When we decide to have fish at home, as well as when we decide to have any other pet, it is important that we think carefully about the responsibilities that come with having a pet in the home. We can not only think about wanting company, but also about the fact that we must care for and love these little animals, so we must think about our pace of life, and whether we can really offer them the necessary care.
If we have decided that we want to have fish at home, it is important to know very well about these animals, and think about which species are going to best adapt to our pace of life, and which ones are The best species to have if we are beginners on the theme of aquariums. It is for this reason, that today, we bring you some guidelines to take into account when thinking about having fish at home.
First of all, it is important that you keep in mind that to start an aquariumThe best fish we can have are those that are easy to feed and maintain, while not requiring strict conditions to survive, or much knowledge on the subject of aquariums, water temperature or hardness.
There are many species that meet these requirements and characteristics, such as Danios, Rasboras and any species belonging to the Barbels. If we also have a large place to put our little fish, we can also opt for the rainbow fish and the Coridoras, which are very active and easy to maintain.
If, on the contrary, we are aquarium experts and in topics de peces, you can opt for tough and adaptable fish like Loaches, which are mainly characterized by taking advantage of the food from the bottom of the aquarium. It is very important that, with these animals, we pay special attention to their diet, since They could end up getting sick and infecting the rest of the species. that live in our pond..
How to choose species and plan the aquarium
The large diversity de peces ornamental can be overwhelming. Before purchasing, determine the actual volume of the tank, the compatibility between species and ranges temperature, pH and hardness that they share. It also ensures that each species occupies a different swimming zone (upper, middle and lower) to avoid conflicts and take advantage of the space.
In small aquariums (below 40 liters) do not overpopulate; excess de peces deteriorates the water quality, it promotes stress and increases territorial conflicts. Choose peaceful species and small schools, and plan lighting and vegetation to provide sheltersDon't forget to check how many specimens your tank can hold: do not overload the population, and maintain maintenance routines.
Recommended freshwater species (parameters and compatibility)
guppy
- Origin: northern South America and the Caribbean. Size: 3-5 cm. Difficulty: easy.
- Minimum Aquarium: 54 L. Water: 24-27 ºC; pH 6-7,5.
- Socialization: in groups; it coexists well with Corydoras, female bettas, emperor/zebra tetras, dwarf gouramis, epiplatys, shrimp, and bearded catfish.
- Feeding: flakes; supplement with live/frozen 1-3 times per week. Nota: high reproduction; controls population with single-sex groups.
neon tetra
- Origin: Amazon basin. Size: ~4 cm. Difficulty: easy.
- Minimum Aquarium: 60 L. Water: 20-26 ºC; pH 5-6,8.
- Socialization: School of ≥10; combines with Pacific South American fishes (e.g. ramirezi).
- Feeding: dry and alive. Tip: dim light highlights the blue band; watch for the well-known “neon sickness.”
platy
- Origin: Atlantic from Mexico to Honduras. Size: 4-6 cm. Difficulty: easy.
- Minimum Aquarium: 54 L. Water: 22-28 ºC; pH 7-8.
- Compatibility: Peaceful; with guppies, bearded catfish, Corydoras, and snails. Can be intimidated by barbos vivacious.
- Diet: dry, alive and seaweedVery active and prolific; useful dense vegetation.
Black Molly
- Origin: Central America to Colombia. Size: 6-10 cm. Difficulty: easy and robust.
- Aquarium: 60-100 L depending on variety. Water: 24-28 ºC; pH 7,2-8,2.
- Compatibility: peaceful with guppies, platy, Corydoras, angels, tetras and dwarf gourami.
- Diet: plant preference (), dry and mosquito larvae. Sensitive to sudden changes.
corydora paleatus
- Origin: Venezuela to Uruguay. Size: 2-8 cm. Difficulty: easy.
- Minimum Aquarium: 60 L. Water: 22-28 ºC; pH 7-8.
- Zone: background; with bony plates and barbels to explore. Best in groups.
- Compatibility: Excellent with tetras, platy, guppy, rainbow fish, barbs and mollies. Diet: alive and dry.
Discus
- Origin: Amazonian biotopes. Size: 12-15 cm. Difficulty: demanding.
- Aquarium: ≥250 L. Water: 26-30 ºC; pH 5-7,8; exquisite hygiene.
- Socialization: Groups of 6-8; best with calm catfish and discreet species.
- Feeding: specific dry and larvae frozen. They prefer a fine sand substrate.
Betta
- Origin: Southeast Asia. Size: 5-7 cm. Difficulty: easy.
- Aquarium: ≥54 L. Water: 24-30 ºC; pH 6-7,5.
- Tenure: 1 male per tank; with several females or compatible low-activity species.
- Nota: organ labyrinthine to breathe air; avoid long-finned companions (guppies) and aggressive fish.
Angelfish (scalar)
- Origin: Amazons. Size: up to 15 cm (height >25 cm). Difficulty: media.
- Aquarium: ≥250 L, height ≥50 cm. Water: 24-30 ºC; pH 6-7,5.
- Compatibility: with large tetras and barbs; may depredate small fish (neons).
- Diet: quality dried and live/frozen 2-3 times/week; avoid overfeeding.
ramirezi
- Origin: Venezuela and Colombia. Size: up to 5 cm. Difficulty: demanding.
- Aquarium: ≥50 L. Water: 24-28 ºC; pH 5-7; soft and stable.
- Tenure: en parejas; Avoid restless cohabitants.
- Food: Live and frozen; occasional flakes. Regular partial changes.
Zebrafish (danio)
- Origin: rivers of South Asia. Size: up to 5 cm. Difficulty: easy.
- Aquarium: ~100 L. Water: 20-26 ºC; pH 6-7,8; slight current.
- Tenure: School of ≥8; avoid species that require calm and excessive heat.
- Nota: excellent jumpers; use lid. Varied diet with dried and live algae.
Options for nano and small aquariums
In compact tanks the key is the planningConsider actual liters, compatibility, and maintenance routines. They work well in cold water. Oranda, Telescope and Fantail (selected goldfish that require good filtration and space per specimen) and the chinese neon for small schools. In tropical fisheries, they stand out guppy, neon tetra, betta, corydora, zebrafish, molly y ramirezi if the water is stable. Avoid very large or high-requirement species in small spaces.
Other species and useful considerations
El freshwater puffer fish (Tetraodon nigroviridis) is beautiful but territorial; it requires ~150 L, pH 7,5-8,5 and 24-28 ºC. Rasbora galaxy (1-1,5 cm) appears in groups of 10 with 22-28 ºC. The paradise fish It tolerates cold water (10-22 ºC) but is dominant; it plans its company. koi carp It is ideal for very large ponds or aquariums (≥200 L per specimen). cat fish bottom feeders help to take advantage of remains; choose compatible species and soft substrates for their barbels.
If you are attracted to families and groups, also consider: tetra, gouramis, glass catfish, killifish, platys, mollys, angelfish y discus fish. Make sure they share ranges of temperature, pH and behavior, and distributes species by swimming areas for a balanced aquarium.
Planning the population, adjusting parameters and choosing compatible species simplifies maintenance, reduces stress and allows enjoy the color and movement of a healthy aquarium for many years.
