Gone are the days of keeping gold fish in a bowl, displaying a shark as a novelty pet and raising a $10 red-ear-slider turtle in a little plastic tub.
Today’s aquatic pet owners are encouraged to create healthy environments for their aquarium pets that promote longevity and healthy living.
“Often when people come in, they want something simple,” says Mark Smits as he gives a tour through the Big Al's Aquarium Supercentres store on Bryne Drive in south-end Barrie. “The desktop aquarium is the most popular right now, anything between three and 10 gallons. It’s just easy to accommodate — everyone has room on their night stand or kitchen counter.”
Wondering through all the magically lit aquariums with freshwater and saltwater fish swimming among live and artificial plants, as well as decorative elements, has long been an attraction for young families looking to explore the underwater world.
The free-zoo approach is welcomed at Big Al’s. Smits also hosts group tours through the various offerings and makes presentations, providing tips on keeping fish happy and healthy at home.
But, he points out, keeping fish has evolved since the days of bringing home a single gold fish in a plastic bag to live in a small bowl. In the proper environment, he says, these fish can live 10 to 15 years, or more.
“For most varieties of goldfish, a minimum tank size of 20 gallons is recommended. For multiple fish, you could house them in a 50- to 100-gallon aquarium,” he explains.
Turtles are well known for their long lifespans. While Big Al’s doesn’t carry them, they're still available, but generally they’ll be the more costly varieties accompanied by more substantial equipment for their care.
Smits points to the often-colourful betta or Siamese fighting fish and glow fish – cardinal tetras known for their colouration refracting the light resulting in a metallic look — as popular varieties along with friendly community fish, such as guppies, for those starting a new aquarium.
After starting with the smaller fish, pet owners might consider adding fish, moving up to 10- to 55-gallon aquariums, adding plants, a small structure or two for the fish to swim around or through. The selection of plants is varied, too, depending upon whether they’re used in the foreground or background or floating or if they’re intended to be a colourful feature.
The more exotic discus fish, distinctive by its colourful and patterned disc shape, hides between the eucalyptus root in the large aqua-scaping aquarium where many of the plants, rock work and driftwood are on display.
The axolotls, fully aquatic salamanders, are popular among children – geared for those more familiar and comfortable with keeping aquariums.
“People will start with a betta fish and they learn more about their betta fish. Then they want to add some plants,” says Smits.
The idea is to provide the fish with the environment and space where they can exhibit their natural behaviour. That extra space then provides the opportunity for aqua-scaping, which is an art unto itself, and providing more of a natural environment.
Most fish can be grouped together – identified in the store with green labels — and the yellow labels suggests a more cautious approach.
There are also saltwater fish options.
Smits points out that live coral, available at the Barrie store, adds a whole new facet to the saltwater aquarium, which often feature the more exotic fish, including baby shark. Artificial elements like little castles and even plants helps to add to setting in a fish tank.
Invertebrates such as shrimp, crabs and snails are often a feature of the reef aquarium, along with coral.
“The wrasse, they’re one of the most intelligent fish out there. They’re extremely smart,” says Smits, pointing to a tank. “He’s checking us out right now.
“They’ll use a rock to open the shell of a shellfish.”
The many types of clown fish are the most popular saltwater fish. The dog-face puffer is often a favourite.
And then there’s piranhas, which Smits says are fairly skittish and will generally try to avoid people who may stick their hand in the aquarium. They often won’t feed when people are looking at them, he says.
Smits recommends that anyone interested in starting an aquarium start with some research and visiting a store to learn more about keeping fish and deciding what to include in their collection.
