02 Introduction
Description
This article is from the Aquaria: Good (and Bad) First Fish; Breeding FAQ, by Dean Hougen and Elaine Thompson
02 Introduction
Since even a small amount of material can be difficult for a newcomer
in any field to digest and retain, the novice aquarist may wish to
read only the "Good First Fish" section to begin with. Then, while
consulting a good beginner's book (the most essential item for any
novice aquarist to own), she or he should choose a small number of
possibilities for the fish with which to start her or his new tank.
If someone familiar with the local fish stores is available, it is
wise to get a recommendation for where to shop for fish. Otherwise the
beginner should try looking for shops that specialize in fish, either
exclusively or as a major part of their business. This is no
guarantee, of course, but it does improve the odds of finding a good
store.
If, upon reaching the store, none of the selected fish can be found,
the novice should refrain from purchasing any fish that he or she is
unfamiliar with, even if recommended by the store's employees. (Some
stores have very knowledgeable staffs but many, alas, do not. It will
take some time before the new fishkeeper can discern a good store from
a bad one, or good advice from poor.) At this point, another store
could be sought out or further reading done to determine alternate
choices for first fish.
Assuming that desirable choices for first fish can be found, the
beginner should carefully inspect the specimens for sunken bellies,
sunken eyes, clamped fins, labored breathing (often with gill covers
quite extended), and any sort of external blemishes that might
indicate parasites or disease. If the fish appear healthy, the novice
should ask to purchase a very small number of fish, depending on the
size of the tank and the fish. A twenty gallon tank is a good size for
a beginner; it is large enough that the water conditions will be
fairly stable, yet small enough that the beginner is not intimidated.
For this size tank a single fish of one to two inches in length, or
three or four smaller fish, is the most the novice should start with.
(If more fish are put into the tank initially, poisonous ammonia will
build up and kill the fish. If the tank population is built up
gradually, however, this will not be a problem. To understand this
gradual introduction of fish, known as `cycling the tank', the novice
should read about the nitrogen cycle in his or her aquarium book, or
the NITROGEN CYCLE section of the BEGINNER FAQ.)
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