the aquarium and defend it against other fish. Some fish are considered aggressive species and should not be mixed with smaller non-aggressive fish because the smaller fish can get hurt or eaten.

Care Requirements

You must regularly clean your saltwater aquarium and feed your fish on schedule. Saltwater fish need a number of supplies and their tank chemistry and temperature must be carefully monitored. If there is an outbreak of parasite or disease in your tank, you will need to medicate your fish in a separate quarantine tank. All new fish you adopt should be quarantined for up to six weeks before introducing them to your main tank as a precaution against introducing a new infection to your tank.

Proper Habitat and Habitat Maintenance Requirements

You will need a fish tank – the most popular sizes for saltwater fish are between 30 and 55 gallons – rocks or other obstacles in the tank in which your fish may hide, and saltwater. When choosing your saltwater tank, be cautious of where you plan to put it. Larger tanks can be very heavy when filled with water and you shouldn’t expect to move it. You also will want to keep your tank out of direct sunlight and remember that you will need ample room for all the accessories a saltwater tank requires.

The amount of salt in the water (salinity) depends on the temperature of the tank which should be kept between 79 – 85 degrees Fahrenheit. A general rule of thumb is one-half cup of sea salt for every gallon of water. Never use tap water to make your saltwater, as the chlorine in tap water will kill your fish. It is highly recommended that you use reverse osmosis/de-ionized water for your salt mixture.

It is recommended that you consult a local saltwater aquarium specialist to get all the best information for proper set up and care while taking into consideration the species you choose to adopt.

Dietary Requirements

What you feed your fish will depend on the species. Some species may only need flake or pellet foods, while others may require frozen brine shrimp. Still others may need algae sheets attached to a clip so that the fish can graze all day long. Consult your local saltwater fish specialist.

Financial Considerations for Saltwater Fish:

Veterinary

None

Grooming

None

Animal Sitter

If you are going to be gone for more than two or three days, you will need someone to feed your fish. They will need instructions on how often and how much to feed the fish so they are not overfed.

Food

$10 – 20 worth of food should last a month or longer.

Other Supplies:

A basic saltwater tank set up with no corals may include a tank ($10 - $1,000+ depending on size), lighting ($10 - $1500), filtration system ($50 - $300 depending on tank size), protein skimmer ( $30 - $300), live rock ($2 - $5 per pound).

Interesting Facts about Saltwater Fish:

• Saltwater fish come in many brilliant shapes, sizes and colors.
• Certain species of fish can actually help take care of your tank by eating algae that build up within the tank, whereas others can remove parasites from other fish to help keep them healthy.
• Puffer fish use their elastic stomach to ingest large amounts of water to puff themselves up several times larger than their normal size.
• Watching saltwater fish can help reduce stress, making you healthier.