Before You Buy Saltwater Aquarium Fish and Invertebrates

Understanding the different levels of care that various fish and invertebrate species require can be difficult, but by following a few simple guidelines to begin with, half the battle can be won at the onset of buying new livestock.

• It is important that you know as much as you can about the specific care requirements and compatibility traits of any livestock you are looking at to buy, BEFORE you take it home.

• The ease or difficulty of care you need to provide a particular fish or invertebrate BEGINS with the quality and health of the the animal in the first place. If an animal has not been eating, kept in poor water quality conditions, or its care has been neglected by the collector, middleman supplier or fish store, you already have a problem on your hands. Be careful of what you buy, and learn to know what to look for when inspecting a potential new tank inhabitant.

To help you further determine which fish and invertebrates are good for a beginner, intermediate, well experienced or advanced aquarist, refer to our Guides Fish & Invertebrate Species Profiles Index. Each fish and invertebrate we profile here includes a 1 to 4 Star rating, which reflects the recommended care level, from easy to extremely difficult, we feel they require. These star ratings are formulated from our personal opinions and experience of handling marine animals since 1989, and based on the assumption that the animals are in the best of health when you buy them.

Here are some other good online livestock compatibility and care rating resources.

• AMDA Fish EcoList - The American Marinelife Dealers Association EcoList gives their recommended ratings for marine fishes using a rating scale of 1 to 5, from beginner to requirements unknown.
• Marine Care & Compatibility Table - From Aquatics Unlimited, past the Saltwater Aquarium Guide introduction section you'll find a comprehensive list of fishes and invertebrates that are alphabetically coded for care and compatibility.