• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Animal Behavior College

Animal Behavior College

Where Animal Lovers Pursue Animal Careers

Feefo logo
Live chat
Live chat
800-795-3294
  • Alumni Login
    • Dog Obedience Program Alumni
    • Cat Training Program Alumni
    • Grooming Instruction Program Alumni
    • Veterinary Assistant Program Alumni
    • Veterinary Assistant Program (Canada)
    • Aquarium Maintenance Program Alumni
    • Zookeeper Assistant Program Alumni
    • Service Dog Trainer Alumni
  • Student Login
    • Cat Training Program
    • Dog Obedience Program
    • Grooming Instruction Program
    • Veterinary Assistant Program
    • Veterinary Assistant Program (Canada)
    • Aquarium Maintenance Program
    • Zookeeper Assistant Program
    • Service Dog Trainer
MENUMENU
  • Programs
    • Dog Obedience Instructor
      • Tuition
      • Curriculum
      • Alumni Benefits
      • Career
      • Certification
      • Success Stories
      • Students Saving Lives
      • Find A Dog Trainer
    • Veterinary Assistant
      • Tuition
      • Curriculum
      • Alumni Benefits
      • Careers
      • Success Stories
    • Grooming Instruction Program
      • Tuition
      • Curriculum
      • Alumni Benefits
      • Careers
      • Success Stories
      • Find A Pet Groomer
    • On Campus Dog Trainer Program
      • Traditional Classroom Environment in Los Angeles California
      • Enroll Using Your Military Benefits
    • Continuing Education
      • Short Term Programs
    • Cat Management and Training
      • Tuition
      • Curriculum
      • Alumni Benefits
      • Careers
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Find A Cat Trainer
    • Aquarium Maintenance (online)
      • Tuition
      • Curriculum
      • Alumni Benefits
      • Career
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Salary Information
      • What Is an Aquarist?
    • Zookeeper Assistant Program
      • Tuition
      • Curriculum
      • Alumni Benefits
      • Career
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Service Dog Trainer Program
      • Tuition
      • Curriculum
      • Career
      • Alumni Benefits
      • Education & Experience Requirements
  • Military Benefits
  • GI Bill® Benefits
  • Locations
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Animal Career Resources
  • About ABC
        • About Animal Behavior College
        • Our Expert Faculty
        • Press, News & Info
        • Press Releases
        • BPPE Disclosures
        • Animal Behavior College FAQ
        • Contact Us
        • Why ABC?
        • Students Saving Lives
        • Licensure, Ratings & Approvals
        • Sponsors & Associates
        • Gift Certificates
  • Blog
  • Affiliates
  • Alumni Login
    • Dog Obedience Program Alumni
    • Cat Training Program Alumni
    • Grooming Instruction Program Alumni
    • Veterinary Assistant Program Alumni
    • Veterinary Assistant Program (Canada)
    • Aquarium Maintenance Program Alumni
    • Zookeeper Assistant Program Alumni
    • Service Dog Trainer Alumni
  • Student Login
    • Cat Training Program
    • Dog Obedience Program
    • Grooming Instruction Program
    • Veterinary Assistant Program
    • Veterinary Assistant Program (Canada)
    • Aquarium Maintenance Program
    • Zookeeper Assistant Program
    • Service Dog Trainer Program
Home » Courses & Career » Aquarium Maintenance » Aquarium Keeping: Going Beyond ‘Basic’ Fish

Aquarium Keeping: Going Beyond ‘Basic’ Fish

By Stacy Mantle

If you’re like many people, when you think of an in-home aquarium keeping, you envision a tank filled with colorful fish. However, not every hobbyist, whether casual or dedicated, opts to keep fish—or only fish. Many keep other aquatic species (e.g., crustaceans, mollusks, frogs, corals, etc.) in community tanks or in dedicated setups. What follows are just four of the myriad species you could keep in an aquarium and their basic care requirements.

