How to Buy Fish & Aquarium Supplies

Don't overcrowd!

• 1). Choose one environment for your tank. If you want to raise tropical or saltwater fish, you will need a water heater. If you want to maintain a reef aquarium in a tank smaller than 20 gallons, you will need to bear in mind that you will likely not be able to stock your tank with too many fish. If you want a planted aquarium, make sure the kind of fish you choose to raise are not prone to eating plants.
  
  
• 2). Make sure your fish can get along. If you want to keep more than one breed of fish, make sure the breeds you want to raise in your aquarium can get along with one another and can live in the same environment. For instance, it is a bad idea to keep goldfish together with guppies because goldfish prefer softer and colder water and are also prone to attacking or eating fish smaller than them!
  
  
• 3). Choose a pet store you will shop at regularly. This will also make it more likely that you will receive discounts on future purposes. With luck, your fish will live for years and you want to have a good professional relationship with the clerks, managers and owners.
  
  
• 4). Avoid large pet store chains if you can help it. The fish they sell are not as well-cared for as small, independent stores, their workers are less knowledgeable and they are often more expensive. Larger pet stores are better for buying supplies, while smaller ones are better for buying actual fish and other creatures.
  
  
• 5). Make use of store credit policies at small, independent pet stores. Smaller stores are more likely to agree to exchange fish and give out refunds or store credit if you bring back a fish you bought from them that showed symptoms of disease. This can save you a lot of money in the long run.