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The Petco Freshwater Aquarium Guide
We’ll help you navigate the exciting journey into pet parenthood with helpful tips, expert guidance and shopping recommendations for all your milestones together.
1. Choosing the right Aquarium
After adding water, substrate and décor, set the heater and wait 24–48 hours before introducing fish to ensure the temperature is stable and water is clear.
1. Choosing the right Aquarium
After adding water, substrate and décor, set the heater and wait 24–48 hours before introducing fish to ensure the temperature is stable and water is clear.
Aquariums
Having the right-sized habitat helps keep them healthy and relaxed while preventing aggression and stress.
Lighting & Hoods
Enhance the colors of your aquatic life while helping live plants grow with a variety of options that match any habitat.
Aquarium Kits
A cost-effective way to bundle a range of essentials that help you set up their home.
-
Aquariums
Having the right-sized habitat helps keep them healthy and relaxed while preventing aggression and stress.
-
Lighting & Hoods
Enhance the colors of your aquatic life while helping live plants grow with a variety of options that match any habitat.
-
Aquarium Kits
A cost-effective way to bundle a range of essentials that help you set up their home.
- Aquariums
- Lighting & Hoods
- Aquarium Kits
2. SETTING UP YOUR FRESHWATER aquarium
Bring home essentials to help them feel safe and comfortable while supporting their natural instincts.
Substrates
Aquarium substrate is needed as a base and can help keep live plants and other décor in place while helping beneficial bacteria to grow.
Plants
Not only can plants add visual interest, but they can also provide a shelter to help your aquatic life feel safe and secure.
Décor
Add personal touches to their home while also providing territorial boundaries and hideaway places for when they need to rest or de-stress.
Thermometers
Used for monitoring water temperature daily to help ensure fluctuations do not harm the health of aquatic life.
-
Substrates
Aquarium substrate is needed as a base and can help keep live plants and other décor in place while helping beneficial bacteria to grow.
-
Plants
Not only can plants add visual interest, but they can also provide a shelter to help your aquatic life feel safe and secure.
-
Décor
Add personal touches to their home while also providing territorial boundaries and hideaway places for when they need to rest or de-stress.
-
Thermometers
Used for monitoring water temperature daily to help ensure fluctuations do not harm the health of aquatic life.
- Substrates
- Plants
- Décor
- Thermometers
3. Filtration and water care
Proper filtration and temperature are crucial to maintaining aquatic life health, paired with additives and conditioners that help promote stable water quality.
Heaters
Heaters help maintain stable water temperature and are essential for healthy metabolic rate and immunity.
Filters & Media
Help meet the biological, chemical and mechanical filtration requirements needed for stable water quality.
Air Pumps & Accessories
By circulating water, air pumps increase dissolved oxygen while adding extra dimension when paired with bubble wands or action décor.
Water Conditioners & Additives
A variety of conditioners and additives help neutralize toxic chemicals in tap water, stabilize pH, add electrolytes and stimulate slime coats.
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Heaters
Heaters help maintain stable water temperature and are essential for healthy metabolic rate and immunity.
-
Filters & Media
Help meet the biological, chemical and mechanical filtration requirements needed for stable water quality.
-
Air Pumps & Accessories
By circulating water, air pumps increase dissolved oxygen while adding extra dimension when paired with bubble wands or action décor.
-
Water Conditioners & Additives
A variety of conditioners and additives help neutralize toxic chemicals in tap water, stabilize pH, add electrolytes and stimulate slime coats.
- Heaters
- Filters & Media
- Air Pumps & Accessories
- Water Conditioners & Additives
4. Finding the right nutrition
Set a strong foundation for their health with quality nutrition.
4. Finding the right nutrition
Set a strong foundation for their health with quality nutrition.
Pellets, Flakes & Freeze-Dried Food
Packed with the necessary blend of minerals and vitamins to help promote a healthy immune system.
Fresh & Frozen Food
Fresh and frozen food are a natural option and more appetizing for some aquatic life.
Plant Food
Live plants need nutrition, too, and plant food has essential minerals to help them thrive.
-
Pellets, Flakes & Freeze-Dried Food
Packed with the necessary blend of minerals and vitamins to help promote a healthy immune system.
-
Fresh & Frozen Food
Fresh and frozen food are a natural option and more appetizing for some aquatic life.
-
Plant Food
Live plants need nutrition, too, and plant food has essential minerals to help them thrive.
- Fish Food
- Fresh & Frozen Food
- Plant Food
5. SUPPORTING A ROUTINE
Follow these tips to help them stay happy and healthy.
