Once you've got your tropical fish aquarium set up you'll be ready to choose the fish and marine life to go in it. Doubtless you began with certain kinds of tropical fish in mind - one with interesting habits, perhaps; or really active and entertaining ones; or tropical fish that are exotic and beautiful to look at. Whatever your preferences, this is the point at which you have to reconcile them with what you can reasonably expect to look after.

It's fair to say that some kinds of tropical fish are really not for beginners with tropical fish keeping being a skill that needs to be developed. Some tropical fish have difficulty surviving, even with the best care, unless they're placed in a mature, established aquarium. Don't be disheartened by this. Everybody has to start somewhere, and practice is the best way to learn the skills you'll need for more challenging choices. Don't be foolish and try to take on fish you're not ready for, or they'll just end up dying. In the meantime, there are plenty of other interesting fish to choose from. Some of the most dynamic and attractive species are also among the hardiest. Keeping tropical fish like this is not just about developing your skills as an aquarist - it can be highly rewarding in itself.

Fish Compatibility

As described by Marine World Magazine when selecting tropical fish and marine life for an aquarium, you'll need to make sure that they can all be comfortable in the same habitat and that they can all be comfortable with each other.

Never buy tropical fish just because they grab your attention when you're in the shop - always do your research first, even if you do it by talking to the staff and looking at their books. You'll need to determine what water parameters they prefer. Do they like acid or alkaline water? How salty should it be? What temperature range are they happy in? You'll also need to find out how much space they'll need and how their fish tank should be decorated. Do they need sand to burrow in? Do they need hiding places? Do they need a lot of plants, or do they prefer open space? If you plan to keep several different species of fish in your aquarium, make sure you can match these factors as closely as possible.

So Where do I Start?

Bob Goemans of Marine World Magazine says; "Beginners should choose easy-to-care-for marine animals such as damsels, captive-bred clownfish, gobies and cardinal fish. These tropical fish varieties are not as sensitive to the fluctuations in water conditions you're sure to have as a beginner. Even so, expect to encounter some setbacks and frustrations with your marine aquarium and tropical fish. With time and experience you can move to the showier, more sensitive varieties such as angels, lionfish and seahorses, for a fuller more advanced tropical fish and marine aquarium."

Marine World Magazine offer a full encyclopaedia of tropical fish and marine aquarium equipment. For more information visit Frederick Law Printers