2 of 3

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 5

are many ways to be successful, and each will be dependent on your skill level, personal involvement and budget.

The second main issue to note here is the fact that while there may be a lot of ocean, there is not a lot of reef habitats in the ocean, and very little real estate available on the reef. Especially when considering the volume of fish in the ocean, the territory available to them in the reef environment is miniscule, and they will defend their homes with vigor from any potential competitors.

As a whole, marine fish are highly territorial, and will attack other fish that venture too close to their defined territories. This can range from a couple of square feet to tens of square meters, depending on the species. How then, do we determine which fish to keep together?

Marine fish will determine competitors in a number of ways, but the most common are as follows:

1. Color: conspecifics are obvious competition in the reef environment. With rare exception (to be discussed later), unless you have a large aquarium (100 gallons or more, and sometimes even then), keeping only one specimen of any species is best to avoid problems.
2. Shape/size: fish that are similar in size and shape are likely to occupy the same niche in the ecosystem. Keeping fish that resemble each other can be hazardous.
3. Feeding niche: food is a prime cause of fighting amongst marine fish.

In general, keeping only one of a species or a mated pair will result in much less aggression and fighting in a marine tank. Choosing your fish based on color, size/shape and niche, and ensuring you don't double up on any of these factors in a smaller tank, will help keep your tank friendly and hospitable to all its inhabitants.

With rare exception, there are not many common aquarium fish that are schooling, and trying to keep groups of some of the fish that do (such as butterflies and tangs) can only be accomplished in the largest of aquaria (multiple hundreds of gallons).

The order in which you add fish can also play an important role in establishing a good community. Some fish will enter the tank and claim it as their own, harassing any newcomers to death. Damsels are notorious for this, and they are often suggested as good starter fish due to their hardiness. There's nothing more tedious than breaking down a large tank to remove a 2" damsel that is terrorizing anything else you try to add to the tank. Determine the territorial tendencies of your fish and then add them with the least territorial first,

• << previous page
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about How to stock a saltwater aquarium tank?
We want to hear your view. Write now!