There are so many types of saltwater fish available in pet stores as well as other resources that the mere task of actually choosing can become a pretty daunting task. Perhaps the easiest to get this done is to educate yourself a bit about the different types of saltwater fish and their preferred habitats so that you can begin narrowing down your choices. First, you would have to learn about the species which are recommended for beginners like yourself. From there, you can narrow your options down even further through learning about the requirements of the fish. By requirements, I’m talking about the food they eat, the attention as well as how sensitive they might be to sudden changes in the water quality. After finding out which ones are the most suited to your aquarium, you can begin choosing.

We have talked about the variety of the types of saltwater fish available in the pet market and we have also talked about that no matter the variety, there are some species that are not suitable for beginning hobbyists, such as yourself. In fact, many are not even suitable to be kept in a tank at all. But of course, many people tend to choose a fish for decorative purposes and many choose the biggest, most colorful ones. But doing it that way is very dangerous as many of these beautiful fishes are in fact not safe to be kept in a tank at all. Here are a few examples of the types of saltwater fish that you should keep away from if you are just a novice.

You should most definitely keep away from the venomous types of saltwater fish for obvious reasons. There are actually quite a few species of the saltwater fish that are considerably dangerous due to them being venomous and these types are often commonly sold. These venomous species can actually inflict a person with a very painful, stinging toxic spine that comes from their bodies. As with most animals that are venomous, it is often the most stunningly beautiful of these fishes that are in fact venomous. One of the most common is the infamous Lionfish. Famous for both its beauty and deadly sting, the Lionfish are actually not very aggressive creatures and are quite to be just by themselves. But for a beginner handling a Lionfish should not be in your agenda any time soon. It is dangerous and can cause paralysis or even death if you get stung by one of the Lionfish’s spikes.

So if you are indeed a beginner and isn’t interested in handling the deadly Lionfish anytime soon, which types of saltwater fish could be perfect for you? You could try your hand at caring for the rainbow colored Damsel fish. These small fish come in a wide variety of colors and are the most appropriate selection for a beginning aquarist. They adapt very well to all sorts of tank environments and can handle or tolerate the changes that come with being in a new tank. They are also very hearty eaters and would readily consume prepared food such s flakes or a mix of frozen, freeze dried or live foods.

So there you have it, newbie aquarist, a short list of the recommended and not recommended types of saltwater fish such as yourself so remember to choose wisely and stay away from the Lionfishes.

A saltwater aquarium with brightly colored tropical fish swimming about is truly a stunning addition to any home. Tropical saltwater fish usually come in very bright and vivid colors thus highly preferred by aquarists and fish lovers alike. These tropical saltwater fish come from various places all over the world and have to be shipped in. They can be bred as well, however, doing so can be quite tricky and is often more challenging than the breeding of fresh water fish. Among the most popular types of tropical saltwater fish are the coral fishes or the fish that live within the coral reefs itself.

These types of fish have the most dazzling colors in the species and have the most distinct and appealing shapes. They are also the most commonly seen in people’s homes. Just take the lovely clownfish for example, it is among the most widely recognized tropical saltwater fish and is also the most commonly purchased. Perhaps due to the fact that clownfishes have very graceful patterns around their body and was also made even more popular by the Pixar movie “Finding Nemo”. This could also be the reason why most children refer to clownfishes as “Nemo” instead of their actual species name.

But before you go out and buy a tropical saltwater fish, there are a few things that you would need to consider. Among these things are the actual appearances of the fish you are interested in. What you are looking for, obviously, is a healthy fish which is brightly colored. So avoid buying fish that appear paler or darker than what they are supposed to look like. The reason for this “discoloration” could be stress or the fish might be sick and taking it home might worsen it or infect your other fishes. Also, if a fish is overtly stressed taking them home and introducing them to a new tank might worsen it and they might die shortly afterwards.

Another thing to watch out for is how the fish is behaving. So observe them in their current tank, if you get closer to the tank some fish would probably swim near where you are while there are those that would swim away and hide. Buy the ones that are comfortable in their surroundings even when there is someone watching them. The other fishes, again, might be experiencing stress and taking them home could only worsen it. Also, if you can, try to observe the fishes during feeding time. Some of the fish would start feeding after the food has been put in while there are those that would wait until the others are done. You would want to buy the ones that start feeding immediately because these would end up being the biggest as well as the healthiest fish in the group. The more timid ones would probably not survive for long.

Remember that when you buy tropical saltwater fish, be sure to ask plenty of questions. If you are dealing with a store that is very reputable, they would be accommodating and answer all your questions about the fishes. So don’t forget to ask for suggestions regarding which fishes would be more compatible to put together in the same tank and which ones to separate. Because the thing is, you wouldn’t want to bring home two different pairs of fish and only realize later when it’s too late that they actually prey on each other.

Apparently, fish just like human beings require their own space too and as such a larger space is required. A larger tank would be the best option in this scenario for not only will it give your pet saltwater fishes more space, it would also help prevent the temperature fluctuations in the aquarium.

This is true in the event that your aquarium heater fails to work all of a sudden. In a smaller aquarium, the temperature would decrease quicker than in a larger aquarium. These larger aquariums would also help in maintaining the proper PH levels as well as nutrient levels in the water. Remember that saltwater fish are very sensitive creatures and even the smallest change in the water’s components can cause them to become very ill. So when you are setting up a saltwater fish habitat, the first things you should monitor are the water’s temperature, its nitrites its alkalinity , nitrates and the PH level. The alkalinity in the water should be at 3.0 and the water’s nitrate levels should be no more than 20ppm it is best if it is at 0ppm as this is the most conducive to a saltwater fish’s needs. As for the temperature, this is the most important out of all. Most of the fish you will buy should be kept a constant of 77°F. But there are some that need it cooler and some like it warmer so make sure when you are planning your tank that you check into the temp you will need for your fish.

Obviously, a saltwater fish habitat is a bit trickier to set-up when compared to a freshwater fish’s. But after you’ve properly set them up, with all the right components in place it is actually a very good ecosystem and can maintain itself. You should also remember that a saltwater fish needs extra attention when compared to a fresh water one. The latter can quickly adjust to any changes in the water salinity and temperature whereas the former cannot. Of course, when you are just starting out as a first time aquarium keeper, besides having the right components and knowing the basic rules as well as maintenance, you should also know how to choose the proper fish for the kind of aquarium you want. This is a rather simple process actually. Don’t choose a big fish for a small aquarium, don’t put together fishes that tend to prey on each other and lastly, freshwater fish cannot survive in saltwater and vice versa. So just remember all that and research more about which kinds of saltwater fish would be in harmony together inside an aquarium and you’re good to go.