Having an aquarium is a fun and relaxing hobby  as fishes can give one a sense of serenity. However, seeing your fish acting weird and behaving abnormally can definitely take those relaxing moments away from you. You must be asking, “What is happening to my fish? Why is it acing differently?” What you must remember is that fishes, like humans and other animals as well, can fall ill. The only problem is they cannot voice out their pain or ailments, that is why you need to thoroughly check your fishes for abnormal changes in behaviour and eating pattern – if you want it to have a longer life.

The Top Three

Hole-in –the-head Disease. If you notice tubular-shaped holes in your fish’s head and body, face appearance, yellow strings, and lack of hunger, then your fish might be suffering from this type of disease. Usually, gouramis and cichlids are mostly affected.

You next question must be. “How come this happened to my fish? What are the causes?” As what I have said in past blogs, low levels of oxygen, overcrowding of fishes in the tank, changes in water temperature, and lack of vitamin C in the diet may lead to this disease. To reverse the effects, you may want to feed your fish with medicated food or medicated water drops. You also need to feed your fish with fresh vegetable matter.

Cotton-Wool Disease. This is very much similar with the Ich disease wherein your fish develops ulcers, beige spots or marks in the fins, a cotton-like fungus around the mouth region, and lack of hunger. Why does this happen? There is a possibility of overstocking of fish in the tank, poor quality of water, and abrupt changes in water conditions. How do you take care of these kinds of fishes? You may either choose to give your fish phenoxyethanol-based or an antibacterial medicine, depending on the nature of the disease.

Swimbladder Disorder. This is somewhat tricky, but seeing your fish swimming in an upright position, is more than enough to make you happy. However, with this disease, your fish swims in an abnormal angle (more like swaying on one side instead of swimming upright) and may, at times, fall on one side and swim strangely on either side. This is sometimes brought about by a microbial infection and abrupt changes in temperature.

It is said that this usually happens in goldfishes as they have the most irregularly-shaped gold fishes. Separating the fish from the rest of the healthy fishes is surely a great idea in order for the disease not to spread.

Can you rank your fish tank a perfect 10? Of course you can! All you have to do is to maintain a clean aquarium to give you happy and healthy fish. But, do you know how to do it? Let me reveal the secrets to a perfect 10 fish tank.

                                               

First, you need to have a healthy tank. It is essential to have a clean and hygienic tank so that it will reveal everything inside your aquarium. I know everybody wants to show off their stunning fish collection and gorgeous decorative stuff in a very clean fish tank. Change at least 10% to 15% of water every 14 days. Remove those unwanted algae from your fish tank walls by using commercially made scrapers available in fish stores.

Second, never purchase fish that look sick and unhealthy. Damaged fins and crack on scales could be signs of disease present. So, better look for fishes that have bright-colored scales and are full of life. If possible, place the sick fish into a separate tank to avoid contaminating your aquarium and spread of disease.

Third, when introducing a new fish into your fish tank, let it adjust to its new environment. While still inside the plastic bag, add some water from your aquarium into the plastic bag and place the bag inside the aquarium for about 15-20 minutes. After that, carefully and gently release your new fish into your fish tank.

Fourth, lighting is very important. Fish need light for about 8-10 hours a day. It is wise to use a timer so that a precise amount of light is provided. Too much or too little lighting affects your fish.

Fifth, when your fish is under medication, you need to change water more often than the normal schedule. It usually requires at least once a week of replacing the water to prevent any residue. Residuals can be detrimental instead of being beneficial to your fish.

Sixth, check the water condition of your tank. Saltwater aquariums need a specific pH level and salinity for the fish to survive. Too much carbon causes white deposits which are hazardous not only to your fish but to every living thing present in your aquarium. So better check your water at least twice week.

Lastly, avoid combining different species of fishes in one fish tank. A specific type of fish might not be compatible with other types. It is proper to observe the behavior of your fish in order to avoid any damaging results. Aggressive fishes should also not be mixed with timid ones. This might cause conflict between the fishes which may result to mortality.

By following these simple yet essential factors, you can now rate your fish tank a perfect 10!

I am fascinated by aquariums with different fishes that have different colors, sizes and shapes. I always wanted to have one of my own. So, I decided to buy an aquarium and different fishes from a fish store. As a first timer, I need to know how to handle and maintain fish tanks properly as well as to keep my fish alive and healthy. I did not know that there are several things to consider in taking care of my fish and aquarium. The owner gave me some helpful hints in buying the right fish for my aquarium.

                                                                                    

The first thing he told me was I should be familiar with the fish I want, such as the type of food it eats and water condition it prefers. As a new aquarist, I need to learn these simple yet very essential things for me to handle my fish with excellence. Overfeeding the fish is not a good thing to do because it results to excessive left over foods, which, in time, becomes rotten fish food. When your fish accidentally eats rotten food, it could cause intestinal problems leading to its death.

Another thing I learned is that not all fishes can be combined with other fishes. Every fish species is different from one another. A fish that is used to existing in cold-water condition cannot be placed in warm water temperature. Likewise, soft-acidic fishes cannot be mixed together with hard-alkaline type of fishes.

Compatibility should also be taken into account when adding a new fish into your aquarium. Fish must be acquainted with its environment first before releasing it to its new home. For example, aggressive type of fish cannot be combined with timid ones as this will simply scare the latter. Fish that are slow swimmers are constantly disturbed and under stress when mixed with fast swimmers. In relation to feeding, hostile fishes tend to consume most of the food than the less aggressive type. Thus, incompatibility among your fishes may prove detrimental for all of them.

Although some people might say that they are only fishes, you also need to know their behavior when they are with other sorts of fishes. Some fish are territorial. This means that they do not want other species to go into their own terrain. This result to aggression and the territorial fish might harass and hurt the new fish.

Lastly, ensure you have an understanding about the growth your fish may have. An ideal aquarium in terms of accurate measurement is necessary to prevent overcrowding of your fish. Normally, an aquarium can hold one inch of fish per one gallon of water. Do not buy fish that will definitely outgrow your fish tank and don’t get a small aquarium either as it may bring stress and pressure on your fish. It is better to let your fish swim freely and undisturbed.

With these simple tips, I was able to set up my own aquarium at home. If you’re interested to have your own fish tank, just follow the tips above and you won’t go wrong.

Enjoy!