3,895 answers about fish & aquatics
A healthy aquarium is a balanced one — water chemistry, filtration, stocking and feeding all work together, and most fish problems start with the water. This page gathers the fish and aquatics library of KinsLe Answers in one place, organized by topic for freshwater and saltwater keepers alike. Every answer is original, written by KinsLe, and tied to a real KinsLe feature.
562 answers in Choosing & Adopting — page 2 of 24
Set aside a modest, separate emergency pot for a betta rather than relying on spare change, because the cost driver is rarely the fish itself and more often an urgent consultation, water testing and replacing failed heating or filtration. A heater that fails overnight or a sudden decline in an older betta can force…
Before getting Norman's lampeyes, ask the shop how old the fish are, because these killifish are relatively short-lived and a school of older adults gives you far less time together. Ask what water temperature and conditions they are kept in, what they are feeding on, and how long the batch has been in store and…
Before getting white cloud mountain minnows, ask the shop how long their fish have been in store, what temperature and water they are kept in, and whether they were bred locally or shipped in. Ask how many make a sensible starting school, what the fish are currently eating, and whether the shop has seen any illness in…
Ask whether the shop's least killifish are locally bred or wild-caught, because this tiny native livebearer is frequently collected or home-bred rather than farmed, and the answer affects both hardiness and legality of collection in some areas. Ask what sexes are in the tank, whether the group is already producing…
The first question for any shop selling bumblebee gobies is whether its fish are kept in freshwater or brackish water, and at what salinity if brackish, because moving a goby between the two without acclimation is a common cause of early losses. These tiny bottom-dwellers are territorial over shells and rockwork, so…
Ask the shop what pH and softness its licorice gouramis are kept in and where the fish were sourced, because this delicate blackwater species often arrives wild-caught and depends on very soft, acidic water. Licorice gouramis also need live or fine frozen foods and a cave or dense planting for the male's nest, so ask…
Ask the shop whether it can identify males and females among its sparkling gouramis, because a balanced pair or small group behaves very differently from two rival males in a nano tank. Sparkling gouramis are tiny bubble-nesters that appreciate floating plants and gentle flow, so ask what cover the shop keeps them…
Ask whether the shop's fork-tail rainbowfish are jumping in their sale tank and whether a tight-fitting lid is non-negotiable, because this active species is famous for finding gaps. Fork-tails are hardy, fast schooling fish, so also ask what group size the shop recommends, what water hardness its stock is raised in,…
Ask what the shop feeds its threadfin rainbowfish, because their mouths are tiny and many starve in community tanks on standard flake. Threadfins are delicate schoolers with elaborate male finnage, so also ask how large a group the shop can sell, whether the stock is eating well, and what gentle tankmates and calm…
Ask a fish shop what sex ratio of boesemani rainbowfish it can sell you, how old the juveniles are, and when the males' blue and orange color is likely to develop, because the grey young fish in a sale tank look nothing like the adults. Boesemanis are active schoolers, so also ask how many the shop recommends for your…
Before buying a discus, ask what temperature, pH, and hardness the shop keeps its discus in, how long the fish have been in the shop, what they are eating, and whether they were bred locally or imported. Discus are warm-water, soft-water fish that do best in a settled group, so also ask what group size the shop…
Ask which nerite species the shop sells, whether the snails are active and feeding, and what water conditions they are kept in, including how hard the water is. Ask what algae and foods the snails graze on, whether your tank's lid and waterline suit an escape-minded snail, and if the shop's snails have damaged or…
Ask the shop which hillstream loach species it is selling, what temperature and flow its tank runs, and what the fish graze on besides algae. Ask whether the loaches look well-fed, since thin wild-caught fish may never recover, and how much current and oxygen your home tank must provide. Hillstream loaches need a…
Ask the shop to confirm the pea puffers are fully freshwater fish, what live and frozen foods they are eating, and whether the group shows any nipping or thin individuals. Ask how the shop recommends keeping them, alone or in a group with enough space and broken sight lines, and what water conditions they are held in.…
Ask whether the clown killifish are tank-bred, whether pairs or groups are available, and what tiny live or frozen foods the shop feeds them. Ask about a secure lid, because these small surface fish are determined jumpers, and what water conditions and tank size the shop keeps them in. Ask if males can be chosen…
Ask which rummy-nose species the shop is selling, since several similar fish share the name, and whether the group is wild-caught or tank-bred. Ask how long the fish have rested since arriving, what water conditions they are in, and how large a school the shop recommends for the famous tight schooling behaviour. Check…
Ask whether the cardinal tetras are wild-caught or tank-bred, how long they have been in the shop, and what temperature and water softness they are being kept in. Ask how large a school the shop recommends, what the fish are feeding on, and whether the tank has shown any losses recently. Cardinal tetras are sensitive…
Ask the shop whether its celestial pearl danios are tank-bred or wild-caught, how long the current group has been in store, and what water conditions and foods they are kept on now. Ask how many you should take together, since these shy danios settle far better in a real group, and what temperature range the shop runs…
Norman's lampeyes usually live around two to three years in a home aquarium, with well-kept fish occasionally reaching a little beyond that. Stable water, a peaceful school, and small frequent meals matter far more to their lifespan than any single product. Because their lives are naturally short, buying young, active…
A fully grown Norman's lampeye reaches about 3.5 centimetres, roughly an inch and a half, and stays slender rather than deep-bodied. Males and females finish close in length, so a whole school still adds very little bulk to a nano or community aquarium. Because these lampeyes swim horizontally near the surface, tank…
Norman's lampeyes are moderately easy as a first pet: the daily work is tiny, a small surface feeding and a glance at the school, but the water care behind it must be steadier than the hardiest first fish require. A first pet owner who keeps a cycled tank, a sealed lid, and regular partial changes will find the…
A Norman's lampeye is a possible but not ideal first fish, because it needs stable, clean water, a proper school, and a tightly fitted lid, and it forgives beginner mistakes less readily than the hardiest species. A first-time owner who cycles the tank in advance, tests the water regularly, and buys a full group from…
Norman's lampeyes can live in a home with other pets if the tank is tightly covered and other animals cannot reach it, since these small, jump-prone fish are more vulnerable than bolder species. A cat on an insecure lid or a paw through a feeding gap is a real danger to a fish this size, and inside the tank they need…
Norman's lampeyes can suit a home with children because they are peaceful, schooling, and quiet, but they are smaller and more delicate than many starter fish, so the watching must be gentler. Their blue-ringed eyes and tight group swimming reward a child who observes closely, while grabbing, tapping, or reaching into…
Can't find your question? Ask it here. We answer reader questions in KinsLe Answers — and we'll email you when yours is published.
KinsLe is launching soon — and the waitlist hears the date first. Join for launch updates and first access when the app opens.
We email you about the launch. Unsubscribe anytime.