Freshwater

Figure 5-1:
A toy diver
is a true
classic, but
it won’t help
your fish get
in the mood.
Chapter 5: What to Put and What Not to Put in Your Tank
Manufactured decorations sold in aquarium shops are quite safe for freshwater
tanks, but they tend to become a little unsightly if you cram your tank
with lots of them, and will turn your naturally behaving fish into Toys “R” Us
kids in a heartbeat.
There is nothing wrong with incorporating one or two of these pieces into a
tank if you surround them with plants or small rocks to make them blend into
the scene. Just use a little common sense and don’t overdo it.
Artificial items like plastic scuba divers do not help much when you are
trying to get your fish into the spawning mood, either. Be honest, would you
feel romantic with a larger-than-life man with a knife standing over your
favorite make-out spot? We didn’t think so. If you really want to see a ton of
these toys floating, diving, and bobbing up and down, set up a small aquarium
just for decorations and leave the fish out of it.
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