Fish are beautiful and fun to watch. Once you've bought the tank, this can be the most inexpensive pet on this list.

It's Good A small aquarium takes up very little space, making fish perfect for apartments or small rooms. Fish also come in lots of sizes, shapes and colors, and they don't take a lot of work.

And it's not so good because it's a fish after all. So there aren't many ways you can play with a fish. They also don't live for long, which is sad.

Requirements:
You'll need to spend several hours setting up your aquarium with a good filtration system, the right type of water and suitable decorations. Plan on a few minutes daily feeding the fish, and at least half an hour a week changing some of the water.

Creating the Aquarium :
The total aquarium is something more than the sum of all its parts. To have a complete aquarium selecting the proper equipment, accessories, and inhabitants is the first stage. Setting them up in a balanced, harmonious setting is the second stage.

Below is a step-by step procedure:

• The first thing you have to do is to clean up the tank by washing tank thoroughly with water and a clean rag (use no soap or detergent).
  
  
• Place tank into permanent position, to avoid breakage and disorganization of the community during movement.
  
  
• Place the filter plate, and any necessary tubing under the tank.
  
  
• Wash sand or gravel and spread it into the tank, sloping from back to front. Level of gravel should vary from three inches to one inch.
  
  
• Place under water ornamental materials like bogwood, rocks, shells etc at strategic spots inside the tank. Attach tubing to aerating ornaments.
  
  
• Place a sheet of newspaper or polythene over the gravel. On the top of this, place a saucer or small pen.
  
  
• Fill about a quarter or half of the tank with prepared water.
  
  
• Remove the paper or nylon and dispose it.
  
  
• Adjust gravel and ornaments displaced by the water.
  
  
• Rinse plant materials.
  
  
• Plant large vegetation in corners, and graduate in a design which follows a pleasant regular line - curve, parabola, slope etc. Larger plants should be placed toward the rear.
  
  
• Trim dead or broken leaves.
  
  
• Finish filling tank by pouring water gently (on palm may be held under the water to halt the pressure of falling water.
  
  
• Start up the filter and ornaments and adjust.
  
  
• Check the temperature, hardness, pH, and chlorine neutralizer with test kit if necessary.
  
  
• Add one teaspoonful of salt for each five gallons of water if brackish water species are to be introduced.
  
  
• Plug on the lights and leave on for 72 hours to provide light for the new plants.
  
  
• Allow aquarium water to stand for three days before introducing fish.