Tips for Caring for a Pet Fish

I have a Shih Tzu and three cats. I love them with all my heart! They require lots of love, which I’m always happy to give! But for some people, pets are just way too rowdy. I understand that. A friend told me about her freshwater fish and how much she loves watching the little guy swim around. She also says she loves it because it’s the easiest pet to care for. Here are a few tips for caring for a pet fish.

Tip 1: Understand your fish’s needs

Freshwater fish and saltwater fish have different needs. For instance, freshwater fish have gills that help them filter out toxins and retain bodily fluids. Saltwater fish, on the other hand, lose bodily fluids and rely on a special saltwater tank to replace fluids. Freshwater fish are easier to care for (think of your average carnival goldfish).

Tip 2: Feed the fish

Don’t overfeed them! For one thing, adding too much food to the aquarium tank can increase water pollution. Also, their digestive systems are tiny. Feeding them once per day is enough, just pinch a tiny bit of food with your fingers.

Tip 3: Limit the amount of time you leave the tank light on

Leaving the light on too much can allow algae to build up. If you’re anything like me and lose track of time from blogging and watching TV for hours, I’d suggest setting an alarm on your phone.

Tip 4: Find out how long the nitrogen cycle lasts

There is a cycle that involves waste buildup, which is dangerous for your fish. After you feed a fish, leftover food, poop, and algae mix to form ammonia. So you need to clean your tank promptly. To get an idea about the cycle frequency, pay attention to your water once or twice a week for the first few weeks of owning your fish. That way, you will get an idea about how frequently you need to clean the tank.

Tip 5: Clean your tank

Before you clean your tank, put your fish in a small bowl of water. After you get the debris and dirty water out, thoroughly clean your gravel with a tank pump and the tank with soap and lukewarm water. Then refill the tank and make sure that the water pH level is correct by using a testing kit. You can then put the fish back in the tank. Every week, you should change 20 percent of your tank water to keep the chemical levels balanced.

I know this sounds like a lot of information. My friend told me that she was confused at first. It will not take long to learn how to properly take care of a fish, though. The most important thing is to pay attention to your fish and its behavior. If your fish changes appearance or acts lazy when it is usually energetic, it will be time to find out if it has a disease. Most of the time if you catch a disease early, you can use antibiotics to care for your fish. There are many different fish antibiotics out there. I hope y’all find these tips for caring for a pet fish to be helpful.

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