Aquarium Fish Get Stressed Too!

It can sound strange to people when they first start keeping aquarium fish but the biggest problem your fish will face in life is stress. This comes in a lot of forms. Fish are easily spooked by sudden movements or unexpected noises. They hate temperature changes and changes in how their water tastes.

So for good fish health, it is worth finding out what your fish love and what your fish hate.

Temperature Shocks

Fish really hate sudden temperature changes. If you imagine being thrown in a bath of cold water- with no warning- you can guess how a fish feels during a badly handled water change.

In the worst case secenario, sensitive fish can die of shock if the change is as little as a few degrees.

This means:

• Add any new water to a fish tank slowly. Try and make sure the old and new water are similar temperatures.
  
• If you buy a new fish, lay the bag (with the fish it !) in your aquarium for about half an hour before release.
  
• Avoid placing tanks in direct sunlight or in cold draughts. Fish hate temperature changes even if they aren't instant.

Water Quality

Aquarium fish are fussy about how their water tastes and what chemicals are floating around in it. One thing they hate is chlorinated water. Always let chlorinated tap water stand 48 hours before introducing fish. De-chlorinating chemicals from a fish hobby shop are a good option.

Get to know the characteristics of your water supply and get to know what your fish like. Water with a lot of dissolved metals, like copper, is very bad for fish. Local fish hobbyists should know if the tap water in your area is OK and what local well water contains.

Water with the wrong amount of acid and alkali will get up a fishes nose and sudden changes in these things can cause big problems.

Often it is easiest to buy water from a supplier. It is even better to buy from the dealer who raised your aquarium fish so the fish have no sudden surprises.

One of the worst options is getting 'natural water' from a river or lake. You have no way of knowing what metals or other chemicals (like farm pesticides) are in it- or what diseases could be lurking there.

Overfeeding

Overfeeding fish will lead to a fouling of the tank. All sorts of bad things can happen if there is a lot of uneaten food decaying in the water. One is oxygen depletion as bacteria multiply. Another is a bad smell.

Aquarium Size

If a tank is too small for a fish, it will stunt the fish’s growth and this often results in early death. Overcrowding in any fish tank can also lead to stress. Fish like their space.

Mixing the Wrong Species.

Sometimes, mixing the wrong species can be fatal immediately. A large carnivorous fish like a cichlid will soon eat its way through a group of defenseless guppies.

At other times, fish can be harassed in harmful ways by aggressive species, especially in overcrowded conditions. Look out for chases, tail biting and other behaviors that can cause harm to the fish's skin. Missing scales open a fish to infection from fungi, one of the biggest fish killers.

The best thing is get advice about what fish mix well from hobbyists and expert store keepers.

Driving Your Fish Crazy with Too Much Attention

Stress also kicks in for fish with an owner who is just too much in love with them. Rearranging the furniture- moving plants, trying different ornaments etc- will stress fish as much as neglecting them. Fish like care but as little disturbance as possible. Every fish you ever meet will be an introvert and shy of busy hands.

Letting the Kids Party with Your Fish

Young children love fish tanks and they love fish. This is great if they only want to look. When kids get too involved- like taking the fish for a walk, dropping sandwiches in the water, drumming on the sides of the aquarium, then stress will hit your fish like a hammer.

If children are going to be around it's a good idea to chose a place for the aquarium where the fish won't be vulnerable to the wrong kind of attention.

Over-medicating

If your fish look under the weather be wary of over-medicating. It can be tempting to try treatment after treatment on the off chance one will improve fish health but this can mean the fish are swimming in a sea of chemicals that don’t go well together.

The best cure is information. Try other hobbyists, read books from your local library, get involved in online forums. The right medication is the only one you should be giving.

Other Things That will promote Stress

• Cats. Good covers are important if there are cats about. They are not that good at fishing but they are pretty determined and often succeed,
  
• Doors slamming nearby. If your fish jump every time a door is opened or closed, the aquarium might be too close. Try moving it to another wall or fitting a door closer.
  
• Loudspeakers. Fish get used to background noise but a few hours of wild music can shred their nerves. If your Hi-Fi makes ripples in the water the fish are suffering.
  
• Going away on vacation without finding someone to care for your fish. A weeks supply of fish food before you leave won't do the trick. Most of the food will just rot. Fish can go a few days without food but after that they start to suffer.
  
  
• Aquarium fish health is also improved by regular equipment checks, Descaling and cleaning of pumps helps prevent failure which can have very serious consequences.