How to Keep your Fish Healthy

How To Keep Your Fish Healthy

Bringing Your New Fish Home:

One of the most important things you can do to keep your fish healthy is prepare the aquarium BEFORE bringing your new fish home.

>Make sure your aquarium is large enough to house your new fish once it is an adult. Cycle the aquarium, and provide adequate filtration, oxygen (with an airstone) and heating (if necessary).

>If you plan to move your fish into an aquarium that already holds other fish, set up a quarantine aquarium and keep your new fish in isolation for at least two weeks. During this time, look for signs of disease and treat the fish with medications (if necessary).

>Avoid decorations that have jagged edges to prevent tearing of fins.

>Decorate with real or fake plants. Real plants can be used, except with goldfish and cichlids, which will eat or uproot them.

>Provide plants to create a comfortable habitat.

>Before using new stones and gravel, wash them thoroughly with water (no soap or any chemicals).

>Before putting fish in the tank, add fresh, clean tap water, and add water conditioner to remove the chlorine and chloramines. Do not use distilled water, as all the minerals and nutrients have been removed.

>Temperature should range between 72 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on which species of fish you have. Goldfish are coolwater fish that should be kept between 72 and 76 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

Testing Water:

Water testing should be done weekly to make sure your water quality is appropriate for your fish. Good water quality is the best defense against fish disease.

>Test water at least once per week before each water change.

>Ammonia and Nitrate should be ZERO, nitrates always UNDER 20, and the pH should be between 6 and 7.5 (some fish, such as African Cichlids, have different pH requirements). Water should be changed if these requirements are not met.

 

Cleaning The Tank:

Another weekly chore is to clean the tank. If old water, uneaten food and feces are not removed from the tank, the buildup of toxic ammonia can be deadly for your fish.

>Change 20 to 30 percent of the water each week.

>Use a siphon to remove old water and uneaten food (concentrate on the bottom).

>Do not change all of the water at once. This will alter the ecological equilibrium that has been set up in your tank. Change no more than 50 percent of water at one time.

>Use clean water and add water conditioner as directed.

>Maintain a constant water temperature when changing water, as severe changes may adversely affect your fish's health.

 

Preventing Disease:

It's always best not to let your fish get sick in the first place, so do all you can to prevent diseases. Keep an eye on your fish, and observe them every day so that you can catch any problems early. (It's normally easiest to view your fish during feeding time).

>Keep the temperature between 82 and 82 degrees Fahreheit.

>Keep the water consistently clean. (You wouldn't want to live in a unflushed toilet bowl, now would you?)

>Keep a thermometer in or on the side of your tank and be aware of changes in temperature. Even 2 degrees lower than normal can lower a fish's immune system, which can lead to bacterial infections and other diseases.

>As much as possible, avoid using a net. Netting your fish may damage their fins, and may remove scales and mucus, which are fish's defense mechanism for fighting disease.

>Feed fish a diet rich in protein sources, vitamins and minerals.

>Observe your fish every day for signs of disease, poor appetite, listlessness, or color loss.