Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
Get It Today
Learn how to care for large marine fish, recommended diet and habitat setup. Find the right food, supplies and equipment at your neighborhood Petco.
Updated on April 9th, 2026
Small Marine Fish are favorites with marine aquarists and includes a wide range of species.
Updated on April 9th, 2026
Learn how to set up a saltwater fish tank and key considerations regarding placement, supplies needed, and the overall set up process.
Updated on October 23rd, 2025
Learn how to safely handle your aquatic life to avoid toxin & bacterial exposure. Find aquatic life care supplies at your neighborhood Petco pet care center.
Updated on October 23rd, 2025
Learn how to care for semi-aggressive fish, recommended diet & aquarium setup. Find the right food, supplies & equipment at your neighborhood Petco.
Updated on April 9th, 2026
Without anything to use for scale, it is hard for me to tell how big your tank is, but in general it seems very small. Also, the water that is in the tank appears very cloudy right now, so that would be the first place to start. Water quality is very important, and will make or break your ability to house and care for fish. I would recommend getting a good filter system (you can visit a local pet store to assist you with brands in your area, as I am not familiar with what you can get in India). Be sure to bring the measurements (height, length, width) of your tank, or the gallons or liters so they can tell you what capacity of filter you will need. Everything else will depend on what types of fish you get - if you plan on getting multiple fish, they will need to be small - a general rule of thumb is one square inch of fish per gallon of water. Depending on the species you get, you may need to also get a bubbler to ensure there is enough oxygen in the water for them, and you will also
It is very difficult to get a good biotope in a just 1 foot long tank unless it is a few feet high. You will not be able to keep fish in it, only invertebrates, maybe a few shrimp or sea anemones. It is much harder to keep the water healthy in a small tank,and the appliances needed for running a salt water aquarium cost pretty much the same (if available) as appliances for a larger tank. I suggest you join a club of salt water aquarists who will be able to start you off perfectly. Your local fish/pet shop should be able to point you to a club.
A fish tank will need a filter, a light/hood and a heater. Make sure the filter is rated for at least twice the tank volume. The heater should be adjustable since water temperature will depend on the species of fish. Good "starter" fish include Tetras, Mollies, Danios or Tetras. A new tank should be set up and left running empty for several weeks before adding fish. A pinch of flake food can be sprinkled in daily. This "cycling" will allow a population of beneficial bacteria to colonize the tank and filter. These bacteria will break down wastes (ammonia, nitrites and nitrates) which are toxic to fish.
Salt water aquarium requires a great deal of regular maintenance to keep the fish alive. This can be helped by adding live rock (similar to live coral) to the aquarium. Below is a link to some great information for maintaining a salt water. aquarium.http://www.madhattersreef.com/20-ways-improve-aquarium-husbandry/ I hope that helps and all is well with your fish.
Thanks for reaching out. If is a good idea to fast for 1-2 days prior to shipment, this decreased feces and will help to keep the ammonia down. Typically clear bags are utilized with about 50% water, and 50% air/oxygen used. A local pet store might be able to assist, as they get shipment in (so have older bags and boxes, which need to be disinfected) and hopefully the skills to ship. Check with the airline also, box needs to be well labelled "LIE ANIMALS" and "THIS END UP". Sometimes a health certificate for interstate travel is needed, so contact airline and State of Utah, veterinarian. Good luck.