About

Hi-ya! Welcome to Native Fish!

Keeping an aquarium is an extraordinary blend of art and science. While it is not exactly rocket science, you need a little knowledge of chemistry and nutrition to create a thriving aquatic environment for your pets.

From maintaining your water’s pH level to measuring your fish’s protein intake, there are tons of things to keep in mind as you set up or keep a fish tank.

But guess what? We, at Native Fish, will make the entire process a lot easier on your end.

Built by dedicated aquarists and enthusiastic fish keepers, this website is here to educate, inform, and entertain you on everything about aquariums and fish.

That is our main goal. There is nothing fancy and flashy about it. Native Fish is just a no-nonsense and straightforward source of information.

With a wealth of tips and info, Native Fish is also a dependable source for experienced aquatic hobbyists.

Common Misconceptions & Myths About Fishkeeping

Setting up a fish tank can be overwhelming, especially if you are a newbie. With thousands of fake info circling around online, it is no surprise a lot of people struggle to maintain their aquariums.

Therefore, let us bust the 10 most common misconceptions and myths in fishkeeping right now. Certainly, we will address the other myths and issues in our other articles.

Misconception #1: Glass Fish Bowls are an “Ok” Option

While some pet shops still sell traditional glass fish bowls, these options do not make sense anyway. Truthfully, it is not a comfortable and safe haven for any type of fish.

Compared to fish tanks, bowls are rather small, and cannot hold enough water.

Furthermore, they have a smaller water surface area, as compared to their volume. When it comes to fishkeeping, having a big water surface area is essential to make the gas exchange more efficient.

Although they live in water, fish also still need some oxygen. Otherwise, just like us humans, they will suffocate.

Misconception #2: Fish Do Not Need a Filter

Some so-called experts say that filters are merely a gimmick for the shop to make a couple of extra bucks. But, the truth is, fish do need a filter to survive in your homemade ecosystem.

Remember, fish literally live in their own waste, meaning you need to keep the aquarium water as clean as possible to avoid health problems.

And, a filter will convert your tank’s dangerous ammonia, which is produced by your fish, into less toxic nitrate. Afterward, the filter definitely convert it to nitrate.

There are hundreds of choices and options when it comes to aquarium filters. Browse our website to get some valuable information about these pieces of equipment.

Misconception #3: All Catfish Will Keep Your Aquarium Clean

There is an element of reality and truth to this theory. After all, catfish are mostly scavengers that hoover any kind of food that is consumed by other aquatic creatures.

As a matter of fact, certain catfish species eat the algae off your tank’s ornaments and glass, probably making your job a little easier.

Still, catfish do not consume the waste of other aquatic creatures. So, you definitely need to invest in a filter and clean your tank regularly, even if you have dozens of catfish in your fish tank.

Misconception #4: Fish Can Survive Eating Human Food

Fish are way different from us. While we use carbohydrates efficiently for energy, most species of fish cannot make good use of it.

Fish, in general, need fat and protein. In addition, their digestive system is quite different from ours.

Therefore, avoid feeding them bread, rice, or anything from our regular diet. Instead, buy a commercial and scientifically formulated fish food.

Not only is it rather effective, but also a single bottle lasts for months.

Misconception #5: Feed Your Fish Several Times a Day

Overfeeding is, no doubt, one of the most common causes of death for fish. Unlike humans, fishes themselves cannot regulate the temperature in their own bodies.

And, they do not need a ton of energy to survive. They thrive and live blissfully with just one meal a day or even a meal every next days.

In fishkeeping, more food is definitely not better.

When you overfeed your fish, you are increasing their risk of developing digestive problems, which can lead to death.

Moreover, the excess food might pollute the water since it creates more ammonia.

Even worse, fish may die as a result of ammonia poisoning.

Misconception #6: You Can Put a Variety of Fish Species in One Tank

Fish compatibility is, by far, an important consideration when combining different species of fish in one community tank. Trust us, it is crucial to their well-being and can even lead to the death of your fish if taken lightly.

So, do a little research on the fish species that you want to get. Learn about the fish’s behavior as well as its compatibility before you decide on what kind of fish to get.

Misconception #7: It is Easy to Take Care of a Goldfish

Contrary to popular belief, Goldfish are not easy to maintain and take care of them. And, it is not because Goldfish are delicate.

Unlike other fish species, the needs of a Goldfish are not easy to meet. Goldfish have higher demands when it comes to maintenance, filter power, and fish tank size.

A common Goldfish needs a minimum of 40 gallons of water to survive. In addition, you need a 55-gallon tank to support a couple of common Goldfish.

Fancy types of Goldfish, meanwhile, require a 20-gallon tank for one, and around 30 gallons for a pair.

