Investing in having fish as pets is definitely not as simple as you likely thought when you were a child. Then again, many people unexpectedly returned from holidays finding their fish in a desperate state – or doomed…
Now, fish breeders and specialists around the world are encouraging pet owners to invest more time, money, and energy into creating comforting and suitable environments for their fish. If you have more complex fish, like Betta fish or Siamese Fighters, you can find that it may be tricky to balance their needs at the start. In this case, great care needs to be taken to design the perfect home. Whichever fish you have, here are some things to consider for setting up your home tank or aquarium, especially if you’d like to care for your fish in style!
Hidden or neat equipment
There is an insurmountable number of fish tanks online, many of which will still require add-ons. Not only is this a pain, but it also ends up looking untidy if there are new pieces of equipment being added to your set-up each time you adjust your aquarium.
Therefore, it is our recommendation for style to find a tank or aquarium which includes all the bells and whistles. By this, we mean that the heater (for tropical fish), thermometer, air pump, and filter should be included as part of the fish tank kit. In this way, your aquarium will not be cluttered with uncoordinated apparatus from different stores. And all the piping will be neat!
Built-in lighting
Several elements of your fish tank or aquarium are crucial to your fish survival and plant growth. And when it comes to lighting, some factors impact the health of your tank. Obtain sufficient feedback before your fish and tank purchase as to the recommended light intensity and color temperature (measured in Kelvin) for your tank’s depth and surface area.
Keep in mind that some root-based aquarium plants can take several weeks to anchor, therefore the lighting should accommodate new plants which are going to help filter your aquarium water. Lighting inside your home can admittedly get a little complicated, so it’s best to chat to an expert who can give you holistic feedback suited to your fish type and home-styling requirements.
Create an adventurous home
Could there be anything more boring – or stress-inducing for your fish – than a plain, simple bowl for your fish to swim in circles? Sadly, many fish are forced to live this way, but yours don’t have to! With myriad options to make a more adventurous and interesting space for your fish to live in, you may be surprised at just how wonderful your tank can be.
Though the outside is important to add an aspect of intrigue and class in your home, the critical factor will be the comfort of your fish. The reason Betta fish was mentioned earlier is that they are known to experience boredom and frustration very easily. Creating perfect Betta fish tanks does come with experience and a lot of fast learning along the way. However, what must be considered from the beginning – and this applies to all fish for that matter – is their entertainment inside the tank.
Some ideas to add adventure into the tank is to place some caves or rocks around the tank. This will form places of hiding that are likely to ease any stress your fish may experience. You could also use mirrors or fish toys in the tank to engage their curiosity. Anything that will add some excitement or entertainment to the tank is a fantastic investment to the wellbeing and longevity of your fish.
Kit it out with cool plants
For style – and most certainly for comfort – fish love live plants! Enriching your tank with varied plant life is a fantastic way to give your fish more (and unique) spaces to explore inside their tank. When looking for plant life to add to your aquarium, certain species survive better in enclosed tanks. For example, plants such as Moneywort, the Java fern, and the Marimo Moss Ball tend to grow easily.
It is also useful to find which plant species are native to the animal – finding plants they are well suited to, intending to help them feel happiest. Just a tip from the experts: if you’re looking for more substantial growth from freshly planted species, buy a nutritious fertilizer instead of simply using gravel. This will help your plants root more securely.
Decorate and decorate some more!
In addition to the cool plants, toys, caves, and rocks inside your tank, it never hurts to add some more decorations. This can include anything from colored rocks, a shipwreck feature, or something that could offer some interesting crevices for hiding and even sleeping. Yes, your fish do sleep when you are not looking!
You are most welcome to use household items to create these nooks and crannies, like old colorful mugs, clay pots, or plastic kids’ toys. Just be careful that any paint or varnish is removed to not enter the water system of these sensitive creatures.
