Avoiding Aquarium Disease
Your fish can get sick just like your other pets but one way to make sure they recover is to know how to spot signs of aquarium disease.Keeping a regular maintenance schedule and not overcrowding the tank will go a long way to insuring the health of your fish, but it is also important to watch your tank daily for signs of illness.
Most aquarium disease is allowed to affect your fish because they are stressed. Stress from poor water conditions and overcrowding can weaken your fishes defenses and cause him to become more susceptible to the micro organisms typically present in the aquarium water which can then take hold and infect him with disease.
So how do you tell if your fish are stressed?
Unlike people, fish probably won’t start overeating or smoking too much but there are some signs you can look for. If you notice your fish swimming with their fins closed up or they hide in a corner they might be stressed. Fish that look like they are gasping for air or rub against rocks and other decorations or have white spots are also in need of some help.
Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do to help prevent stress and keep your aquarium, and your fish, disease free.
1. Make sure you acclimate your fish properly. Before you get your fish, he’s been through a lot. Going from a breeders place, being shipped across country and then into a new tank - your little guy could be stressed before you even get him! In order to help reduce the stress you should acclimate him to your aquarium properly by first letting the bag he comes in float in your tank for about 10 minutes, then open the bag and introduce some of your tank water, wait another 10 minutes and then let the fish out.
2. Make sure your water quality is top notch. Poor water quality is the number one cause of fish illness and death. If you do not have proper filtration and neglect partial water changes on a regular basis, toxins will build up in your aquarium and poison your fish. Make sure you test things like PH, water harness, nitrite and adjust accordingly. Also, be sure to keep the tank at the optimum temperature for your type of aquarium fish.
3. Don’t overcrowd your tank or introduce too many fish at one time. This can be stressful. Also, when starting out your tank be sure to only add 1 fish and wait several weeks before adding another and then wait again. I know, it’s tempting to throw in 5 or 6 fish at once but you could really be jeopardizing the health of the aquarium if you do that.
Keeping your aquarium disease free is not that hard, it simply takes some basic maintenance and common sense to keep all your fish happy and healthy and your tank looking beautiful!