| Aquarium tank fish death is one of the common | | | | factor that affects fish survival as pets.Another thing |
| challenges faced by aquarists. There are number of | | | | to watch out for in a newly installed tank is the |
| factors that could be responsible for the deaths | | | | quantity of food: very little of this should be given |
| experienced. These are outlined briefly below:- The | | | | during the fist three weeks. Mind you! I am not |
| aquarist selection of fish.- The removal and packing | | | | suggesting that you should not give them food at all, |
| of the fish from the pet shop- Transport time and | | | | because without food, no bacterial flora forms. The |
| period and the handling of the fish in transit- | | | | food supply to the bacteria should be increased only |
| Quarantine procedure.- Adjustment and adaptation | | | | very gradually.Fish keepers with old functional |
| into the new community or environment by the new | | | | aquariums should avoid general cleaning that is |
| fish.When buying fish from the pet shop always | | | | washing of sand/gravel, scrubbing of tank wall and |
| spend some time at the place to inquire about the | | | | complete water changes so as not to disturb the |
| life history and habits of the new purchase. You can | | | | bacterial flora.When you have to service, it should |
| then make a selection from collection of the same | | | | just be the removal of the mulm and dead leaves |
| species. Never buy the last specimen in reserve at | | | | sufficient to ensure adequate flow through the filter |
| any shop because if it had been a good specimen, | | | | and no more. The bad habit of replacing the entire |
| you would not have met it there in the first | | | | filter material or the soiled part with fresh materials is |
| instance.Always form the habit of making your fish | | | | detrimental to fish life. Most bacterial live in the sludge |
| purchase during the cool periods of the day, | | | | at the bottom of the tank, so don't throw them |
| preferably before 12 noon or after 4.30pm.These are | | | | away.Many pet shops that operate a house-to-house |
| the only periods I can guarantee for fish comfort. | | | | maintenance routine on aquariums are used to the |
| This restriction is borne out of my observation that | | | | habit of complete overhaul which invariably lead to |
| most pet shops and aquarists alike do not seem to | | | | fish death. I have met many people who have said, |
| care about insulation of the fish against temperature | | | | "I used to service my tank myself. On close scrutiny |
| fluctuations after gassing them in a polythene.When | | | | I discovered that he indulge in the unforgivable habit |
| making your fish selection from the pet shop be sure | | | | of washing the aquarium with detergents!In real life |
| the attendant has the expertise to pick fish out from | | | | situation, no one can attest to having experienced a |
| a selection. This you can know through the swiftness | | | | complete overhaul of a river bed. The only thing that |
| with which your choice fish is removed out of the | | | | happens during heavy rains or flood is the partial |
| selection.Reject a fish that has been chased around, | | | | complete change of the water body. The bed, sand |
| gasping for breath... It is week already! Chances are | | | | and gravel components get cleaned but not |
| that it gives up with the further stress that | | | | overhauled.This is nature's method of 'servicing' the |
| accompanies the transportation of the fish.Make sure | | | | fish's natural environment. So why don't we all adopt |
| that your new purchase is quarantined. That's a single | | | | nature's method. |