Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Purchase your supplies from a reputable dealer. Smaller pet stores are usually better at providing information about products than larger chain stores. Buy quality equipment because it will be in constant use. Ask your dealer which filter is the most quiet because filters that hum or vibrate can be so aggravating that you turn them off -- which endangers your fish. If this is your first aquarium, a small 10 or 20 gallon tank is a good choice. Purchase your zebrafish several days after your tank is set up.
Set up your tank. Rinse your gravel in a colander to remove the dust. Cover the bottom of your tank with layer of gravel approximately 1-inch thick. Pour water into the tank. Read the directions on the package for the filter, lights and heater and follow them. Let the water stand for several days to remove chlorine from the water. Make sure the heater keeps the temperature between 80 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit and the light provides 14 hours of light and 10 hours of darkness as these are optimal for zebrafish.
Float the plastic bag containing your new fish on top of the water in your aquarium for several hours until the temperature of the water in the bag equilibrates with the temperature of the tank water. Open the top of the bag and quickly empty water and fish into your new tank.
Feed your zebrafish twice a day with the brand of food recommended by the store. Zebrafish do well on all-purpose, shrimp or vegetable-based fish food. Do not overfeed because rotting uneaten food can throw off the chemistry of your tank. A good rule of thumb is to offer no more food than the fish can eat in 10 minutes. If you intend to breed your fish in the immediate future, increase the feeding to three times a day.
Clean your tank weekly. Remove fish droppings and old food from the bottom of your tank by siphoning them away. Remove 1/3 of the water in the tank and replace it with tap water that has been exposed to the air for several days. Many people keep gallons of water on hand for replacing tank water. Exposing the water to the air for several days removes the chlorine from the water.