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and the more territorial towards the end.

Keep the above mentioned factors in mind when selecting your fish. There are many different species available, and a good mix of colors can be had if your aquarium inhabitants are chosen carefully. While this may seem like there are numerous deficits to account for with marine fish stocking, there is also one notable upside.

The area of the ocean where most of our tropical marine species are collected is a very stable and uniform environment. This means that, with some exception to temperature, the water chemistry and quality that the fish are coming from will fall into a narrow range. The pH of the ocean in tropical areas will generally run between 8.1-8.4 in the depths that most aquarium fish are caught. The specific gravity will run from about 1.024 to 1.027. While the fish are able to adapt to varying conditions (within reason), it is best for their long-term health to try and duplicate these conditions in a consistent manner.

Stress levels are also something that will affect marine fish faster than freshwater fish. Fish who needs lots of swimming room sometimes have a hard time adapting to smaller, confined spaces. When dealing with certain types of fish, ensure that the tank is sufficient to house the fish for its entire life, as moving them to progressively larger tanks can be stressful and cause undue stress and illness, which is often difficult to treat.

Feeding

The feeding habits of marine fish also differ from their freshwater counterparts. There are many species that have very specific nutritional requirements, and these must be met in order to sustain the fish for its entire life. The ocean is a lush environment complete with an abundance of nutritious foods available. The composition of marine food has a different fatty acid makeup than freshwater food does, and an improper diet can quickly lead to problems with fish. Prepared foods do not always meet these requirements, and can lead to stunted growth, head and lateral line erosion (HLLE) and death if persistent for long periods of time.

A quick note on feeding large carnivorous marine fish would be in order here as well. There are many sources that advocate feeding freshwater feeders (ie: goldfish, minnows) to fish such as lionfish, groupers and eels. While these items may sustain the fish for periods of time, they are far from a proper diet, and in the long run will lead to many health problems. HLLE (head and lateral line erosion), fatty liver deposits and

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