Freshwater
Fish

Freshwater 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 freshwater fish can range from two to more than 10 years with proper care.

Typical Behavior

Freshwater fish can exhibit many different behaviors. Some will float along not moving much at all, while others like to 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 species are considered aggressive and may eat smaller, non-aggressive fish if they are mixed in the same tank.

Care Requirements

Freshwater fish must be fed daily. A freshwater fish tank needs to be cleaned once a week. This is often a time consuming task even for a small tank; however, it is vital for the health of your fish.

The only other care your fish may require is if there is an outbreak of parasite or disease in your tank. If this is the case you should have a small (10 gallon) quarantine tank set aside so that you can medicate your fish. If you do not have live plants in your tank, you can chose to medicate in the main tank.

Proper Habitat and Habitat Maintenance Requirements

Be sure to give your fish plenty of room to swim. Tank sizes range from five to 500 gallons. Which size you choose will depend on the size and number of fish you harbor. You need to equip your tank with rocks, plants and other places for the fish to hide. Freshwater fish normally need a filter, water heater and an air stone.

A clean, chemically-balanced tank is required to keep your freshwater fish happy and healthy. Balanced chemistry of the tank needs to be held in a specific range for the fish to thrive. For freshwater fish, this balance is normally: ammonia – 0 ppm; nitrite – 0 ppm; pH – 7; nitrate – >20 ppm. You can purchase water testing supplies at your local pet supply store.

Dietary Requirements

Depending on the species of your freshwater fish, they may require only flake or pellet foods or only frozen brine shrimp. Be sure to check with your local pet supply store to find the right food for your species of fish. Be sure to feed your fish according to the directions on the package; do not overfeed your fish.

Financial Considerations for Freshwater 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 to $20 of food should last a month or longer.

Other Supplies:

A basic freshwater fish set up may include a tank($10 - $1,000+ depending on size), lighting ($10 - $1500), filtration system ($25 - $300 depending on tank size), heater ($5 - $150), air stone and pump ($15 - $85).

Interesting Facts about Freshwater Fish:

• Freshwater fish come in many brilliant shapes, sizes and colors.
• Fish have excellent sense of sight, touch, taste and many possess a good sense of smell and 'hearing.'
• Fish feel pain and experience stress just like mammals and birds.
• Watching fish can help reduce stress, making you healthier.