Rosalyne Okumu

­­Cool Fish­ The sea is home to amazing animals. Some of them exhibit very unique characteristics that still puzzle hobbyists. At the moment, these fascinating cool fish can be kept at the aquarium. All a hobbyist does is decide upon the pet of choice and do the purchase. Good news is; one tank can house more than one pet so long as the fish therein can tolerate each other. For a first timer, there are fascinating fish with minimum tank requirements. Plenty of information is also available about numerous fish species. So making a choice should not be difficult. Advanced hobbyists are not left behind too. There are thousands of fish species with challenging requirements that could make the whole business even more interesting. Important Facts for beginners While there are varieties out there, not all of them are for everyone. Some important facts have to be put into perspective before acquisition. Remember, it is not possible to just buy fish and throw it into a tank and that is it! Each species has specific requirements that must be met. Here are factors to consider before taking that great step; Endurance level- Every hobbyist strives to take the greatest care of the tank pet. However, sometimes the unusual just happens. It shatters every hobbyist’s heart to lose a lovely tank pet. Reducing chances of these kinds of scenario would be a better option. It is therefore important to choose fish that are likely to survive any threatening changes in water. At least this guarantees one the second chance. Easy and not complicated- A first timer does not need to grapple with complex situations that some fish types present. Easy does it for the new hobbyist. Peaceful and non-aggressive- In case the tank is to house more than one fish, peaceful pets should be given priority. Fish fights often lead to fatalities that may end up in serious injuries or even death. First timers are more at ease with peaceful types that do not disturb the aquarium. Just the right size for the tank- Tank sizes are considered in relation to fish size and number. If planning to keep many fish, an enormous tank will be a necessity. If the tank size is small, look for small sized fish. Overpopulating a tank may lead to stunted growth and stress in fish. The target here is that amateur who is just beginning to keep fish as a pet. Examples here include; Guppies They come in varied fascinating colors. Being freshwater fish, they deserve functional filters to help keep the water fresh. At the same time, frequent water changes will be a necessity to keep tank pollution at bay. Feeding is not that difficult too as they settle for most fish feeds like flakes, brine shrimp, daphnia and bloodworms. Another interesting fact about them is their ability to stay for days without food yet show no signs of fatigue. Guppies are among rare cool fish that can be bred in captivity. Distinguishing males from females is easy. In case a hobbyist does not want an overpopulated tank, the males should simply be housed in a different tank with the females. Danios For a hobbyist with little experience in setting up and maintaining a tank, Danios could be an ideal choice of fish. These hardy freshwater pets can be marvelous in a number of ways. For a start, they have very little requirements. Secondly, a little change in water parameters does not get them contracting ich. Lastly, they come in varieties. Examples of Danios to stock include Giant and Zebra Danio. Cherry Barb Getting them to settle into a new aquarium may be quite a hustle. After they get acquainted into their new home, they are some of the best freshwater fish. They easily tolerate a variety of water changes, and are very friendly. In the wild, it is considered an endangered species. This could be explained by the fact that for a long time, it has remained a favorite of most hobbyists. Apart from its elegant colors, Cherry barb is a very active swimmer. For a more fascinating look, the barb should be kept in a tank with plenty of live plants. This gives it the opportunity to hide away from prying eyes. Being schooling fish, they are best kept in groups of six or more. Neon Tetra The Neon tetra is quite small yet still very beautiful. With numerous colors and decorations on the body, it also feeds on basic meals like flakes, bloodworm and brine shrimp. Being a schooling fish, they also enjoy each other’s company. The more they are in a tank, the happier they are. Pearl Gourami The pearl boasts of a hardy build and is quite amazing. Being peaceful tank animals, they are also rather shy. When arranging the tank, ensure there is plenty of rocks with caves where the gourami can hide when it wishes to get away from attention or bright light. Floating plants can be added as well. Owing to their size, Gouramis naturally deserve a slightly bigger tank. Anything less than 30 gallons may not auger well for them. Sufficient space for pet fish not only gives them happiness but also makes them peaceful. The Gourami does not discriminate when it comes to meals. It feeds on a variety of foods including tubifex, bloodworm, flakes, brine shrimp and algae. Plant foods can be fed to the gourami too. Indeed, this is one cool fish worth a hobbyist’s while. Sword Tail Named after its sword-like tail, this fish is ideal for beginners. It feeds mostly on plants and can be a great tank cleaner. In case a build-up of algae threatens the status of the tank, sword fish can deal with it fast enough. Mollies If there was ever a hardy fish that is ideal for a beginner, Molly fish is it. With the ability to survive in both freshwater and salty water, changes in water parameters cannot affect it a great deal. Mollies are herbivores and thrive best in planted tanks. They also feed on algae and can be stocked as tank cleaners. The major difference between mollies and other fish is their love for warm water. The temperature of the water has to vary between 25 and 28C. As a matter of fact, there are a variety of cool fish for both beginners and seasoned aquarists. All one has to do is make the perfect choice and offer the right tank requirements.