Whenever our pets fall ill, our tendency is to worry too much and try to make the pet feel comfortable instead of checking the symptoms and causes of such illness. Truth is, the best way to protect our pets from diseases is to apply treatment right away. The same thing applies to your pet fish - know the cause and treat immediately.

Fish diseases fall under two categories, namely non-infectious diseases or infectious. Non-infectious diseases are generally caused by the fish’s genetic makeup or could be environment- or nutrition-related. If your fish is suffering from a non-infectious disease, there really is no need to isolate the fish from the rest as these diseases will either heal on its own or are simple to address.  Infectious diseases (such as parasite infestation, fungus, and bacterial infections), on the other hand, require that the fish is isolated and placed in a different aquarium until it becomes well. If not, your otherwise healthy fishes might end up dead.  

In most cases, non-infectious diseases are reversible in the sense that changing some environmental factors or improving your fish’s diet can make it healthy once again. Even changes in water temperature can sometimes improve an ailing fish’s well-being. It’s just a matter of knowing your fish’s ecological preferences.

So, the point is, although most fish diseases are curable, the key factor here is how fast you will apply treatment. What you should do is to examine your fish everyday. Check out for changes in form, eating pattern, and behaviour.

Common Fish Diseases

Fungus. This is usually caused by abscess  or wound on the fish’s body. If you’re able to detect this problem  at the onset, then chances of the fungus developing into a full-blown skin problem is lessened. Initially, the fungus appears as gray or white specks on the body. This is very easy to treat since all you have to do is apply medication on the fish’s skin. To avoid any possible mishaps in the future, ensure that there are no sharp objects in your fish tank.

Ich. Ichs are white spots on the fish’s body and is one of the fish diseases that is easy to treat. If you see that your fish breathes rapidly, often scratches themselves on plants or rocks, then most likely, your fish is suffering from this condition. Buy medications specific for Ich and soon, your fish will be healthy again. However, for the time being, it is advisable that you isolate the sick fish from the healthy ones.

Rotting Fish and Tail. This is likely to happen especially when more arrogant fish are mixed with timid ones, or when there is less food to eat (where the bigger or arrogant fish eats the small ones). However, if you’re sure that your fishes do not fight with each other, it could be a result of a bacterial infection. Damaged fins also happen when water in the fish tank does not undergo proper cycling methods. To treat this problem, simply apply antibiotics on the fish’s skin or check if there are medications that can be used in the fish tank.

As an aquarist myself, I know that any changes in water condition in my aquarium will definitely have an effect on my fish and plants living inside. That is exactly the reason why I needed to learn the factors required to help me maintain the right and normal water condition in my aquarium and to avoid any unnecessary alterations. Following are simple tips I’ll share with you all based from my experience.

A.    Temperature
Knowing the right temperature will greatly benefit your fish. Remember that any unwanted modifications can do harm to your fish. So, always check the water temperature in your aquarium to prevent any stress on the fish and other living organisms present. Every fish species have different water requirements. Thus, fish that are used to cool temperature should never be placed in warm water and vice versa.

B.    Oxygen Requirement
Oxygen is considered as one of the necessities of all living things to survive. Without it, then all life forms of life will die. And because fishes are living things, then they need to have proper oxygenation for them to stay alive. Fish breathe through their gills and rapid expansion of their gills is a sign of oxygen depletion. Normally, fishes need at least 5-6 mg/liter of oxygen. An aquarium that is too small yet full of fishes will result to low oxygen level. Low oxygen does not only affect your fish and plants, but it also the filtration process wherein the quality of water decreases.

C.    Change Water
Do not change more than 30% of water when cleaning your tank. The amount of water left inside will not be able put up with the needs of your fish. In my case, I clean my tank every two weeks and only extract at least 10-15% water from it. This way, I do not inflict any stress or injury to my fish and plants.

D.    Use of Tap Water
You may use water from the faucet to replace the water extracted from your fish tank. However, before you pour the water into the tank, remove all the harmful elements present in tap water by using dechlorinating and neutralizing solutions.

E.    Filtration
Filtration is a very important process when maintaining a fish tank. Filters breaks down all waste products, both natural and artificial. Never let your tank turn into a polluted environment because these pollutants could bring some form of disease and may eventually cause death of your fishes. Besides, it is always nice to see a clean, fish tank with your stunning fish and beautiful decors inside.

There is no greater joy than to see your fish swimming happily inside your clean aquarium. Follow the tips above and enjoy the serenity while watching your fish.

If you are starting a saltwater tank for the first time, then you need to know some points before buying your aquarium. As an aquarist myself, I will share with you some ideas on how to choose the best aquarium for your saltwater fishes.

