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| Sunday, 10 July 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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A safe environment for your pet fish If you have pet fish, you may have noticed them fighting with each other at times. Aggression is one of the most common problems when it comes to keeping pet fish in your tank or pond. Injuries caused by such fights can lead to life-threatening diseases in your fish. You can minimise this frequent cause of death and illness in an aquarium, by fixing incompatibility problems. The solution usually involves physically separating the aggressive and submissive fishes. Many fish hobbyists - especially beginners - want variety in their new aquarium. Fish that are attractive (but maintained separately) in the pet store won't often get along in the same tank or outdoor pond. Some fish may even kill and eat smaller or weaker members of their own species. Fish that are scared but manage to survive attacks by a more aggressive fish may go without food if they spend too much time hiding under a rock or in the corner of the tank. The responsible pet store assistant will usually advise you on which fish will get along. Despite this advice, some fish owners still gamble and place non-compatible individuals in the same tank or pond. Tips for preventing aggression Do your homework - There are plenty of books and magazine articles that discuss the behaviour and habits of most pet fish species. Consult your pet store assistant. Provide plenty of structure in your tank or pond in the form of rocks, corals, plants and driftwood. These items can provide life-saving refuge for your smaller and more submissive pet fish. And don't forget to keep your fish well fed - but not overfed. How to select ornamental fish for your tank or pond For most people, freshwater fish are the aquarium fish of choice. Saltwater - or marine - creatures make up less than 10 per cent of pet fish sales, and are generally more expensive to keep and less hardy. Here are some tips that will help you put together a basic freshwater tank: Fish for community tanks or ponds 'Community' tanks or ponds house between three and thirty non-aggressive fish in a tank with a capacity of 20 to 50 gallons and above. Most of these fish will eat flake or pelleted food and thrive in water. Fish for aggressive tanks or ponds 'Aggressive' tanks usually house a small number of larger fish that may attack or even consume submissive fish. Many "aggressive" species are beautiful to look at - and can live surprisingly long lives. When mixing aggressive species in a single aquarium, choose fish of comparable size and make sure you add some structure (plants, driftwood) so the animals can "stake out" territory and hide, if necessary. Single fish tanks The easiest kind of tank to keep is one that houses a single fish. For the most part, fish aren't social creatures and don't require contact with others, except to reproduce. They don't get lonely when there aren't other fish around; in fact, they're often happier not having to compete with others for food, space, and attention. |
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