by Deborah Lawwill

Created on: July 07, 2009

Aquarium fish can be a calming and beautiful addition to any home. They are easy to take care of and fun to look at. If you have small children or other pets, be sure to keep the fish aquarium elevated to where they can't reach it. It's also important to research your specific breed of fish and see what it's needs are. Before you buy, you can always ask the pet store associate what they feel is best for the type of fish you are interested in.

The only time keeping aquarium fish would be cruel is if you kept them in a small, confined space, such as a tiny fish bowl. Some breeds, such as Japanese fighting fish, don't get along with other fish so they are often kept in small bowls. However, when you take them home you should place them in a larger area and be sure to include some decorations as fish can also become emotional. Fish, especially tropical breeds, really enjoy bright colors. Bright or "happy" colors do for fish what they do for people, they make them feel happier.

Another way to help your fish feel happier is to place more fish of the same breed in in the aquarium with them so that they have another being to interact with, as long as they are fish that can get along with each other, of course. Fish can be very social creatures and some breeds are proven to live longer if they are given another fish to interact with. A happy habitat is the key to happy fish.

Fish are probably one of the most easy pets to take care of. You feed them twice a day, clean their aquariums at least bi-weekly (if not weekly) and that's it. Knowing how to properly clean a fish tank is dependent upon whether or not the fish are salt water or fresh water fish. Again, a pet store associate should bee able to give you the information that you need to care for your fish. Because they are so simple to take care of, they make an excellent first pet for a child or teenager.

Aquarium fish have also been known to help certain people with depression or anxiety. People that have fish in their homes are happier, less stressed, and generally calmer than those that don't. Fish have been used in mental therapy for hundreds of years, proving that this does in fact work.

Choosing the right fish is mostly a matter of what type of person you are and caring for a fish properly is a simple task. As long as you care for your fish properly and give them plenty of space to swim, I see no reason why it would be considered cruelty to own an aquarium of fish.

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