- Birds
- Be Kind to Animals Week®
- Could I Be Allergic to My Best Friend?
- PetSmart Brannon Crossing Grand Opening
- Cats
- Could I Be Allergic to My Best Friend?
- Summer Safety Tips for Dog Owners
- Which is Worse: Fleas or the Chemicals We Use to Rid Our Pets of Fleas?
- Dogs
- What to Do if Your Pet is Poisoned
- Introducing Dog First Aid and Cat First Aid
- I Can Do What with My Dog's Hair?
- Fish
- Be Kind to Animals Week®
- PetSmart Brannon Crossing Grand Opening
- Freshwater Fish Aquarium Basics
- Horses
- Which is Worse: Fleas or the Chemicals We Use to Rid Our Pets of Fleas?
- Seton Catholic students raise money for hungry horses
- KHC Awards Grant for Farm Worker Enrichment Center
- Local News
- Adopt A Shelter Cat Month at the Lexington Humane Society
- Green County 4-H Mighty mustang arena improvement funded in part by KHC
- Paws for President: Where Pets Get a Vote!
Freshwater Fish Aquarium Basics
04/01/2008 - By Bob Evanston Caring for an aquarium doesn't stop once you have it all put together.
Compared to saltwater fish, freshwater fish are much easier to care for. Freshwater fish are usually hardier. To begin, you will need a correctly set up aquarium, which includes a tank, and rocks or substrate on the bottom of the tank. Also needed is lighting and a filter.
One of the basic things to know is that all of your fish are compatible. They must require the same temperature and P.H. and have similar diets. They should also be of roughly the same size. One truth about fish to remember is that if one fish is small enough to fit into another's mouth, it will probably end up there. If this does occur, don't be discouraged but learn from it. It's part of nature, but you can minimize it by careful planning.
Freshwater fish should be fed twice daily. Feed only a small amount that can be consumed within the first two to five minutes. Overfeeding is a common mistake among novice fish keepers. Any excess food should be lifted with a net if possible, as it will become debris and quickly dirty the tank. Water should be kept regulated and tested weekly. Any discrepancies in P.H. and water temperature should be corrected immediately in order to minimize stress on the fish.
You cannot ignore stress, because it is a major cause of illness. That's why it's vital to closely monitor the general behavior and condition of your fish. Do not overcrowd your tank; this can be a cause of stress. It isn't hard to spot signs of stress. If you notice fish that are slow-moving or lethargic, purchase a stress coat at your local pet store.
Change about a third of the water in the aquarium at a time, because this type of change will cause the least amount of disturbance to the fish and other inhabitants. This will need to be done every two to three weeks. Use either a bucket or a siphon to remove the water from the tank. Try to remove any loose or floating debris at this time. When adding the new water to the aquarium, be sure that it is within approximately two degrees of the tank water.
The sides of the aquarium should be scrubbed regularly to remove an algae build up. Again be careful not to disturb the fish. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling the aquarium. Lastly, check the manufacturer's recommendation on filters and change them accordingly. Filters collect any fish waste or left over food. They can't function properly unless they are clean.
Introduce hardy fish to a new tank. These fish can withstand higher nitrite levels that are present in a new aquarium. Choose fish such as danios, barbs, gouramis, and live bearers. Don't add more than three to four small fish per week. Acclimation times vary per species, so check with your retailer before adding any other new fish.