How To Pick Out Healthy Saltwater Fish

If you have had a saltwater tank for a long time, you probably have your own system in place for making absolutely sure the fish you are buying are healthy and in great shape, in order to prevent those frustrating instances of bringing an expensive fish home only to have it die a few days (or hours!) later, but if you are fairly new to having a saltwater tank, it will be helpful for you to understand a few things before you make any purchases.

Taking a look at the environment in which they are being kept is one of the best ways to make sure the fish you are buying will remain healthy; if the saltwater tank the pet store is keeping them in has ornamental gravel as a substrate, and if it has no live plants of any kind, you might want to think twice about purchasing – but if the tank has sand at the bottom and looks “lived in,” there is a better chance the fish itself will be healthy.

Finding out as much about the fish as you can before you make a purchase will also be important (after all, if you are spending $50 or more on a fish, you certainly have a right to ask questions!), so ask around to find out how long the fish has been in the store, whether or not it was born in captivity, and whether it has any irregular spots or withered parts that might indicate that it is sick.

This beginners guide to saltwater aquariums will tell you every single thing you need to know!

And finally, it will be important that you train yourself to not get “married” to any single fish, as this can lead you to make an unwise purchase; just because a fish looks beautiful does not mean you need to purchase it if the other important factors you are paying attention to do not stack up favorably! There are always other fish stores to check out, and there are always other fish to consider, so look around at other stores (preferably locally-owned stores that specialize in saltwater fish, rather than department store-style pet shops that specialize in everything!), and consider other fish, and you can ensure that you are making wise purchases.