Question 2 of 21

What is the average life span of a tropical fish kept in an aquarium?

... Tropical fish kept in an aquarium usually live between two and three years.

Question 3 of 21

When did keeping tropical fish become a popular hobby in the U.S.

... Keeping tropical fish started becoming popular in the 1920s, and became all the rage after World War II.

Question 4 of 21

Most tropical fish range between what size and what size?

... The majority of tropical fish aren't very large; they are between one and five inches (2.5 to 12.5 cm) in length.

Question 5 of 21

Why do most people prefer keeping freshwater fish?

... Saltwater aquariums require a lot of maintenance. If you're just starting out, consider a freshwater tank.

Question 6 of 21

How many varieties of freshwater tropical fish have been successfully kept in home aquariums?

... There are more than 1,500 varieties of freshwater tropical fish that can be kept in home aquariums.

Question 7 of 21

Of the 1,500 varieties of tropical fish kept in home aquariums, how many are readily available on the market?

... One third of the 1,500 varieties of fish on the market are easily available for purchase. Some fish, however, must be special ordered at great expense.

Question 8 of 21

What is the most popular aquarium fish?

... Everybody starts out with a goldfish, and goldfish remain the world's most popular fish.

Question 9 of 21

Why shouldn’t you keep fish in a fishbowl?

... The opening of a fishbowl does not have enough surface area to allow oxygen to be absorbed and poisonous gases to leave.

Question 10 of 21

What is the proper relationship between size of fish and volume of water?

... For every inch of fish in your tank (excluding the tail) you need one gallon of water.

Question 11 of 21

If you have five fish, each of which is one inch long, how many square inches of water surface must you have?

... Fish tanks need a lot of water surface, and stuffing a tank with fish is bad for the fish. For five inches of fish you need 120 square inches (10 square feet) of water surface.

Question 12 of 21

If you use an aerator, you can increase the natural capacity of your tank by how much?

... Using an aerator to supply your tank with oxygen means you can double its capacity.

Question 13 of 21

Why should you keep a freshwater tank out of direct sunlight?

... Too much direct sunlight will cause a fish tank to grow algae, which are harmful to freshwater fish.

Question 14 of 21

What is the appropriate temperature for a freshwater tank?

... A freshwater tank should remain between 70 and 80 degrees F (21 to 27 C), and should never be allowed to fluctuate dramatically in temperature.

Question 15 of 21

Why should you be careful not to overfeed your fish?

... The food that fish do not eat will often decay, allowing harmful bacteria to develop in the tank. Feed your fish carefully and consistently.

Question 16 of 21

Fish should not be given more food than they can eat in what amount of time?

... Fish should feed for about 15 to 20 minutes. The rest of the food will not be eaten, turn to bacteria, and infest the tank.

Question 17 of 21

The most common diseases among fish are fungal diseases caused by which of these?

... Protozoans in the water will often cause fish to develop fungal diseases and white spots.

Question 18 of 21

What can you do to treat a fish with a fungal disease?

... Place the sick fish in a mild saltwater solution for a couple of hours, and it should be fine.

Question 19 of 21

Guppies, mollies and swordtails belong to which of these categories?

... Livebearers, whose eggs hatch while inside the mother, are very popular fish -- especially guppies.

Question 20 of 21

What is the main challenge in keeping saltwater fish?

... Saltwater fish don't need saltwater; they need seawater, which is not easy to reproduce or to maintain.

Question 21 of 21

A saltwater tank must be made of what materials?

... Glass and stainless steel are the only materials suitable for saltwater tanks. The way seawater reacts with other materials is harmful to fish.