Familypets - David Jones, manager of Pets At Home Swindon Bridgemead, writes about keeping fish

Fish are increasing in popularity as household pets and within the workplace because they can provide a therapeutic antidote to the stresses of day-to-day life.

However, it’s important to understand how much preparation and know-how is required before you can experience the joys of fish keeping.

If you decide to have an aquarium in your home, think about the location of your tank, as once it’s full of water it will be very difficult to move. An aquarium should be positioned near a mains power supply, away from draughts and direct sunlight to avoid the growth of algae, and out of reach of small children or pets.

Maintaining the water quality is the most important factor in keeping fish fighting fit, so regular water changes are vital. However, before welcoming fish into your home, a fish tank needs to be set up and left to settle for at least three days.

Also make sure you have the correct equipment, including a filter, heater (if your fish are tropical), air pump to provide a steady supply of oxygen, lighting to create a natural day and night environment, water conditioner to remove the chemicals in your tap water and water test kit to monitor chemical levels. Gravel and ornaments will also add interest to the tank, while live plants will help to oxygenate it.

Like any pet, it’s important to give fish a well-balanced diet with all the nutrients they require to stay healthy. Flaked food is suitable for most types of fish, although there are many types of specialist foods appropriate for fish that feed in different ways. We’d also recommended sinking pellets for oranda fish. Feeding your fish once a day will keep them happy and healthy, but don’t overfeed them as this will pollute the water and also ensure any excess food is removed from the tank after feeding.

There are plenty of tropical, temperate and coldwater fish to choose from, so it is important that you make informed choices. Temperate fish for example don’t require a heater but need to be in a stable room temperature. Some fish are not very sociable and will fight, whilst others prefer to live in shoals of their own kind and should not be kept in isolation.

When buying your first fish, be sure to ask one of the Pets at Home store team for their recommendations so you choose the most suitable fish and best environment to keep them happy and healthy.