Tips On How To Look After Your Pet Fish

The tiny colourful fish swimming in an aquarium look very fascinating, but many times, when people buy them as a pet, they are unable to look after them properly. Hence, before petting a fish, here is what you need to know about maintaining their health.

Caring for a fish may seem easy, but one needs to be very vigilant when petting them. Even a little carelessness can make your fish ill and it may die. It is important to feed it in the right quantity, at the right time and clean the aquarium regularly.

To know more about how to care for fish, the ETV Bharat Sukhibhava team spoke to Sayrabh Pardesi, a Pet Shop owner in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. He says that there are many things that one needs to keep in mind before petting a fish, such as:

• What type of fish is being bought
• The size of the aquarium should be according to the size and number of fish
• The aquarium should be cleaned from time-to-time
• The quantity of food being given to them

How Must Be The Aquarium?

Many people like to keep two or three small fish in a glass jar. But those who prefer having a big box-shaped glass aquarium must ensure that it is equipped with all the required facilities, such as filters, heaters, etc.

The filter is very important for the regular cleaning of aquarium water. There are different types of filters available in the market, such as mechanical filters, biological filters and chemical filters. But before buying them, it is very important to keep in mind the size of the aquarium and the number of fish that are going to be in it.

Install proper heater and light in the aquarium, to keep the water temperature in control and keep it adequately illuminated. Aquariums should never be kept under direct sunlight. Also, keep them where their chances of falling are nil. Since the filter that cleans the water in the aquarium runs on electricity, try to keep the aquarium near the power plug.

Cleaning The Aquarium

For the longevity of the fish, it is very important that the aquarium is cleaned regularly. Although the filter installed in the aquarium cuts out water contamination, water too needs to be changed at regular intervals. A thorough cleaning of the aquarium, keeping all the fish out, at least once a month is also very important. To keep the water clean, it is also very important to clean all the decorative articles as well. Besides this, measure the pH of the aquarium water once every week.

Decorative Items In The Aquarium Should Not Be Sharp

Since the skin of the fish is very delicate, it is very important that no sharp objects are placed in the aquarium, no matter the size of the aquarium. All the decorative items in the aquarium, especially the plastic ones, should be cleaned properly and on a regular basis.

Many people also like growing real plants in the aquarium. But, it is important that they are kept under proper lighting because aquarium plants need direct light for at least 12 hours a day. Plants like Amazon Sword and Java Fern can be planted in the aquarium.

Fish Of The Same Size And Nature Should Be Kept Together

Small fish are a better option when it comes to petting fishes at home. Saurabh Pardesi explains that it is very important to know the nature of the fishes that will be kept together in the aquarium. At the same time, it is important to know the type of the fish, i.e. if it can survive in only saltwater or in freshwater as well.

When we talk about the nature of the fish, some are very calm, while some are mischievous and violent and can harm the other fishes in the aquarium. For small aquariums, golden fish, neon tetras, zebrafish and dwarf gouramis are generally considered ideal.

It is also important to keep in mind the living requirements of the fish. Some fish prefer to be in groups and so, 4-5 of them in an aquarium will be good, otherwise, their survival period may get short. But if not 4-5, remember to always buy fish in pairs.

Do Not Feed Them Too Much

Usually, fish living in the aquarium should not be fed more than twice a day. But, the amount of food to be given depends upon the type of fish. Excess food can make them ill and food that settles in the bottom of the aquarium can make it dirty.

Taking Care Of Fish’s Health

The best way to check the health of a fish is to check if it is swimming continuously or not, or if there are any spots on it. If both these symptoms are seen in a fish, keep that fish away from others, because chances are that other fish too might fall ill.