Below, I have compiled a short list of what I believe are fish keeping facts. These cover a lot of ground for the hobbyist. Which is your favorite?
- If it can happen, it will.
- Water is not your friend.
- Power cords aren’t your friend either.
- The end of every hose is looking for a floor.
- Hard water sucks!
- Frequent, consistent water changes are your friend.
- Chlorine is your friend…and your enemy.
- If you don’t have it, you’ll need it.
- Having a plan for fish offspring before you have them reduces stress.
- Fish bite, get used to it.
- Small cichlids are just as mean as large cichlids.
- Cichlids are like people. Some love you, others hate you and everything else.
- You probably like your fish more than they like you.
- Substrate? Not always necessary.
- When it comes to filtration, you have options.
- Tank lights are optional, unless you’re into live plants.
- Fish WILL exit your tank, your net, your bucket, etc.
- Have tanks on carpet? Get a fan.
- Get a towel…or five. You’ll need them.
- Your equipment WILL fail. It’s not when, but if.
- Keep tanks upstairs at your own risk.
- Yes, you can rinse your filter sponges in tap water.
- You do NOT need a themometer when filling your tank after a water change.
- Water conditioner does not have to be added before the water during a water change.
- Fish are not cheap. Cichlids, less so.
- Dither fish should be sentinels not lunch.
- You do not need to feed your fish six times a day.
- Female cichlids protecting fry/eggs are vicious and nasty.
- Some males could care less about offspring.
- If it will fit inside an Oscar’s mouth, it will get eaten.
- Electricity is a necessary evil and it doesn’t always play well with water.
- Putting a fish in “timeout” is silly.
- Your tank doesn’t need a cover…until it does.
- The tank cover does NOT have to be glass.
- Yes, you can keep live plants with cichlids.
- No, you can’t keep live plants with all cichlids.
- Without water movement, fish will suffocate before they die from a power filter failure.
- If you want to really see your fish, you will eventually have to clean the glass/acrylic.
- Acrylic will scratch.
- Big tanks are heavy.