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There are a lot of things to consider, when you are contemplating purchasing tropical fish.  It is a big responsibility to own a pet of any kind, so you should prepare the best you can.  Start your preparation with researching what you are getting yourself into before making the commitment.  This article will aide new tropical fish owners on how to care for your new pet(s) properly. 

The Tank

Once the decision has been made to get some tropical fish, the first thing you will need is somewhere to put them on display.  This is why the first thing on our tropical fish care list is the tank.  No matter how many fish you are getting, try to buy the largest tank that your budget will allow.  Here are a few reasons for this.  First, it’s just nice to give your fish as much room as possible to move around. It is also much easier to regulate the temperature in a larger fish tank, which will only keep your fish healthier.  Also, you may decide to add more fish at a later date.

Another important part of tropical fish care is arranging the tank properly. Make sure you have plenty of things in the tank that will give your fish lots of places to hide. They won’t necessarily hide all the time, but if they know they have plenty of options, they will not be as stressed. You also need to be careful about where you place your tank. Avoid placing it in an area where it may receive direct sunlight. There are a number of problems that can arise from this.

The Fish

If you are planning to have multiple fish in your tank, do not add them all at one time. Give your fish time to adapt without the stress of being thrown into new surroundings with a large group of other fish. This will also give the natural filtration system time to adjust as each fish gets added.

Proper feeding is one of the most important parts of tropical fish care.  You can get away with feeding them only fish flakes, but it is always good to throw in a little something else once in a while.  This variety in food will keep your fish healthier and happier.  Please remember not to over feed your fish.  Try to feed them two small feedings daily, instead of one big feeding.  A good way to know if you have over fed the fish is if there are flakes at the bottom of the tank after all of the fish have eaten. 

Lastly, tropical fish care requires frequent water changes.  This is very important in keeping your fish healthier and your tank looking the best that it can.