A colourful aquarium can enliven your drawing room. The water is soothing, the pebbles and aquatic plants decorative and the fish make delightful pets. 

But while a Goldfish may be less demanding than a Golden Retriever, it is delicate and needs care. Whether you have a Guppy in a bowl or a costly imported Arowana, there are certain thumb rules that would help you give your fish a comfortable life. 

Anirban Kar, the head of the aquarium fish department of Paschimbanga Exotic Bird Lovers Organisation, shares some tips with The Telegraph Salt Lake. 

Preparing the aquarium 

1. Location: The location of the aquarium is crucial for the health of the fish. It must be placed in a well ventilated area of the house. This is because the oxygen in the water will eventually run out and fresh oxygen has to be drawn from outside. So it needs to be an airy place. 
Also the aquarium shouldn’t be under the direct rays of the sun as that would heat up the water beyond the ideal temperature. 
2. The table-top: The glass bottom of the aquarium would have immense pressure on it and could crack if the surface it is placed on is not perfectly smooth. Most tabletops have slight irregularities on their surface and so it is best to place a thermocal sheet on the table before the aquarium is rested on top. The thermocol would absorb the pressure.
3. The lid: The aquarium must have a lid on top to prevent insects, worms and dust particles from entering.
4. The water: Most of the aquariums available in the market are made of silicon gum, which lets off a typical smell. To prevent this smell and any chances of chemical reaction, the aquarium should be half-filled with water for 24 hours and then drained out. 
Meanwhile, water must be prepared separately for the fish. For this, fill a bucket with tap water and keep it under the sun without a lid covering it. Leave it for 72 hours and then pour it into the aquarium.
Never use distilled water for your aquarium as essential minerals are missing from it. 

Fixing the gadgets 

1. Air pump- Even if you have one tiny fish in a bowl, it must be equipped with an air pump. When the air in the water diminishes the fish swim to the surface, gasping for oxygen. An air pump draws air from the surroundings and pushes it into the water. 
2. Filter- The fish need clean water to swim in and there are various kinds of filters in the market that would help maintain this. A pressure filter has a motor that would physically circulate the water and trap the dirt. For aquariums that have plants, a transparent filter is best as its mechanism would not tear the leaves.
For those who have sensitive fish like Discus and Stingray, top filter or canister filter are a must. That’s because unlike the previous filters, these eject the accumulated dirt from the aquarium at once.  
3. Thermometer- A sudden change in temperature could be fatal to the fish so it is important to install an underwater thermometer to keep check. The ideal water temperature depends on the type of fish and the season. In case the water gets too hot, reduce the water level and insert a packet of slightly-cooler water for half an hour. Then release the water in the aquarium. The process must be continued till the ideal temperature is achieved.
4. Thermostat- This would maintain the temperature of the water. 
5. Light- Coloured tube lights may be added for beautification but never ones that produce excessive heat.
6. Decoration pieces- Before immersing pebbles, models or artificial plants they must be dipped in water mixed with potassium permanganate for 15 minutes. This would disinfect them. They should then be washed in fresh water and then inserted.

Choosing the fish 

While no fish can be said to be hardy, beginners can opt for breeds like Molly, Guppy, Goldfish, Parrotfish Cichlids, AngelFish, Clown Fish etc. But be alert when choosing the fish. 

The rule of thumb is to go for bright-coloured fish. Healthy fish wouldn’t look pale, dull or have white spots on the body or cataract-like obstructions in the eyes. These could be fungal infections.
Avoid fish that behave abnormally. They shouldn’t appear restless, gasp, try to swim to the surface or swim in crooked directions. 

The vendor would give you the fish in a packet of water, which you should bring home and immerse in your aquarium water for half an hour. Again, this is to accustom the fish to the new temperature. Then release the fish from the packet and switch off the aquarium’s light for a while.

Feeding the fish

Fish feed may be dry or live. Dry processed food comprises floating pellets, tablet foods and dry shrimp and live food would be worms (kecho), small centipedes, brine shrimp  etc.

But what is most important is to remember to feed the fish only twice a day and that too, as per a pre-decided quantity. Overfeeding can kill fish and sometimes instantly so. 

The problem is that the fish’s dry food swells upon contact with water but the fish gobble it up as soon as they see them. So the feed swells inside their stomach. Not only are the fish unable to digest the swollen quantity, but it also causes them breathing trouble. 

A simple method to decide the amount of fish feed per meal is to observe how much the fish can eat in 10 minutes. This would be the right quantity for it. No less and certainly no more. 

To be continued