One of the most important factors to consider when buying an aquarium for your saltwater fish is dissolved oxygen.  In a saltwater aquarium, dissolved oxygen is less than its required amount. So, it is with utmost importance that you choose a fish tank that has a wide surface area to allow appropriate gas exchanges.

Although a square shape of aquarium is allowed to use as saltwater tank, a rectangular shape is the ideal and most preferred type of fish tank for saltwater fish because they provide the widest surface area. Never use a type of aquarium that is hexagonal in shape, or any uneven size of fish tank, because it has the least surface area.

Another thing to bear in mind is the kind of saltwater fish you want to put into your fish tank. A medium-sized saltwater fish requires a minimum of 38 square inch of space. Your aquarium should be large enough to accommodate your fish and its lack of restrictions while swimming. Also, a large-sized aquarium will provide enough room for the weak fish to get away from a dominant one when you choose to put additional fishes.

In addition, you also need to consider materials used in making aquariums. If you want a small marine fish, then you can have an aquarium made from acrylic materials. However, if you are planning to have various species of fishes, then you need a fish tank made of glass. The thickness of the glass will depend on the size of your desired aquarium. Basically, a 36-inch aquarium requires a thickness of ¼ inch, while a 48-inch one will need at least ½ inch thickness.

But, if you want to have a fish tank for decorative purposes or for “show off”, then you should choose a bigger size aquarium. The best choice for this type of aquarium is a molded one that does not use silicone to stick the glass together. There are different sizes of molded fish tanks made available in the market. So you can choose whatever size you want as long as it is silicone-free.

Lastly, it is best not to choose aquariums that have metal roofs as metals rust when it gets into contact with saline solution. The finest materials for aquarium roofs are acrylics, plastics and glasses because they do not corrode with salty water.

When we visited a friend’s house who happens to be in the fish business, Jared, my 10-year-old son saw this incredible and amazing aquarium full of various types of fish. He was so overwhelmed with fishes of different sizes, colors and shapes. Jared was on cloud nine that he asked my friend so many questions about fishes and fish tanks. My friend told him that a healthy fish comes from a healthy fish tank. He stated some factors must be taken into consideration in order to preserve the cleanliness of fish tanks.

What We Learned About Managing A Fish Tank

First is the kind of fish you want to have in your fish tank. Never buy a fish that looks unhealthy and ill. Don’t buy fish with damaged fins and scales because they are considered disease-carriers, which are harmful to other existing fish in your aquarium.

Second is how to add a fish into your fish tank the right way. It is advisable that you familiarize your new fish in terms of other fish and its new surroundings. After buying the fish from the store, you need to add at least 20% of aquarium water into your plastic bag with your new fish in it and put the bag in the aquarium for about 15-20 minutes. Then, slowly and carefully release your fish from the bag into your fish tank.

Third is keeping your water in the aquarium free from chloramines, copper and chlorine. Faucet water may contain some components that are dangerous to your fish. In order to remove them, you can add dechlorinating solutions available in fish stores. Also, it is important to keep your water clean by changing the water after two weeks time on a regular basis.

Fourth is the lighting. Fish usually needs lighting for at least 8-10 hours a day. Timers can be purchased so that proper lighting is controlled and provided. In case of power malfunction, check your fish for any signs of stress and changes in their behavior.

Fifth thing to consider is what to do when your fish is under medication. If yes, check your water for any residuals because they can be fatal to your fish. In order to get rid of those residuals, add carbon and change water frequently than usual. If in any case that you need to add more than one medicine, it is wise to ask a qualified person because mixture of two different medicines may cause harm instead of remedial.

The last thing to learn is feeding. All living organisms need food to survive and so does your fish. But, never overfeed your fish. Overfeeding may cause left over foods that may rot eventually – causing gastrointestinal problems, which may result to unfortunate death. Likewise, rotten foods cause your fish tank to look very untidy and unhygienic.

As for our own fish tank, I give all the credit to my son, since he is the one keeping our fish tank clean and at the same producing big and healthy fish.

Hey there! I'm Joshua Paul.

Welcome to my world of fishes. So many people have asked me, why, of all animals out there, I chose fish as pet. Well, there’s a lot about fishes that people don’t know about. We’re just so used to the thought that “dogs are man’s best friend” that having other pets considered as “non-threatening” is a peculiar idea.

But fishes are interesting aquatic vertebrates that reside in attractive and colorful living conditions, come from different breeds, subsist on various kinds of fish foods, and grow depending on breeding techniques applied to them.

To learn more about fishes or share your own fish stories, come visit this site more often and let’s build a community for all fish enthusiasts.

See yah!

Josh