Before you buy any saltwater fish, especially online, there are several things that you should consider in order to make sure that you are not only getting the fish that you paid for, but also that they are acclimated enough to aquarium environments that they will adapt to your own tank. In general, online fish retailers will guarantee that your saltwater fish live for a certain amount of time or you get your money back. However, there are some that do not offer this guarantee. If this is the case, you might be better off going into their store and getting the saltwater fish yourself.
Most online retailers house their saltwater fish, coral, live rock, and invertebrates, in a controlled and relaxing environment, which means that you need to do the same. Before you buy saltwater fish, you need to have the tank up and running. In addition to that, however, you also need to make sure that the lighting, the temperature, and the salt levels of the aquarium are at the necessary levels. You do not want the saltwater fish living in a small, poorly-salinated tank while you prepare the main tank. The fish should be introduced to their new environment as soon as they arrive.
Before you even consider adding the saltwater fish, you should work on setting corral, live rock, plant life, and other things you want to add to the environment. Also get the lighting for the coral and saltwater fish to their specific requirements before the fish are introduced. At the same time, no amount of preparation will suffice if the saltwater fish you buy online have been poorly treated.
Caring for saltwater fish is an ongoing process. Maintenance is key to the health of your tank's animal life, in addition to the proper initial set-up. You must test the water to ensure proper salinity and other factors, in addition to maintaining the tank's light source. If you are bringing a new fish into an existing aquarium, you must make certain that the fish is compatible with other fish already living in the aquarium as well as the water environment.
