Fish Care

When you decide that you want to keep fish as pets, it is important that you start off with healthy fish. In order to do this, observe the fish as they swim around the tank in the pet store. The fish should not be sluggish in their movements or have slimy bodies. When you buy the fish, you should also purchase the tank at the same time. The fish will come in a bag of water and this is what you should use in your tank to start. Ask at the pet store about the quality of water so that you do keep it at the same temperature.

If you already have fish at home, you should keep the new fish in a quarantine tank for a few weeks before you put them in the tank with the others. This will give you time to determine if the new fish you purchased are healthy. It is easier to treat one or only a few fish than to have to treat your otherwise healthy fish as well.

The tank for the fish should be against the wall and not close to windows or doors. This is because sunshine from the windows will heat the water and then it will cool quickly when the sun goes down. Since fish need to have the water at a constant temperature, changes in the temperature are not good for them. If the tank is near a door, drafts from opening and closing the door can also cause changes in the temperature of the water.

Pay attention to the quality of the water in the tank. This means checking the levels of nitrate, ammonia and the ph levels using a kit that you can buy at the pet store. When you change the water in the tank, only change 20% of it at a time. Many people take the fish out of the tank and let them swim in the sink while they change the water. You should actually use a siphon to remove the 20% and then add the appropriate amount of water. You should do this every 10 days.

Food for your fish is also available at the pet store. It does last a long time, so make sure you store it in a dry cool place. Use a net to remove waste and uneaten food from the water in the tank. After you have completed this chore, which you should do once a day, clean the net thoroughly so that there is no bacteria left on it that could infect the fish the next time you use it.

Some fish do jump and if you don’t have a lid or canopy on the top of your tank, they could actually jump out over the side.