Choose the right fish for your aquarium; think about how big the fish will grow and whether they’ll get along with existing fish.
Bear in mind where your new fish will swim in the aquarium; there are fish that prefer to live at the top, middle or bottom of the aquarium. Keep a good mix of fish for all-round interest. See – Which fish swim where?
You can keep more than just fish in an aquarium. Shrimps and snails add interest, colour and movement, and can be helpful in keeping your aquarium clean.
When buying your fish, choose them from a reputable aquatics retailer – always choose bright, healthy and active specimens.
Take your new fish straight home. Staying in a bag for longer than necessary will cause them stress. The sooner they are settled in their new home, the better.
Once home, turn off the aquarium lights, open the top of the bag, roll down the sides and float the bag on the water for about 20-30 minutes. After this time, add a little of the aquarium water to the bag. Keep on doing this, on and off, for about 5-10 minutes. This helps the fish get used to the new water conditions. Finally, release your new additions by tipping the bag on its side and pouring the contents into the tank. Check there are no fish caught in the bag.
Leave the lights off for another hour to let the new residents settle in. Keep a close eye on your new buddies; make sure they have settled in and aren’t being bullied by the other fish.