No matter which species you choose, each will have specific requirements that need to be met in order to ensure that they thrive. Before selecting any animal, remember to consider the following:

  • Care level: Only select those that match your care abilities. Some species that require intensive care are better suited for more experienced keepers.
  • Hardiness: some can thrive in most environments while others are more delicate, requiring very specific conditions
  • Species size: Knowing how large a species can grow will help you determine tank size and bioload (e.g., how many it can accommodate).
  • Compatibility/temperament: Not all species get along or thrive in the same environment. Some are passive, some are aggressive and others fall in-between. Always research which species can live together.
  • Tank size and water depth: You need to ensure there is enough water volume to handle the bioload adequately. In addition, some fish prefer at the bottom of a tank, others prefer mid-tank or closer to the surface. You will need to ensure the tank meets each species’ needs.
  • Diet: Will the species need a specialized diet or will it accept most commercially prepared foods
  • Water parameters: You must ensure that the temperature, pH, hardness (kH), salinity, etc., are within an acceptable range for the species you keep.
  • Preferred substrate: Depending on the species, a tank might need to have a bare bottom, rocky soil, sand, pebbles or a combination of one or more, such as sand with rocky areas.
  • Lighting: Most animals require light to survive. For example, corals need strong light and some amphibians need 8 to 10 hours of full spectrum lighting.

Hermit Crabs

A Caribbean hermit crab, Coenobita clypeatus
©Yanukit/Adobe Stock

Depending on the species, hermit crabs either live in a shoreline or ocean environment. Those that dwell on land require very little care. And while these gentle creatures don’t require a lot of room, they should have at least a 10-gallon tank for a pair of them to explore. Hermit crabs shed their skin and move into new, larger shells as they grow. You need to provide three to five larger empty seashells per crab so that they can move into them without any problems. When they begin molting, hermit crabs prefer to be alone and away from their tankmates because they are at their most vulnerable.

  • Care level: Beginner
  • Temperament: Peaceful, prefer to be left alone
  • Life expectancy: Up to 10 years
  • Tank requirements: 5+ gallons per animal (so two would require at least a 10-gallon aquarium). They live on land, but require water and moisture to replenish shell water.
  • Lighting: Requires a fluorescent or LED bulb (not UVB) lighting for 8 to 12 hours a day.
  • Air temperature: It should be between 78–85 degrees F during day and 65–75 degrees F at night.
  • Humidity: It should remain between 70–80 percent; misters and a hygrometer can help you ensure you maintain this level.
  • Diet: Pellet food crushed into powder, dark, leafy vegetables (kale, broccoli) and some fruits (apple, banana, grape). Remove any leftover food after 12 hours. These animals are very sensitive to metal, so be sure all dishes and aquariums are ceramic or a nonmetal, non-porous material.

African Dwarf Frogs

African dwarf frog, Hymenochirus boettgeri.
Source: CDC Public Health Image Library

These clever amphibians are completely aquatic and breathe air at the water’s surface. They may enjoy having a few tropical fish to swim with, but do not require them. If you forget to feed them, they might help themselves to your fish. As such, you should exercise caution when adding other animals.

  • Care level: Intermediate
  • Temperament: Active and shy
  • Species size: Adults are approximately 3 inches
  • Lifespan: 10 to 15 years
  • Tank requirements: Screened or lit aquarium hoods are critical to keep them in their tank. If keeping one or two dwarf frogs, they can live happily in a 10-gallon aquarium that is away from busy areas and out of direct sunlight.
  • Lighting: They require 8–12 hours of light per day and the water tropical (68–78 degrees F).
  • Water temperature: 72–78 degrees F
  • Water pH:5–7.5
  • Diet: These omnivores can be given sinking pellets and frozen or live brine shrimp, bloodworms or tubifex worms

Corals

A colorful member of the genus Montipora, a small polyp stony (SPS) coral
©Kolevski.V/Adobe Stock

Starting a reef aquarium is complex endeavor. They have very strict parameters and require careful monitoring of water quality, specialized equipment, varied diets, specific lighting and a lot of patience. In order to thrive, corals need sufficient light and stable water conditions and nutrients. Whether you’re setting up a completely new system or adding coral your existing saltwater aquarium, you can choose from stony and soft corals, depending on your setup and goals. Before starting out, you should consider joining one or more online groups that focus on reefkeeping. Experienced reefkeepers are your best resource for solving problems and sharing a love of these beautiful animals and the ecosystems they create.

  • Care level: Intermediate to advanced
  • Temperament: Semi-aggressive
  • Life expectancy: Varies depending on species kept
  • Tank requirements: Tank size will vary, depending on number and type of species kept and your experience level.
  • Water temperature: 76–83 degrees F
  • Water pH:8–8.5 (8.1–8.3 preferred)
  • Lighting: Typically require strong lighting, some soft corals require less intensive levels
  • Diet: It can vary depending on the species kept; food examples include phytoplankton, rotifers, krill, etc.

