Saltwater Fish

Saltwater fish are more colorful, more exotic, and more expensive than freshwater fish. But the greatest difference is that most saltwater fish are caught in the wild, sometimes only a week or two before you buy them. Properly choosing your saltwater fish and helping them get acclimated will make care, maintenance, and feeding a whole lot easier.

Choosing When choosing your first saltwater fish you would be wise to keep the nitrification cycle in mind. New aquariums require time to get established, typically four to eight weeks. Until your aquarium has cycled, it should be stocked only with hardy and inexpensive saltwater fish such as damsels and mollies. Saltwater aquariums should only accommodate about one inch of adult fish per five gallons of water. Some saltwater fish are highly aggressive and territorial, while others like to eat smaller fish, so do your research before choosing fish.

A key piece of advice for first-time saltwater aquarists is "don't be impulsive." Saltwater fish that look really cool might wreak havoc on your painstakingly established aquarium. Find out as much as you can about a fish before you buy it: how long has the store had it, is it healthy, has it been eating normally.

Acclimating
We strongly recommend that all saltwater aquarists purchase a smaller quarantine tank. New fish should be dipped in freshwater and placed in a separate saltwater tank for two weeks before being introduced to a primary aquarium. This will prevent diseases and organisms from destroying an entire aquarium.

To introduce a saltwater fish to a quarantine tank, set its bag on the surface of the water, allowing 15 minutes for water temperatures to equalize. Then pour 1/4 of a cup of tank water into the bag. Repeat two to three times before removing the fish from the bag.

Maintenance and Care
Each saltwater fish has its own unique needs, but your whole aquarium will benefit from a regular routine of care and maintenance. Check and clean filters frequently and conduct regular pH and salinity tests. Avoid overstocking or introducing incompatible species.

Feeding
Cater your feeding to the needs of each saltwater fish. Some are indiscriminate eaters, others are scavengers, while still others like to fight over food. Do not assume that dry fish food is all you need. Saltwater fish are healthiest when fed a varied diet of dry, live, frozen, and raw foods. Worms, shrimp, and beef heart will keep your saltwater fish wondering what you've got cooking.