The Perfect Start to Your Perfect Aquarium

First time fish owners often get lured into the compelling world of fish ownership as they walk down the aisle of their local pet store, or even as they casually walk through the pet department at Wal-Mart.

It's hard to deny the alluring qualities of these beautiful creatures. They're colorful. They're playful. They're relaxing to watch and provide hours of enjoyment for the entire family... maybe best of all, they're cheap.

Don't let the low cost of the animals themselves fool you. Fish owning is still a responsibility upon you as a pet owner to give them a quality of life befitting the living, breathing beings that they are, and in the home aquarium environment they are completely reliant upon you for comfort and health-indeed for their very survival.

I recently read the compelling article by Jennifer College entitled 'Starting Up The Perfect Aquarium' and she made some wonderful points on selection of an appropriate store to purchase your new pets and their equipment from. In many instances a good pet store can provide much better information than a local department store can in terms of care and needs of your new pets. This isn't always the case, however, so beware and do your own research, never relying totally on what an employee that may or may not know what is correct tells you.

Once you do find the store you wish to purchase your new pets from, and have all the necessary equipment, there's still more you have to know. There are very specific steps necessary before you ever add fish to the water in your tank so don't be compelled to do what would seem to come naturally-buy the fish at the same time as you purchase your new tank. It's the biggest common error for first time fish owners. After all, their beauty and the seeming ease of setting things up is what may have encouraged you to purchase the aquarium in the first place. However it is a sizeable investment, even if you start out with a simple five or ten gallon tank, so it is much better to take your time and get started right. You will save yourself, and your family a lot of heartache, and lost fish, if you do.