Goldfish grow a whole lot bigger than other pet fish. Additionally, they eat and poop quite often, so you probably need a more proficient filter and do more maintenance to keep the tank in best condition.

Misconception #8: You can Buy a Pet Fish and Bring it Home Anytime You Want

Let us be perfectly clear. Fish is truly a unique case among its fellow pets. You simply cannot decide to buy one on the spot and expect to live it for months.

Since fish cannot live outside a healthy and well-established tank, you must prepare a suitable and healthy home before you bring them home.

Misconception #9: Fish Do Not Live Long

New fish owners are, for the most part, pleased when their pets live for 3 years since many believe that fish do not live long time. In reality, though, most fish will, at least, live 5 years.

In fact, a Goldfish, with proper care and attention, can live up to 20 years.

There are, of course, a few species of fish that do not live long, such as the Siamese fighting fish and killifish, which generally live for less than 3 years.

Misconception #10: Water in The Tank Should be Changed Every Day

Since fish excrete and eat in the same environment, the tank’s water is bound to get pretty dirty. Usually, the dirt inside the aquarium is made up of waste, bits of unconsumed food and invisible waste byproducts in the form of phosphates and nitrates.

An unclean aquarium can sicken your aquatic pets and make them susceptible to an array of diseases.

Nevertheless, you should never change the water of your fish tank daily. When you change all of the tank’s water suddenly, you may cause a shift in the water’s makeup, and your pet will struggle to acclimate, which can lead to stress for them.

So, instead of replacing the water every day, start by replacing around 10 to 15 percent of the water per week.

That is the best way to allow your fish to safely and slowly adapt to the shift of your tank’s water chemistry.

Meet Our Team

Before you go any further, you might be interested in learning more about the faces and creative minds behind Native Fish. Here are the wonderful people who can help you make your fishkeeping adventure painless and fun.

Ashley Thompson

A former travel blogger and an aquarium enthusiast, Ashley is constantly looking for new and innovative strategies to simplify fishkeeping.

Additionally, she uses a variety of tools as well as relentlessly searches for products that definitely can create healthier and safer aquatic environments.

With unfaltering respect for animals and Mother Nature, Ashley believes that the most important part of aquatic pet ownership is to put the needs of your fish first.

For Ashley, your pet’s environment makes the difference between thriving and surviving.

She gained most of her knowledge through the traditional trial-and-error way. She was not impressed with the tips and fishkeeping advice she got from others, so she started doing her own research.

From websites and forums to blogs, she scoured the internet for information about keeping a pet fish.

Ultimately, she fell genuinely and madly in love with fishkeeping. Today, family, friends, and followers seek aquarium and fish advice.

Currently, she has 4 freshwater aquariums with dozens of plants, invertebrates, and fish that call these tanks home.

Robert Carey

For over 30 years, Robert has been passionately keeping aquatic pets. But, like most fish keepers, Robert’s fishkeeping adventure has not always been smoothly.

When he started keeping fish in the 1980s, there was no internet and Google, meaning finding answers and advice required a great deal of effort and time.

It was mainly trial and error for Robert in the early stages of his fishkeeping hobby. And, he read as much as he could on this subject.

However, he learned pretty quickly and became an expert in fishkeeping. He, then, became a source of information for friends as well as people who want to buy aquariums and keep fish.

In addition, he helps aspiring aquarists keep their fish tanks working correctly and clean.

That is why you need to have a superb quality with a whole bunch of fish at home.

Why Trust Native Fish

Want a short answer? With years of experience in fishkeeping, we have decided to join forces to share our talents and knowledge in fishkeeping to the entire world.

The long answer? It would be:

Our Tips are Based on Our Personal Experience

Our approach, when it comes to providing information, is “practice what you preach”. As you browse our website, you will never find us babbling about a product or technique that we have yet to test.

Likewise, we do plenty of extensive research before sharing any tips or suggestions.

We are confident with the information we provided because it is all based on our personal experiences.

We are Keeping it Simple

We prefer to keep things really simple. The information we share will always be concise and crystal clear. There are no fillers, distractions, and unnecessary paragraphs.

You definitely will not see us share useless, unproven, and irrelevant information.

Plus, the layout of our website follows a similar principle. To make your browsing experience extremely convenient, we have organized and perfectly categorized our website.

Our Opinions are All Practical and Unbiased

Unlike other so-called fishkeeping gurus, we do not sugarcoat the information we share. And, we are surely not shy away from highlighting the downsides of a product.

We will never withhold info that can affect your decision as you shop, just because we are a little worried about making specific products and brands look bad.

If we ever find something is wrong with a particular product, we will tell it to you directly.

Native Fish: Our Goals and Mission

We are a website started up by bona fide fishkeeping hobbyists. We want to help fishkeepers create a healthy ecosystem for their fish. The content we publish absolutely is designed to educate hobbyists of all levels.

