Sadly, the welfare of our fish is extremely undervalued, and the belief that fish make easy pets is still very much alive. Fish keeping is not necessarily hard, but it requires time, money, and knowledge.
Helping fish to thrive, not just survive means understanding exactly how they are kept.
For example, a single goldfish requires a minimum of a 90 to 135 litre water tank! All too commonly they are kept in bowls that are around ¼ of the space they need which leads to stunted growth and overall poor welfare.
But being the hardy animals they are, they survive, and so this lack of space is seen as acceptable and new fish owners follow the same set-up and make the same mistakes. Constant marketing showing goldfish in a bowl seems to make this acceptable, but it is simply cruel.
Many fish like to live in shoals, usually consisting of 5 or more. They feel happiest in a group, and it is important for their welfare. But some pet shops allow the sale of single fish for a new tank and fish owners are unaware of this need. Which is why as a new fish owner, research is key.
There is a lot to know about fish keeping, and we will add additional articles to help you with a new set up
A new tank set-up can take 4-6 weeks to cycle for optimum water conditions as a new tank is bacteria free and we need bacteria to kick start the nitrogen cycle, do you have the patience?! This requires the purchase of your tank then setting it up as needed dependent on if you are keeping cold water, tropical, or saltwater fish. Regular water testing of the tank before adding the fish and noting ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite levels. You need to go back to your school days where you learnt about the nitrogen cycle! Plus, you need to sit on your hands! Do not rush the process, it takes as long as it takes and adding fish too early can be detrimental. So, you will have to stare at an empty tank for some time!
It is not welfare friendly to simply buy a tank and add fish the following day. Many will die which will be upsetting for all in the family and cruel for the fish. Yet sadly this still happens regularly.
So, are fish for you? We know fish keeping is not easy, unless you gain lots of knowledge beforehand, and it can be expensive. Make yourself a checklist as they may not be your ideal pet!
First up, what type of fish did you want to keep? Based on that you can work out the space needed to find your ideal tank. Also, what water type do you have – hard or soft? This can play a role in deciding on ideal species.
Cold water and tropical fish are a little easier than saltwater fish, and the set-up is not quite as expensive.
You are going to need a filter, some plants (fake or real), decorations, gravel or sand depending on the fish you plan to keep, food again the type will depend on the fish you choose, a heater, and a thermometer. Plus, a strong unit to hold your tank when full. Water changes are a regular part of fish keeping, and you will need to have the resources to do this. You will also need to be able to check water quality to make sure the tank water is maintaining optimum conditions.
Use those 6 weeks of tank cycling to research your chosen species. Look at top, middle, and bottom feeders when choosing. This can give good balance to your tank, and make it look pretty when you have fish swimming at different levels.
Think about the live bearers! Mollies, platies, swordtails, and guppies will give birth to live fry. So, if you have males and females living together, expect babies!
This is just a very quick overview of fish keeping, if you are serious about it, now is the time to begin your learning journey. There is so much to understand and be weary of if you want to make an excellent fish owner.
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