Choosing the fishes for your custom aquarium should be fun.
Go to a well stocked aquatic center when shopping for your new pets.
Never buy from a store that appears dirty or if the owner doesn't appear to care for these living creatures.
Yes he is in business to make money but he should be interested in helping you as much as possible to provide a caring and loving home for these creatures.
The best way to do that is to assist you with your purchase.
The novice fish owner has the potential to make too many mistakes if left to their own devices.
If you want coldwater fish in your custom aquarium you are fairly limited with goldfish being the preferred option for most novices.
Choosing tropical fish whether freshwater or marine fish you have plenty to choose from.
You should divide your space into three separate virtual compartments.
You want a mixture of surface, mid-water and bottom dwelling varieties.
The amount of fish you buy will depend on your budget, the size of the tank and the size of the fish.
Bear in mind that you will usually buy youngsters that may grow a lot bigger so if in doubt ask the store owner.
Try not to mix too many different species particularly if you are new to owning a custom aquarium.
Although all fish have similarities, there are also some subtle differences in their care.
It is better to build up your knowledge gradually rather than try to become knowledgeable on a variety of different types at one time.
It sounds obvious but you should take care not to buy those species with a reputation for being aggressive.
Also when stocking your custom aquarium you will need to retain some of your budget for food and other materials such as plants and rocks etc.