Jellyfish

A Pulse 80 Generation 2 jellyfish tank from Cubic Aquarium Systems

Jellyfish are incredible creatures to watch. And while jellyfish husbandry is still relatively new; hobbyists successfully keep them.The most commonly kept jellyfish are moon jellies and blue blubber jellies—there are other species currently available. Most other jellyfish are very difficult to keep in captivity in a home environment. All jellyfish require a specific type of tank that provides a circular water flow, has little to no suction (so they aren’t sucked into the filter) and does not produce air bubbles (i.e., no aeration). Fortunately, there are jellyfish tank kits that meet all of these requirements.

  • Care level: Advanced
  • Life expectancy: 2–3 years
  • Tank requirements: Sizes vary, but requires a specialty tank that provides circular water flow
  • Lighting: no specific requirements, but actinic blue lighting is frequently used to illuminate the jellyfish.
  • Water temperature: 66–76 degrees F
  • Water pH:6–8.5 (8.0 to 8.2 for moon jellies)
  • Diet: plankton, brine shrimp, jellyfish-specific commercially prepared foods

About the Author: Stacy Mantle is a fulltime freelance writer, bestselling author and founder of PetsWeekly.com. She resides in the deserts of the Southwest with a few dogs, several cats and a very understanding husband.

Primary Sidebar

Tags

educationhumane societystay dog training commandteach dog staytrain a dog to stayteach your dog to roll overtraining a dog to roll overtraveling with petsbenefits of rawhiderawhide bonesaspcadog jumpingtrain your dog to cometrain dog to jumphow to teach your dog to speaktraining dog to speakeasy dog trickshow to train a dog to play deadteach a dog to play deadtraining dog to play deadlick faceshake pawdog flash mobhow to teach a dog to stayteach dog to come when calledrequirementsanimal hospital jobsbest dog trainerchoose a dog trainerdog trainer ratesfind a dog trainerhow to find a dog trainerkeeperkennel attendantsvet assistant programvet assistant schoolveterinary care jobshow to get a job at a veterinary hospitalhow to teach a dog to comework in veterinary hospitalhow much do vet assistants makedog training toyskong dog toyhow to train your dog to sitteach your dog to sittrain dog to sittrain your dog to sitcome when calledhow do you train a dog to come when called every timedoggy dance
  • Main
    • Locations
    • Affiliates
    • Find A Dog Trainer
    • Find A Pet Groomer
    • Find a Cat Trainer
    • Post a Job
    • Evolution of ABC
  • Dog Trainer Program
    • Program
    • Tuition
    • Curriculum
    • Student Login
  • Veterinary Assistant Program
    • Program
    • Tuition
    • Curriculum
    • Student Login
  • Dog Groomer Program
    • Program
    • Tuition
    • Curriculum
    • Student Login
  • Cat Trainer Program
    • Program
    • Tuition
    • Curriculum
    • Student Login
  • Aquarium Maintenance Program
    • Program
    • Tuition
    • Curriculum
    • Student Login
  • Zookeeper Assistant Program
    • Program
    • Tuition
    • Curriculum
    • Student Login
  • Service Dog Trainer Program
    • Program
    • Tuition
    • Curriculum
    • Education & Experience Requirements

Footer

Apex Career School - A subsidiary of Animal Behavior College


Interested in a career outside of the animal industry?
Visit our subsidiary school!

bbb logo

Rating A+ The BBB only accredits the business management of a school, not the quality of the curriculum, or training programs.

STATE LICENSURE AND APPROVAL
Animal Behavior College is a private vocational school approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (www.bppe.ca.gov) under the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 and Title 5. California Code of Regulations Division 7.5. Private Postsecondary Education. The Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education approval means that this institution and its operation comply with the standards established under the law for occupational instruction by private postsecondary educational institutions. Institutional approval is subject to continual review and the institution must reapply for approval every five years.
DISCLAIMER
Please be advised that Animal Behavior College ("ABC") is the exclusive entity authorized to provide certifications and/or degrees from Animal Behavior College. Moreover, such certifications and/or degrees are only conferred by ABC following a student's completion of an ABC-administered program. No other entity or individual has authority to confer certifications and/or degrees on ABC's behalf. Any other entity or individual who attempts to do so is acting without express or implied authority from ABC.
GI BILL® TRADEMARK ATTRIBUTION
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Click here to view Animal Behavior College’s Annual Reports
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
Animal Behavior College, 27509 Avenue Hopkins, First Floor, Valencia CA 91355-3910 Contact Us
© 2000 - 2023 Animal Behavior College. Questions? email@animalbehaviorcollege.com
loading

Please wait while you are redirected to the right page...

Please share your location to continue.

Check our help guide for more info.

share your location