If you are preparing to welcome pet fish into your household, you might wonder if they need elaborate decor for their aquariums or if even basic things in the tank are simply not needed.
Decorations for your fish should be functional and useful for the fish and not just pretty. Fish like to explore their environments and need hideouts for rest. Avoid adding too many items because fish also need space and make sure the decorations are safe for your pet fish.
Fish are beautiful and even therapeutic to look at, and usually, it is quite easy to find decorations that are convenient for the fish and aesthetically appealing for the human dwellers of your home.
WHY FISH NEED DECORATIONS
Fish Like To Hide As Needed
In their natural environment, all small species of fish are preyed on by larger aquatic fish and mammals. It is normal for fish to seek refuge in their hideout spots to rest or avoid a stressor. Some fish species are timider than others and like to hide quite a bit.
Like with most other pets, when you add new fish to your aquarium, it could be shy and cautious for some time. An unfamiliar environment is stressful and having a hiding spot or two could make it easier for the new fish to adjust and feel safer.
Once your pet fish is familiar with the tank and used to the temperature, acidity, and other factors in its new environment, it will come out and explore. It will hide as needed for rest.
Decorations Provide Surface Area For Beneficial Bacteria
When your fish move into their new aquarium, they begin the process of conditioning the environment to make it their home. Plants, gravel, hideout spots – they all provide complex surface areas which optimal for bacterial colonization.
For that reason, it is important to avoid cleaning the items all at once to prevent disrupting the bacterial environment which is so important for the fish.
Decorations Provide Living Environment And Prevent Boredom
Fish like to explore and have a sense of their habitat. Decorations provide an area to rest, explore, and live. Plants, pebbles, and other pieces of decor should have a functional purpose for your pet fish.
Plants and hideout decor and multifunctional because they are fun to swim about but can also be a place to hide when fish want to rest or sleep.
Aesthetic Value For The Owner
Although the well-being of your fish should be your priority when choosing items for their tank, the decorations should be appealing to you. The therapeutic value of observing fish swimming in their natural or artificial environments has long been recognized.
It is up to you if you prefer natural colors or choose something very bright. However, it is very important to prevent the tank from getting too crowded. Adding fish and decorations to the aquarium can become very exciting so resist the urge to add more than the space can accommodate.
Consider if natural or artificial decorations are best for your fish and your particular household situation.
Natural Or Artificial Plants For Aquarium?
Natural decorations can improve the environment in the fish tank. Over time they become populated with bacteria that consume nitrogen and release oxygen, which is beneficial to the fish. Manmade items provide a surface for bacterial growth too, it is just a less ideal environment.
At the same time, if plants or wood begin to wither and decay, they can have the opposite effect and emit nitrogen and some toxins. For that reason, it is very important to observe any natural decorations in the tank for signs of decomposition.
If you would like to use natural objects for your aquarium, boil them for a few minutes before adding them to the aquarium. Doing so will prevent an inadvertent introduction of potentially harmful living organisms to the tank.
Natural decorations are generally harder to maintain and clean. They also need to be replaced more frequently. There could be considerations a relatively new pet fish owner is not aware of, which is why most novice owners opt for artificial decorations.
Gravel, Sand, And Other Substrate
Gravel is an excellent way to decorate the aquarium and make life more comfortable for your pet fish. Some fish like to burrow so they benefit from fine gravel or sand. Most popular species of fish, such as betta and goldfish, do fine with regular gravel.
For most species of fish gravel is not necessary and it could be beneficial to forgo it entirely in the case if the tank is not very spacious.
Natural rocks, just like real plants, provide a surface for the growth of bacteria naturally in the environment of the fish. Fake rocks serve the same purpose.
Seashells are complicated in the sense that they could release minerals that may not be good for the fish, given the limited scope of the habitat. The acid balance could also change, as a result.
How To Clean The Decorations
The most important concept when it comes to cleaning an aquarium is that it must be partial and regular rather than total. The water should be replaced partially and the items in the tank should not be cleaned all at once either.
- Changing the water all at once is disruptive to the normal bacterial environment of the aquarium. Changing 10-20% of the water every few days is a gentler way to keep the tank clean. The balance of the bacterial composition will remain relatively constant.
- Even if you use a thermometer, changing all or most of the water at the same time can alter the temperature of the water, which is hard on any aquatic organism.
Decorations and gravel can be taken out and washed, carefully to make it minimally stressful for the fish. Alternatively, you could use special vacuum cleaners or pumps for fish tanks.
When you clean the rest of the interior, do not forget to clean the walls of the aquarium with a tank-friendly sponge.
Related Question:
Most fish dislike being touched and you should avoid petting your fish out of concern for its well-being. Every time you touch your fish, you can inadvertently damage its slime coat and change the bacteria on its skin. To prevent causing stress to your fish, interact with your pet fish without touching it.
