Selecting Healthy Saltwater Aquarium Fish

When you pick out fish for your saltwater aquarium, you may want to be sure, that you are getting healthy ones. Most dealers will not knowingly sell a sick fish, but unfortunately, even with the best of intentions mistakes can be made. So it is best that you know what to look for.

A healthy strong fish will be robust and well filled out. Do not select fish that have a hallowed belly or a thin pinched forehead. The body and fans should be free from any type of soars, bumps, or lesions. Avoid any fish that huddles in the corner and shakes or frequently scrapes itself on the bottom or a rock. Occasional scratching his all right sense most fish get the urge to scratch now and then, just like humans. Constant Rubbing, scraping, or scratching although could very possibly mean that the fish as a parasitic or bacterial disease. Look at the fishes fins. If they are carried erect and flared, this is a good sign. Droopy fins indicate a droopy fish. If you can see the fish being fed, so much the better. A healthy fish responds to his meal with gusto.

So how many fish for a tank? Generally speaking, half as many fish can be kept in a saltwater aquarium as can be kept in a freshwater aquarium of the same size. There are exceptions, of course, depending on the fish. Some species are more active than others. You'll soon learne through experience exactly how many specimens your tank will support. As a suggestion in a 20 gallon aquarium you could put, 2 Clown Anemonefish, 2 Butterflyfish, one medium-sized Anemone. Or, 1 French Angelfish, 1 Cubby, 2 black-and-white Dascyllus, and 1 Coral Shrimp.