After preparing the perfect salt water fishaquarium, there is one important component left - the fish! Most people start with simple and easy-to-care-for salt water fish species, such as clown fish and sea anemones. These are the hardiest species, but it is still necessary to monitor theme carefully. Aquarium owners should check the activity levels of their exotic salt water fish regularly, and look for signs of stress. Since fish and sea anemones are used to life in the ocean, it can be a difficult adjustment being transferred into a human's living room.
Aside from the stress of acclimation, salt water fish species also tend to get anxious because of overcrowding. Salt water fishaquarium owners should make sure to allow for about ten gallons of water for every inch of fish. It's also important to account for the full grown size of the exotic salt water fish, not the size of the fish when they were purchased. Typically, retailers provide fish that are not fully grown. After introducing exotic salt water fish to a new aquarium, owners should wait about 30 days to see if the fish and sea anemones get sick from the stress of the move, since this is the standard incubation period.
If they all seem well, then it is probably alright to introduce some new salt water fish species, such as a mandarin or dwarf angel fish. Whenever a salt water fishaquarium owner decides to add new creatures to the habitat, though, they should always research if they are compatible with the current inhabitants. They should be compatible with the same aquatic conditions and food sources, and they should also not be natural enemies of the current species. With a little luck and skill, though, anyone should be able to maintain a reef aquarium.
