5 Common Beginner Aquarist Mistakes

I would have loved to have found this list when I was a beginner in the hobby because it would have saved me from causing the death of countless fish.  With this list hopefully I can help some newcomers to the aquarium hobby by avoiding these common five mistakes.

1. Forgetting to Dechlorinate the Water:  The most common mistake that even the most advanced hobbyist are guilty of is adding dechlorinator when mixing new water or changing water in an aquarium.  Chlorine poisoning occurs rather rapidly in fish.  The signs of chlorine poisoning are gasping for air, odd swimming behavior, clamped fins and red gills (held open and away from body).  Once fish are exhibiting these signs there is little you can do to save them.  So, before you add that water, ask yourself: did I add dechlorinator to this?

2.  Fish Compatibility:  Pet stores sell a wide variety of fish that come from all over the world.  This diverse selection of fish is why fish compatibility is an important area for aquarium keeping.  Just because they all require water to survive does not mean that every fish will get along.  Fish like cichlids, bettas, flame gouramies, angle fish, barbs and bala sharks (just to name a few) are highly aggressive and should not be kept in a typical community setup.

3.  Not Researching your Fish: This mistake basically goes hand in hand with mistake #2.  I will admit that I have purchased fish on a whim without knowing a single aspect of their care, but this is a large reason why beginner hobbyist have so many problems with their first tank.  Usually these spontaneous purchases are fish that require specific water parameters, feeding requirements and compatibility requirements.  If these are not meet these spontaneous purchases are going to find their way to the toilet.  I would recommend if you are caught pondering a spontaneous fish purchase to write down the name of the fish and jump on a computer to trying and see if this amazing fish is right for your companion.  This practice of researching your fish will save you money by stopping you from buying fish doomed to die in your tank, decrease the chances of exposing your fish to disease and make you a more educated hobbyist (how do you think I learned all this!).

4.  No Regular Maintenance:  It is easy to get caught up in getting groceries, picking up the kids, cooking dinner and all the other high priorities in life, but you can not forget about regular maintenance on your aquarium.  Just a few months can pass allowing the aquarium water quality and your fish to suffer.  Regular water changes, washing or changing mechanical media and regular cleaning of your filter helps maintain stable water quality and can increase the life of your aquarium equipment.  Simply stick to a routine that fits your busy routine and regular aquarium maintenance will no longer be a hassle.

5.  Over Feeding:  It is very easy, once your aquarium is setup and your fish are healthy to give them extra food during feeding time.  Fish are constantly hungry and always begging for more.  I have also committed the crime of over feeding especially when the look so hungry and cute!  Just remember that fish will easily eat themselves to death and that you must be the strong one in decided how much food they get.  A simple rule is to put enough food in the tank that your fish can eat in less than 5 minutes. 

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Comments

[Holly]

Thanks for the list. I just got into aquariums and tropical fish as a hobby and your list is really helpful. Wouldnt want to see fish floating at the top of my tank as a first timer.

[O'Daniels]

Very Good points for the beginner to take note of. The following points are also worthy of note,

1) My advice would be to start with a tank size you will be comfortable maintaining.
2) Important items that are needed to successfully keep a marine fish aquarium include a heater and thermometer.
3) It is worth remembering to always take a water sample to the store for test when purchasing a new fish.
4) Knowing where the fish you are buying comes from is very important. While this may not be an issue when selecting common species of fish for your aquarium, it is a concern for reef fish and coral, which are caught in the wild.

I hope this helps some one out there.

[Fish Tanks]

Great information, beginners need to make sure that they research their fish. Find out which are compatible and what sort of tank is necessary for certain types of fish. I would also add that you need to let a new tank sit and filter through before entering the fish, you don't want to shock the fish by putting them into the tank to early.

[Merritt Adkins]

Great points guys! Thanks for adding your thoughts and comments on my article. :-)