Plecos – Plecos come in all shapes and sizes. There are numerous variations and colorations of plecos that are available to the common aquarist. The first problem is 99% of the plecos in your local fish store are probably common plecos. Common plecos can range well over 15 inches and are very hard on the biological filtration of a tank. They also require a well established tank that includes algae and for some species driftwood.

Discus – Discus are very sensitive to water perimeters and need very stable and strict water guidelines. Discus will rapidly lose color and become ill and are extremely prone to diseases and infections. A discus tank should be well established and requires a lot of time to maintain until the tank is completely stable. Due to the fishes water and maintenance requirements they are not recommended as starter fish.

piranha - Copyright www.jjphoto.dk

Red Bellied or Black Pacu – Pacu are a very hearty fish although they grow at an astonishing rate. They can easily become over 2-3 feet in length over time and are a very shy and skittish species. They are known throughout the aquatic community as tank busters. Pacu grow much larger than their close relatives the piranha. Pacu are however not carnivore and are
omnivorous and eat mostly fallen fruits and nuts from the trees of the amazon. With this being said this is a fish with powerful jaws and blunt teeth. They will easily smash the fingers of an unknowing aquarists and are not recommended for children.

Piranha – Piranha are a very likeable species to most. Unfortunately they stay small and a lot of aquarists try to keep them. Piranha have razor sharp teeth and should be kept again as a species tank. Due to their aggressive nature they need to be grouped in larger numbers as two piranha in a single tank will commonly attack each other. The increased tank size and increased food cost coupled with the extremely aggressive natural make the piranha a fish that should only be kept by seasoned aquarists. Of course they are not recommended with children in the home as one hand in the tank could end in a disaster.

Selecting your Fish
Before you select your fish take some time and research the fish. Talk to more experienced fish keepers on fish forums. Sometimes pet store owners are blinded by the sale and may sell you fish that do not necessarily match together. Start with a good sized tank and some smaller fish first until you have mastered the tank maintenance portion of fish keeping. Bigger and messier fish need more room and require better filtration. They also require a better understanding of fish keeping to live a happy healthier life. Choose fish that are compatible with each other and will thrive in the type of setting you have provided them. Some fish enjoy plants or other types of natural decorations that make them feel safer and less prone to stress.

Other Aquarium Articles

Aquarium Cycling - A guide on how to cycle your aquarium.
Aquarium Lighting - Learn the basics of aquarium lighting
Acclimating Fish - A guide on how to acclimate fish.
Breeding Fish - Overview of How To Breed Tropical Fish
Beginner fish - Great Beginner Fish for the Beginner Aquarist
The beginners tank - A guide to your fist aquarium
Cleaning your filter - Basic filter management
Carbon and aquariums - Information on the effects of using carbon in your aquarium.
Cycling - A guide to aquarium cycling and how it works.
Don’t trust the staff in the fish store! - A text about why you shouldn't alway trust your fish store.
Dry and Rainy Seasons in the Tank - A detailed account of how to simulate seasons in aquariums
Electrical Safety and Aquariums - How to prevent electrical accidents.
Filtration pro and cons - thoughts about filtration
Fry Growth rate - Thoughts on how to optimize growth in fry.
Fish keeping for beginners - An introduction for beginners.
Aquarium Filtration- Llists and describes the different methods of aquarium filtration, and then discusses their benefits and drawbacks.
Finding the Triggers - Information about how to find breeding triggers in different fihs species.
Fry Savers - Information about fry savers and how to construct fry savers.
How to Buy Healthy Fish - A gew tips on choosing healthy fish.
Making a Pebble Cave - A guide on how to make your own pebble cave for your fish.
Modifying Water Chemistry - A technical article about modifying hardness, alkalinity and pH.
Optimizing Growth of Fishes - The factors affecting fish growth - some may be manipulated, others not.
Setting up a tropical freshwater aquarium - Detailed guide on how to setup a freshwater aquarium..
Reverse Osmosis and aquariums - RO is a way to get very pure water in which fish such as dicus and neon tetras can breed and raise their fry.
Safe Rock and Wood Aquascaping - How to make sure that the materials you use in your aquascaping are aquarium safe.
Selecting Community Tank Fish - A guide that will help you choose the right fish for you based on tank size and experience level.
Setting Up A New Aquarium - Help beginners setup their first aquarium
Slime coat - Protecting your fishes vital slime coat
Snails in Aquariums - The biology of snails. Their advantages and disadvantages in an aquarium. How to keep them in check.
Amazon Biotope Aquarium - How to set-up, stock and maintain an aquarium that replicates the Amazon watershed.
Wall mounted aquariums - Information about Wall mounted aquariums
Water chemistry in the aquarium - Hardness, alkalinity and pH are discussed technically, from a chemistry point of view.
Water Chillers - Introduction to water chillers.