Cycling their tank
Understanding the nitrogen cycle before adding aquatic life is crucial to the overall health of your ecosystem.
Acclimating your aquatic life
Help ease the stress of a new environment by properly acclimating your aquatic life before putting them in their new home.
Cleaning their tank
Routine maintenance like changing water, vacuuming gravel and scrubbing algae help maintain a healthy ecosystem and water quality.
6. SPECIES-SPECIFIC CARE SHEETS
Discover tips and essentials that help support every aspect of their health.
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GloFish® Care Sheet
Born with their vivid colors, GloFish® are not injected with dyes.
Freshwater Fish
Fish For Beginners Aquarium
Yellow Freshwater Fish
Blue Freshwater Fish
Unique Aquarium Fish
Silver Freshwater Fish
Miscellaneous Freshwater Fish
Best Freshwater Fish Food
Saltwater Fish
Large Aquarium Fish
Freshwater Fish Food
Cool Aquarium Pets
Freshwater Catfish
Popular Aquarium Fish
Best Fish Tanks
Aquatic Pet Essentials
Freshwater Angelfish
Long Aquarium Fish
Aquatic Pet Care
Exotic Fish
Petco Freshwater Fish Freshwater Fish
Petco Freshwater Fish
Imagitarium Freshwater Fish
Petco Freshwater Fish Aquatic Life for Sale
Petco Freshwater Fish Aquatic Invertebrates
GloFish Freshwater Fish
Petco Freshwater Fish Pond Fish for Sale
Petco Freshwater Fish Live Fish Deals
Petco Freshwater Fish: Betta, Tetra, Guppies & More
Aquatic Fundamentals Saltwater Fish Shop
Petco Freshwater Inverts
Petco Freshwater Inverts Live Fish Deals
Fluval Saltwater Fish Shop
Petco Freshwater Inverts Aquatic Invertebrates
Petco Freshwater Inverts Aquatic Life for Sale
Aqueon Saltwater Fish Shop
Sera Freshwater Fish Food
Seachem Saltwater Fish Shop
Penn Plax Saltwater Fish Shop
Zoo Med Freshwater Fish Food
I'm about to buy some new fishes mostly Tetra Can you help me what fish should I buy because I am beginner in this things. Please tell me what sort of things I should bring I have a one foot tank now other than that What should I purchase from Aquarium shop.Please guide about what fishes I should buy their Cleanines and hygiene to be mantained and everything about do's and don'ts Please I have somehow managed to convince my parents about this pet. Please give a proper list of what I should buy!
I have just brought a new rapheal spooted catfish what care should I take as it is with discuss arrowana and blue angel pls will u share me the link how to hold it
What types of fish should I buy because I'm a beginner in this . I have a 1 feet tank . One more thing I have heard that live-bearers could be best But I want your suggestion. And also what other Things I should buy and can you tell me a site that can offer such things at a reasonable price By the way I'm from India. I am send pics of somethings what I already have . Do tell also which type of food is suitable for fishes.
Hi, I just got a fish from a friend and I don’t rlly know anything about that fish, it’s rlly small(about 4cm) and I want to know the breed of the fish and how to take care of it. Thanks you
I’m getting a 20 gallln tank and I would like to know what are the best tropical freshwater fish that I could get? I would like to get a pleco, but he would get to big for my tank, so I’m wondering if I could donate him to my locomotive petco in The Dalles Oregon? Thank you I love PetCoach!!!
What type of saltwater fish can I have in a 10 gallon tank
How to introduce betta fish to neon tettra, guppies
Can you give me tips on how to add fish to my arowana.
Which category male flower fish add with couple of yellow blood parrot fish(male and female both are) in a (42L×7w×18h)inch water tank ? Can u guide to me this successful breeding process ? In a currently I have only two yellow parrot fish.
I recently bought a pearl arrowana fish what care should I take
Hi I’m new in having fish, I got from a friend 9gold fish and 2 koi, a week ago I got 3 koi’s, they where totally fine but the las 2 days the 3 seemed away from the rest higher and looking towards a corner, one died today. And I’m asking for some advice on taking good care of them. I will appreciate any help
Going to be bringing a few guppies home, probably all females for simplicity sake. We have the 10 gallon tank, master test kit, heater, filter, some Omega One guppy food, and the proper decorations. But I would like to know any tips on how to safely bring them home in my car. (We still have to cycle the tank, so no rush.) We will be getting them from an actual pet store, definitely no Walmart or Meijer fish as those tend to be much less healthy.