Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
Everything you need to know about how to start a fish tank. Learn about setting up an aquarium, choosing the right type, and acclimating new fish to your tank.
Updated on March 31st, 2026
Tanks with live plants can be excellent additions to your home, bringing a touch of nature indoors. Learn how to take care of aquatic plants.
Updated on November 6th, 2025
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 October 23rd, 2025
We can help you navigate your way through all the types of lights in fish tanks and determine which type is best for your aquarium.
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 December 21st, 2025
Thank you for using Boop by Petco! It looks like the tank provides enough room for Speedy and Explorer to swim comfortably. Keep an eye on them, and move them into a larger tank if they get significantly larger or you notice signs of fighting or increasing ammonia levels in the tank.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
At the very least, a 10 gallon tank with a filter, heater, hood and light. Ideally, the tank should be up and running (without fish) until it cycles properly. This means there needs to be sufficient time for beneficial bacteria to colonize the tank and filter to be able to break down wastes, namely ammonia and nitrites and to a lesser degree, nitrates. This can take several weeks to occur. You can cycle a tank with fish in it, but it will require daily testing of water chemistry to prevent a toxic build up of ammonia and/or nitrites. Either can kill your fish if not treated. Follow this link for a FAQ regarding Glo Fish: https://www.glofish.com/about/faq/ Follow this link for more about cycling a tank: http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Thanks for reaching out, the rule of thumb is 1" of fish per 3 gallons, but smaller tanks are very difficult to keep stable, and saltwater fish are easily stressed by environmental fluctuations (salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen). Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Thanks for reaching out about your fish fry and including photos of the tank. The tank size should be adequate but also depends on the number of fry being added. Proper filtration and oxygenation will be very important. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
A small tank with one Betta will require minimal upkeep. Most small HOB (hang on back) filters will be sufficient. Tetra, Fluval and Aqueon make a wide range of acceptable filters. The tank should have a cover or hood as well as a light and a heater. Bettas do best between 78 F and 80 F. Feed 1-3 pellets once or twice daily. Change the filter as per manufacturer instructions. Rinse filter media with tank water, not tap water, to preserve beneficial bacterial populations. A partial water change, no more than 20-20% of total tank volume, may be necessary every 2 weeks to maintain water quality and stable chemistry. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Water conditioner brands include: AmQuel Plus, NovAqua, Prime, StressZyme and StressCoat. You don't need all of them. Follow the directions on the bottle. Allow the tank to cycle before adding a fish. This will allow beneficial bacterial populations to colonize the filter and substrate
Updated on September 24th, 2025