by Brian Keller

Created on: July 04, 2009

Fish are great pets and are very relaxing to have around the house, and they tend to be easy to take care of, but in order to have a fish for a pet, you need to learn how take care of it's tank, so your fish can live longer and you have him for more time to enjoy. If you are going to get a big fish tank, one rule of thumb is: big fish tanks are easier to take care of then little ones which, is great news to someone who wants to get a big fish tank.

When you are going to get your big fish tank a great place to get them is from your local pet store, and while you are there, be sure to ask them as many questions as you need to know and they should tell you what you need to know. When picking out your fish, be sure to pick one out that has no cuts in it's fins, is swimming around as much as the other fish in the tank, and looks healthy to you.

When you put your fish into the fish tank that you bought, (they usually give it to you in a plastic bag filled with water) do not just let your fish go in all at once because this could shock the fish hurt it, or even kill it. The best way to do it is to slowly let some of the pet store water into a different bucket and let that much into the bag of your fish tank water (ask an employee who works at the pet store for the exact amounts of the water to let in and take out). If you have any questions about your fish tank, do not be afraid to call the pet store and ask.

Fish can be fun and relaxing to watch and they are a great way to relieve stress, but you also have to be careful about how you are taking care of your fish and how well you are taking care of it's aquarium. A bad thing that you do not want your fish to have is a disease called Ick. What it looks like is: little white dots all over your aquarium and on your fish. Ick can be prevented by not leaving your aquarium light or any other light shining on your aquarium for too long, a helpful way to remember to shut off your light is to turn it on when it gets light (unless it is in the sun a lot) and turn it off when it gets dark. Ick is a very common fish disease that can be prevented with proper care. Even if you do have Ick, there are certain liquids that you can buy at any pet store to get rid of it. It is best if you treat Ick as soon as you notice that you have it because, it could get worse and worse if you do not treat it right away.

When you clean out your fish tank you should be sure to do it very well and make sure that your fish have a clean and healthy place to live. Ask your local pet store while you are picking out your fish how often to clean your fish tank and how you should do it, and remember to have fun with your fish as well as take care of it's aquarium!

Learn more about this author, Brian Keller.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.