Millions of people around the world own pet fish. Some are kept in a larger aquarium with other aquatic animals, while some fish tanks provide just the right amount of room for your fish to flourish! But, without professional guidance after we first leave the pet store with our fish, it can be difficult to know if we’re still on the right track or whether we need to make some adjustments.
This article aims to explore some of the most common ways to keep our fish tanks healthy so that our fish can live as long – and as happy – as possible! Keep in mind that while this is meant for educational purposes, it cannot answer specific questions you may have. If you are unsure, or it seems like something may be wrong with your fish, contact a fish specialist or your local pet store to help you.
Ideal temperature for the tank
As there are warm-water and cold-water fish, it is easy to guess that your fish will have a preferred temperature. In fact, if your fish thrive in warm water and the water becomes cold, their immune systems can become compromised and cause illness. If the water drops very suddenly, fish can even die from a temperature change that is too great…
Almost all fish are cold-blooded, meaning they rely on their external environment. While it can be difficult maintaining the temperature of your tank at around 76 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit, an aquarium temperature controller is an excellent tool to automate your tank! In this way, you can be assured that your fish will be content and sufficiently thermoregulate.
Know when your fish are stressed
With more education around the needs of fish, fish-owners are recognizing the immense needs of fish. They may seem like simple and uncomplicated creatures, but they are extremely sensitive – especially in a closed system like a tank. Stress can have enormous consequences on your fish, leading to an inability to successfully breed, fend off disease, and a general inability to cope. Fish also experience shortened life spans from stress.
However, stress does not mean the same as humans experience. Contrary, stress for animals usually denotes an unbalanced, impure environment, leading to imbalances within the fish’s body and abnormal behavior. Some key factors that cause an upset for fish are even low levels of ammonia, excess nitrate if not adequately filtered, an unmatched water temperature, unsuitable pH balance (level of water acidity), and definitely poor nutrition.
How to feed properly
Feeding is an essential part of keeping your fish healthy, and like stress, it can impact your fish health enormously. Most experts recommend that if you are unsure, that you rather underfeed. Though you may be tempted to keep some extra food in the tank for when your underwater fish get hungry, excess food actually becomes pollution in your tank.
Uneaten food is a nuisance to your fish and your tank health. The particles become toxic when broken down, clogging your filter and increasing the ammonia (and subsequent nitrate) levels) in your tank. Additionally, water is also likely to become more acidic and contain lower amounts of oxygen, creating a more stressful environment than preferred.
It is recommended to feed once a day, keeping in mind that in the wild fish can go days without feeding at all. When your fish seem to be begging at the tank, do not necessarily think they are hungry. They are opportunistic feeders and easily trick their owners into overfeeding them, ultimately jeopardizing their health. Again, rather underfeed if you are not sure!
Fish vary in their feeding habits, as well as the type of food that is appropriate. Therefore, if you are not using a fish food that was recommended for your specific types of fish, it is best to contact someone to help understand the needs of your unique fish.
Have a good relationship with a fish expert
During the time you own some fish, you are likely to need more thorough support and professional guidance. If the pet or fish store from which you bought your fish are qualified, continue to seek their expertise on all things from how much to feed your fish, what to do if your fish aren’t getting along, which fish are best to introduce into your tank, and even which filters and pieces of equipment you should put into your tank to improve the experience for your fish friends.
It is important that you are researching and finding ways to make your fish happier. And luckily, there are many ways you can start improving the filter system and find some new, entertaining objects to place inside your tank.