Our goal is to give you a lifetime of success in fishkeeping.

Native Fish is for everyone looking to:

• Create a relaxing and beautiful aquarium for their home
• Find new ways to become a better fish pet owner
• Find the best aquariums and equipment in fishkeeping
• Discover new and creative techniques in maintaining fish at home
• Improve the aquatic environment or ecosystem for their pet
• Find more dependable ways to ensure a healthy and safe environment for your fish
• Learn the latest and most effective fishkeeping products

And, of course, we at Native Fish will help you reach those goals!

We regularly share the most practical advice and tips as well as review products that can make fishkeeping paintless and a breeze.

Here are the points that are covered on Native Fish.

• Guides on how to score the best aquariums for your fish and aquatic plants
• In-depth reviews and comparisons on the leading fish products in today’s market
• Addressing the common fishkeeping and maintenance issues
• Tricks, tips, and suggestions to help keep your fish tank in best condition.

In addition, if you have ever found yourself wondering about the questions listed below, you certainly have come to the right place.

• What are the best fish tanks?
• Where to find the best aquarium air pump?
• What is the best substrate for a planted tank?
• How to find the best pH meters for my aquarium?
• What is the best food for betta fish?
• How to find the best aquarium heater?

We created Native Fish to make it a whole lot easier for you to keep your fish tank in excellent shape by sharing actionable tips and expert advice. Even better, we provide all the tools that you might need in your fishkeeping hobby and journey.

Mission #1: To Help You Make the Right Decision

Our main goal has always been to help our readers find the best aquarium, fishkeeping equipment, and fish food though unbiased reviews and in-depth buying guides.

That is why our website has a plethora of fishkeeping product reviews.

And, these reviews are carefully put together with comparative analysis, extensive research, and our real-life, first-hand experiences in using these products.

Mission #2: To Make Fishkeeping a Whole Lot Simpler With Some Actionable Tips

We created Native Fish, hoping to make your fishkeeping hobby easier and simpler by sharing proven solutions and techniques that have done wonders for us. As you browse our site, you can only find the most effective, budget-friendly, and straightforward solutions for fishkeeping.

Moreover, we provide valuable tips for adapting solutions to every unique solution.

So, our solutions will work no matter how big your aquarium is or how busy you are.

To us, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution, so we are going to give a variety of solutions to our readers

Mission #3: Sharing Trustworthy and Credible Information

Every nugget of information shared on our site is reliable. We have spent countless hours and days researching and testing products and techniques before sharing anything with you.

We are a reliable information source regarding all things related to fishkeeping, wrapped up in incredibly engaging content.

And, hopefully, we are living up to the lofty standards that we have set for our site and ourselves.

How to Get the Best of Native Fish

We take pride in providing qualified information to our readers with ease. As a matter of fact, you can quickly and easily track down every nugget of information on our site with just one quick search.

If, however, you are having a little problem navigating around our site, allow us to give some tips on how things work around Native Fish.

Our site’s best and most popular content will be placed on our home page for quick access and convenience. In addition, we have a blog section, where you can also instantly track down some of our newest articles.

But, if you are on the lookout for something more specific, whether it is an aquarium cleaning guide, aquarium equipment, or product reviews, you definitely find it in one of our website’s dedicated sections.

A quick and easy search on our website will do the trick as well.

Here is a short rundown of the categories that you will come across as you browse through Native Fish. Also, feel free to have a look around on your own.

• Fish food and supplies – It is where you will find our handpicked fish food and fishkeeping supplies. From the best food for betta fish to the best aquarium heaters, you can find a variety of top-rated products for fishkeeping in this section.
• Reviews – This is where you will find honest and unfiltered reviews of several fishkeeping products, including fish tanks, pH meters, aquarium heaters, fish tank air pumps, and a whole lot more. Furthermore, this section absolutely help you score the best fishkeeping products for some of your specific needs, wrapped neatly in the form of our informative buying guides.
• Fishkeeping guides – This section mainly focuses on providing expert tips and quick solutions on how to keep a healthy and thriving aquarium for fish and aquatic plants. If you are not quite interested in reading reviews and want to improve your fishkeeping skills, this is certainly the right category for you.

And, by the way, do not forget to sign up for our newsletter. With our newsletter, you will have our newest product reviews, fishkeeping guides, trending posts, and content delivered instantly to your email. That way, you will never miss an essential nugget of information from us.

Get in Touch

Got a comment or question for us? Want to swing by and say “hi”? Please, be our guests and contact us via our Contact Page or through email ([email protected]). You may also leave some comments on our blog posts.

Address: 1318 Gnatty Creek Road, Garden City, NY 11530

Phone: 845-519-2154

We’ll try our best to get back to you as soon as possible!