FreeFishCareTips.com By Gale Chester Whittington .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gay Author
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gay Author
Freshwater Fish
GETTING STARTED
Whenever I visit friends and spot a dry, dusty aquarium
relegated to a corner of their garage or basement, it causes me
to twinge, as I figure they gave up the hobby feeling like
failures.
A healthy aquarium can be maintained quite simply, if a person
pays attention to a few basic principals. The best way to avoid
disease is by purchasing specimens bred by local hobbyists.
Fish reared in hometown water are robust because they're
adjusted to its properties. Don’t be shy about asking your pet
store personnel which, if any, are from area breeders.
Most fish tropical fish are imported from Asia, where they are
raised in sterile environments. While that allows a large
number to be reared, they arrive without immunity to
pathogens lurking in local water.
Already weakened from the stress of being netted, bagged,
and shipped to the US distributor, they are forced to endure
the whole process again, usually the very next day, for
transport to the regional wholesaler—before being gathered
up again the next morning, when they are finally delivered to
the retailer. It’s no wonder the shocking dive into the home
aquarium is often fatal, for fish and hobbyist.
STORE QUARANTINE
The stress factor can be addressed by simply stretching out
the process. When your favorite store receives a shipment,
allow the arrivals about eight days to acclimate. Visit every two
days and watch for signs of changing health.
Make sure the fins remain wide-open, clear, and smooth. Note
any fish sitting on the bottom or staying in one position. After
the waiting period, choose only those swimming through the
tank effortlessly and shimmy-free, whose gills and mouths
aren’t constantly gasping, and the skin of which is free of
whitish, grayish slime, patches, or spots.
HOME QUARANTINE
Weakened or dying fish often shed microbes that quickly wipe
out established residents in the home aquarium. The best
preventative is quarantine—placing all new fish into a separate
tank for at least two weeks. The holding facility can be much
smaller, even one of the economical “desk-top” tanks.
When moving fish from one aquarium to another, equalize
temperatures by floating them for ten minutes in open plastic
bags, tops rolled down for flotation. Don’t leave them longer,
however, as osmosis and water pressure will soon force
oxygen from the bags, killing the fish.
DEALING WITH DISEASE
No matter how vigilant a person may be, the home aquarium
will eventually be threatened by illness. Thankfully, new
efficient medications highlight the market today. One, the
natural remedy of tea tree extract, has proven to be an
excellent broad-range bactericide, great for shimmy and fin rot.
Parasites such as ich or velvet are best overpowered by
products containing diluted formaldehyde and/or malachite
green. Chemicals are safer and more effective in clean water,
so change at least half before doctoring. Follow the directions
on both medicines for the full seven days and replace half the
water afterwards.
Use chemicals with caution. Unbalanced water may result in
oxygen depletion, allowing ammonia levels to skyrocket.
Observe the fish closely during treatment. Symptoms of stress,
such as gasping or bottom sitting, require swift action. Change
three-quarters of the water, dechlorinate, and switch
medications.
MAINTENANCE
It's a simple equation. Small body of water + living
fish=waste=excessive ammonia=illness=death. A filter helps
but is by no means a magic wand, whereas, clean, fresh,
dechlorinated water is often the only elixir fish require. Proper
aquarium maintenance includes changing one-third of the
water every two weeks.
Whenever I visit friends and spot a dry, dusty aquarium
relegated to a corner of their garage or basement, it causes me
to twinge, as I figure they gave up the hobby feeling like
failures.
A healthy aquarium can be maintained quite simply, if a person
pays attention to a few basic principals. The best way to avoid
disease is by purchasing specimens bred by local hobbyists.
Fish reared in hometown water are robust because they're
adjusted to its properties. Don’t be shy about asking your pet
store personnel which, if any, are from area breeders.
Most fish tropical fish are imported from Asia, where they are
raised in sterile environments. While that allows a large
number to be reared, they arrive without immunity to
pathogens lurking in local water.
Already weakened from the stress of being netted, bagged,
and shipped to the US distributor, they are forced to endure
the whole process again, usually the very next day, for
transport to the regional wholesaler—before being gathered
up again the next morning, when they are finally delivered to
the retailer. It’s no wonder the shocking dive into the home
aquarium is often fatal, for fish and hobbyist.
STORE QUARANTINE
The stress factor can be addressed by simply stretching out
the process. When your favorite store receives a shipment,
allow the arrivals about eight days to acclimate. Visit every two
days and watch for signs of changing health.
Make sure the fins remain wide-open, clear, and smooth. Note
any fish sitting on the bottom or staying in one position. After
the waiting period, choose only those swimming through the
tank effortlessly and shimmy-free, whose gills and mouths
aren’t constantly gasping, and the skin of which is free of
whitish, grayish slime, patches, or spots.
HOME QUARANTINE
Weakened or dying fish often shed microbes that quickly wipe
out established residents in the home aquarium. The best
preventative is quarantine—placing all new fish into a separate
tank for at least two weeks. The holding facility can be much
smaller, even one of the economical “desk-top” tanks.
When moving fish from one aquarium to another, equalize
temperatures by floating them for ten minutes in open plastic
bags, tops rolled down for flotation. Don’t leave them longer,
however, as osmosis and water pressure will soon force
oxygen from the bags, killing the fish.
DEALING WITH DISEASE
No matter how vigilant a person may be, the home aquarium
will eventually be threatened by illness. Thankfully, new
efficient medications highlight the market today. One, the
natural remedy of tea tree extract, has proven to be an
excellent broad-range bactericide, great for shimmy and fin rot.
Parasites such as ich or velvet are best overpowered by
products containing diluted formaldehyde and/or malachite
green. Chemicals are safer and more effective in clean water,
so change at least half before doctoring. Follow the directions
on both medicines for the full seven days and replace half the
water afterwards.
Use chemicals with caution. Unbalanced water may result in
oxygen depletion, allowing ammonia levels to skyrocket.
Observe the fish closely during treatment. Symptoms of stress,
such as gasping or bottom sitting, require swift action. Change
three-quarters of the water, dechlorinate, and switch
medications.
MAINTENANCE
It's a simple equation. Small body of water + living
fish=waste=excessive ammonia=illness=death. A filter helps
but is by no means a magic wand, whereas, clean, fresh,
dechlorinated water is often the only elixir fish require. Proper
aquarium maintenance includes changing one-third of the
water every two weeks.
| The Healthy Aquarium By Gale Chester Whittington ==Copyright 2004-2009== |
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| FREE HUMOR! - Hilarious short stories, poems, essays, blog, and novel excerpts by your webmaster, award-winning author, - GaleChesterWhittington. com |
A natural tank planted with water wisteria and Amzaon Swords.
| More Tropical Fish Pics & Tips on Page 1 Return to Home/Index |
| More of my own flower pics like this unusual Avant Garde Clematis start on Page 8 Photo by Gale Chester Whittington |
| From top left clockwise: male half black red tail guppy, plain tetra, neon tetra, glow light tetra, comet goldfish (center). The goldfish should not be kept with tropicals as they prefer cold water, and tend to stir up the sediment and make the water cloudy. Stock photo. |
| Hardy Apricot Wings Gladiolus. More flower pics start here. Photo by Gale Chester Whittington |
| The author's green delta-tail gold-body guppies. Photo by Gale Chester Whittington. More pictures like this start on Pics & Tips Page 5 |