Caring for your aquarium and tropical fishes

Whether you have a big sized aquarium with lots of tropical fish
or just a glass bowl on your table with a couple of Gold fishes,
they give you great pleasure and tranquility to see them. Fishes
are most soothing pets, but they can be real delicate too.
However you can take a good care for your fishes by remembering
some small tips. Whether you are out for a couple of days, your
fishes will be there waiting for you when you come back. Here
are some tips to keep your fishes healthy.

1) Cleaning your aquarium or tank

Your fish survives in the water of your tank or your aquarium.
Not only they eat in it but also the water gradually accumulates
the bio-waste from our fishes and gravel. So it makes a god
sense to clean the aquarium and change the water once a week. Do
not change the entire water immediately. Fishes are sensitive to
water temperature and a sudden change may affect them. Collect
your fishes in a tub or a plastic bag with some water of your
tank or aquarium. Seal the plastic bag and put it safely. Then
clean the aquarium and change the water. Put the plastic bag
(with the fishes and water) inside the aquarium -without opening
it. Let the temperature of the water inside the plastic bag
change gradually to that of the new water in the aquarium. Your
fishes will adapt to the new temperature. Then open the plastic
bag and release the fishes inside the aquarium. After all a
clean aquarium is always more pleasant to look at.

2) Cleaning your aquarium’s air pump

Dirt and gravel often coagulates the air pump making it function
less efficiently. Often bio-waste accumulates in the air filter.
Consider changing the air filter at least once a month or as
mentioned in the air-pump manual

3) Feeding your fishes.

One big word: Do Not Overfeed your fishes. Most aquarium fishes
die of overfeeding rather then underfeeding. Also leftover foods
(usually your fishes will continue eating till they are in real
trouble!) contaminate the water, and promote bacteria harmful to
the fishes. Feed the fish small amounts, which they can consume
in three to five minutes and feed them daily. And if you are
going out for a couple of days in the weekend, do not try to
feed them an extra quantity on Friday. Your fishes will do well
on an empty stomach for a couple of days. Also it is always
better not to ask your helpful neighbor not to feed your fish
when you are away for the weekend. The chances are that your
over-zealous neighbor will overfeed them (with a good intention,
of course!). There is sufficient food in a balanced aquarium to
keep fish healthy even though not fed for a day or more.