Q&A for How to Take Care of Your Fish

Put your fish in a hospital tank, as in a bare bones aquarium with a simple filter and minimal decor, and wait for a period of time. Make sure to wait until the fish has been healthy for a period of 30 days straight before adding them back to the original system.

What you want to do is reduce the rate of nutrient accumulation in the tank, and you can do that in a variety of different ways. The cheapest, easiest way to do that in most situations is changing the water. Protein skimming will also eliminate compounds from the water by physically removing them. Even if you have a water filter, you trap things like excess food and fish poop inside of the filter. If you have a system like a protein skimmer, you can physically remove those compounds from your aquarium. The key is exporting nutrients.

That will depend on the illness, but I would start by doing a water change and adding some aquarium salt. Aquarium salt is safe for fish and can be effective for treating infections.

If it's floating on the surface, it's probably dead. Check its gills for motion to see if your fish is still alive and breathing. If the gills are still moving, it is alive. If the gills do not open to breathe, the fish is dead. There are other ways to tell if your fish is dead in this article on wikiHow.

No fish can be kept in an 8" bowl. Goldfish require powerful filters and at least 20 gallons of water. The only rational option for your bowl is the Siamese Fighting fish, but even they should not be put in such a tiny bowl. Get a 20" x10" x12" tank, that will be much better.

Try to keep the water temperature between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. That is ideal for the fish.

Yes, because each type of fish cannot usually live together but will need different tank environments altogether. A fish placed into the wrong medium of water will die.

Typically a vet will not be able to help when it comes to fish. The best thing to do is to move your sick fish to a separate tank (called a quarantine tank), and talk to the people at your local fish store about what disease your fish may have. These people are usually experienced in fish care and will be able to recommend the right medicine and treatment for your fish.

It depends on the species. You just can't put together fish that require different living environments, or fish that will fight with or potentially eat each other.

This depends on what kind of fish you have. Cold water fish prefer temperatures between 65-72 degrees F. Tropical fish prefer temperatures between 72-78 degrees F. Discus prefer temperatures between 82-86 degrees F.

Coldwater fish. I recommend white cloud minnows; they are a hardy schooling fish that don't require a heater and live for a long time. They are also quite beautiful.

Change your tank water if it's abnormally dark, but if it's just dark because of the lighting, then get a new light bulb.

Get a plastic bag and scoop the fish (along with some water) that way.

Yes.

Maybe it's the water. Check the temperature and ph levels. If you don't have the right tools to do this, most pet stores will test a water sample for you. Also, check for parasites on your fish.

Get an algae scraper, some Mag Float magnets, or Pleco's Catfish and Loach's. It's normal to have some algae, so you shouldn't worry about it too much unless it's a lot/very large.

It depends on the type of fish. Small fish like guppies and neon tetras like crushed/powdered veggie and regular flakes, but bigger fish like koi and goldfish like pellets. For marine species, they like algae wafers and pellets as well.

Most beginners have freshwater tropical fish, and assuming you do too, you can buy tropical flakes from your local pet store. If you have a betta, you should get betta pellets and dried brine shrimp or frozen blood worms for treats/supplements. Whatever fish you have, only feed it so much that it can completely consume the food in less than 30 seconds, or else you might make it sick from overfeeding. Feed 1-2 times a day.

Real plants are not necessary, but it's helpful to have decor, as these provide enrichment and hiding spots for your fish.

You should buy a filter. Most pet stores carry them for about 10 to 20 dollars.

Put your fish in a plastic bag with some of the tank water, change the water, then put the fish in the bag into the newly cleaned fish tank so that it can adjust to the temperature. After a bit, cut open the bag and let him swim freely.

That means that your tank is probably old or you might be feeding your fish too much food.

As long as you check the temperature of the lake (so you can match it) and get an aquarium the right size for the fish, you can try. You will need a filter, an adjustable heater and decorations such as gravel and real or fake plants.

It might be the water. Check the PH levels and temperature. If you don't have the tools for this, most pet stores will test a water sample for you. Also, check for parasites on your fish.

If it's the water that's dirty, buy a filter if you don't already have one and do a water change. If it's the actual tank that's dirty, you could clean the outside with vinegar and water. Don't use window cleaner.

The betta fish is the lowest-maintenance fish to keep. It only requires 2 gallons of water, pellet feedings once a day, and simple weekly water changes (filters, decor, and heaters also very highly recommended). They are also some of the most colorful and pretty fish in the hobby, and are smart and have personalities.

No. Certain kinds of fish food sold are meant for different kinds of fish. However, there are some treats such as brine shrimp and bloodworms that multiple kinds of fish can eat - but feed those sparingly.

There are tens of thousands of fish species. As pets, there are at least a thousand that are suitable for aquariums.

Goldfish require about 15 gallons of water each if they are fancy goldfish, while common goldfish need 50 gallons of water each. Fancies have the fan tail and fat belly, while the commons look like the average orange fish.

You can add branches from a pet store, but branches from a yard are not safe, as they could carry parasites.