>> Click here for a Tropical Fish Tank Buying Guide

First of all, we need to understand that the more water is in the tank, the less often we will actually have to clean it. Larger tanks can be cleaned every ten days compared to smaller tanks that require weekly cleaning. This is because it takes much longer for the water in a large tank to get dirty than the water of a smaller tank. You also reap benefits from a larger tank when you have to do a water change, because you generally have to replace less water;  10-15% compared to 25-35% of smaller tanks. You might think that a larger tank means more cleaning, but in reality the opposite is true!

Another benefit to having a larger tropical fish tank is that it is quite beneficial to the fish themselves, since they have more room to move around. When fish swim, they are actually exercising – keeping the blood and oxygen circulating in their system. Tropical fish who live in larger tanks tend to be happier and healthier, simply because they have more space to swim about. In a smaller tank, fish will tend not to move around so much because they feel more crowded. Smaller tanks also cause problems if you have more aggressive breeds of tropical fish, since passive fish will have a much harder time keeping away and hiding from them.

Having said all of this, there’s no reason to give up your hobby if you can’t afford or simply don’t have room for the Megatank 3000. In this case, you simply need to adjust what goes into your tank. To give your tropical fish more room, you can add fewer decorations, less vegetation, and so on. You can also purchase smaller decorations to increase your fish’s breathing space. You should also be aware of how large some of the tropical fish species can grow to and choose your fish accordingly.  If you’ve only got room for a smaller tropical fish tank, then it makes sense to choose smaller breeds of tropical fish.

More tropical fish tank tips can be found inside Caring For Your Tropical Fish. Remember that when it comes to tropical fish tanks, size does indeed matter!

From other tropical fish blogs:

Question: Male and Female Betta in Same Tank

The male was in my 55 gallon tropical tank, the female was in my 10 gallon quarantine tank with some new fish. I have my quarantine tank next to my computer workststation so I can monitor my fish all day.

Newbie Cleaners

Hi, I am starting my first FOWLR tank and am wondering what cleaners would be cool or good to have. It is a 20gal with 5kg of live rock and 2cm layer of live.

10g – Getting Ready For New Betta

Just set this 10g tank up today. There are no fish in it yet, but it will soon house a betta!

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For a full guide on diseases tropical fish can contract, click below:

Tropical Fish Guide

Common Tropical Fish Diseases

Dropsy is probably the most common of all tropical fish diseases.  It’s sometimes hard to spot but usually a swollen abdomen is one obvious symptoms; listlessness, lack of appetite, and spending a lot of time at the top of bottom of the tank are also signs of stress in any fish so these too might be present.  When their scales stick out slightly in a fan this too can be a symptom.  It is possible to pass the disease from one fish to another so any fish with dropsy should be put in a quarantine tank.  It’s one of the more serious of tropical fish diseases but is also easily treated with antibiotics readily available at your pet supply store.  Usually a buildup of algae is the main cause of dropsy so be sure you clean your tank regularly; this is one of the best steps you can take to avoid most tropical fish diseases your pets might get.

Fish ich or ick is also one of the more common of tropical fish diseases.  It is characterized by white drops that your fish get on their body and by them getting slow or sluggish.  Usually it’s best to raise the water temperature of your tank and then add medication to the water for a good two weeks so that you’re sure to get the entire condition cleared up, even if the symptoms are gone. 

Tropical Fish Disease Prevention

Preventing common tropical fish diseases is not that difficult.  Beware of overfeeding your fish as uneaten portions of fish food degrade in the water and cause an excess amount of bacteria and algae.  Be sure you’re cleaning on a regular basis and don’t allow the water to get cloudy or green.  Believe it or not, some of the varieties of fish you purchase may also be responsible for some cases of tropical fish diseases in your tank; bully fish or those that are overly aggressive will nip at smaller and more demure fish, leaving them  open to sicknesses and injuries.  Do some homework on the type of fish you plan on buying or the ones you already own and see if any of them are know for very aggressive personalities.  If so, you might consider separating them or purchasing a larger tank so there is more room between them and the other fish.

Any responsible fish owner will do well to watch out for tropical fish diseases and treat them as quickly as possible. For a complete guide on how to diagnose and treat a tropical fish disease, click here.

From Other Tropical Fish Blogs:

Tropical Fish Disease – Why Do Healthy Fish Get Ill?

I say tropical fish disease but obviously all fish have the potential to get ill and fish kept in captivity have a better than even chance of developing a disease, so why is this? Well, let’s look at nature first.

Betta Fish Diseases: Diagnosing a Sick Betta Fish

Betta Fish Diseases: Diagnosing a Sick Betta Fish Betta fish are small, colorful and vibrant fish popularly grown in aquariums and fish bowls.

Help Help Help. Fish Dying Like Flies!

Hello J. So sorry to hear about your fish loss. Can you post your readings for ammonia and nitrite please? I see you have 10 nitrates. If the fishes scales are starting to protrude (called pine coning) it could be a sign of dropsy. I’m listing a couple of links that you may find helpful. Some have graphic photos of fish disease. Just to let you know ahead of time.

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The truth is, spending a bit of time to understand the different kinds tropical fish species is crucial when buying tropical fish for the first time. The reason for this is simlar to when you’re picking different pets.

Let’s take dogs for example. Now, we all know that different dog species behave differently. Some breeds are more passive and docile, some are more aggressive and energetic, and the rest are somewhere in between these two extremes. The same thinking holds for tropical fish, which is why having the wrong types mixing together can cause a lot of problems down the road. 

Now there’s no need to panic and run out to get a degree in marine biology. All you need to keep in mind is some basic information on which tropical fish species tend to "play nice" together, so you don’t end up with a bunch of dead tropical fish and a very sad aquarium.

Aggressive Tropical Fish Species

There are some fish that just like to pick fights and these are the agressive breeds. Some examples include auratus, the convict cichlid, the Jack Dempsey, the banded leporinus, and the pacu.  If you are going to breed this type of tropical fish, you should really look for the largest tank you can get so that they don’t always end up bumping into each other. Also be sure to include some plants, rocks, and other scenery inside the tank so that other more passive fish can duck out and stay safe. If you’re convinced that you need one of these fish in your tank, just remember not to get too many or else there could be a lot of trouble.

Passive Tropical Fish Species

At the other extreme are the passive breeds, including keyhole cichlid and the ram cichlid. Like the quiet overachiever in high school, these breeds are probably going to get picked on by larger more aggressive breeds, so its best to keep them away from bullies that try to control their territory.

The Take Away

Most tropical fish species are between these two types, and are okay around other fish. The bottom line is to do a bit of research before you start randomly choosing fish for your tank. Check out some online resources or ask your pet store attendant.

Of course, our Tropical Fish Guide has this information all laid out for you in one place, so that would be a good start as well.

More Information From Other Tropical Fish Blogs:

Types of Tropical Fish

Tropical fishes that are kept in aquariums include the fishes caught in the wild, those born in captivity and hybrid species. Scuba divers are always in search of colorful and varied species of tropical fish.

Tropical Fish Species: Is Remarkable

Tropical fishes in aquarium were resorted to in the past just to serve as an index of wealth, especially to satisfy ornamental purposes.

What Would Be A Good Tropical Fish Species To Care For?

I have had a two and a half gallon with a fiter and heater in there. I have had tetras in there, but they keep dying. And also i would like a change of fish.

What You Should Know Before Buying Freshwater Tropical Fish

If you are considering getting freshwater tropical fish to take home, you will need to determine the species of fish that you want. There are in fact over one hundred different species of freshwater tropical fish that you can choose.

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