Best Aquatic Pets for Beginners that are not Fish

Most people associate aquatic pets with fish. Why that association is not wrong there are quite a few aquatic pets that are not fish. Here is a look at the best aquatic pets that are not fish or turtles.

Frogs
Frogs can be great first choice for an aquatic pet. Our frog friends, however, are not a traditional pet they are a display pet. You cannot take them for a walk or cuddle with them due to their sensitive skin. Experts suggest when obtaining frog is doing your research and knowing what type of frog you want to own. There are only two species of frog that are mostly aquatic: the African dwarf frog and the African clawed frog. Dwarf frogs are fully aquatic and nocturnal. The African clawed frogs can grow to be five to eight inches and very carnivorous. The type of frog will determine the level of care you have to provide. Life expectancy for most frogs is four to fifteen years. Experts suggest getting a ten-gallon tank. Potential frog owners must also consider the number of frogs that will be living in the habitat and the length of the tank. It is suggested adding five to ten gallons of water per frog. The tank also needs a heater especially for African dwarf frogs. For African Dwarf frogs needs to have a temperature of about 78 degrees, African clawed frogs had can survive in a temperature of 72 degrees. The tank also requires UVB lighting for basking. Frog owners should use led lights and give their frogs about 10 hours to light a day. Our amphibian friends produce a lot of waste, so their tank should be cleaned at least twice a month. Frog owners need to be mindful of potential bacterial and fungal infections. One tip is smaller frogs are little more active. In terms of foods frogs typically eat insects such as moths, crickets, and worms.

Shrimp
Shrimp make excellent aquatic pets. Like all display pets they are fun to watch. They are low maintenance and low cost. Shrimp can also make good companion pets for your other aquarium pets particularly tiny fish and snails. Experts suggest a tank that is about 10 to 12 gallons. It is important to watch the pH levels in your tanks. Depending upon the species of shrimp and other aquatic pets you must be as close to the optimal ph. A ph that is too low in the tank can stunt your shrimp’s growth, lead to stress, and higher susceptibility to disease. A ph that is too high can lead to higher toxicity that can also affect the shrimp’s health. Experts recommend a temperature between 70 and 75 degrees for shrimp. Temperature can be adjusted per the breed of shrimp. Shrimp like to eat flakes, pellets, microorganisms, and algae. Shrimps also scavenge for food. Common types of pet shrimp are Hawaiian red shrimp, bee shrimp, red cherry shrimp, ghost shrimp and amazon glass shrimp.

Crabs
Crabs are not usually seen as aquatic pets. Our crustacean friends can also be a good display pet as well. As always know what type of crab you want in the beginning. Popular crab pet species are fiddler crabs, vampire crabs, Thai micro crabs, and rainbow land crabs. In terms of habitat pet experts suggest a 10-gallon aquarium for a single crab. You can add three to five gallons per additional crab. Crabs cannot have too many crabs in an aquarium that can lead to overcrowding and aggression amongst crabs. Crabs like turtles are not fully aquatic and need a patch land to bask. Depending upon the species of crab you crab may need a higher land to water ratio. Since crabs are used to brackish water is suggested to add to 1-2 tablespoons of sea salt per gallon of water. Also make sure you have a top or netting to prevent your crab from getting out of its habitat. And most crabs can be companions for shrimp or snails in your aquarium. Experts suggests do not pair them with fish less they become their dinner. Our crustacean friends have a ten to twenty -year lifespan. Crabs eat plankton, seaweed, zucchini, and pellets. Primary health issues to look out for revolve around the crab’s shell. Another health issue to look out for are a crab regularly losing limbs and molting. Experts suggest removing uneaten food from the tank. Experts also suggests a temperature of 72 and 82 degrees. To heat your crab aquarium use a heating lamp or a heating pad to the side of the tank.

Jellyfish
Jellyfish may seem like an unlikely pet but are nonetheless aquatic pets. They can also make display pet and are pretty low maintenance. Our gelatinous friends are also delicate and expensive. Jellyfish require a special circular tank with a flat base in order to not get sucked into the edges A larger tank so that they can move around. The tank also needs a filtration system that can create a circular motion. In addition, the water quality, ph. balance and salinity level must be maintained on regular basis at least on a weekly basis. Jellyfish can eat pellets. A jellyfish tank must have an exceptionally clean and sterile. Experts suggest a temperature of between 55 degrees to 65 degrees. If this temperature range is not maintained your jellyfish could easily die from stress. Popular jellyfish species are ghost, amakusa, red cross blubber, and spotted lagoon.