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Congratulations,
you're expecting a pair of bouncing baby goldfish!
Or perhaps you're adding a trio of tetras to your
warmwater tank. No matter the size or species of
your new fish, you can ease the transition to their
new home and give them a proper welcome by taking
a few simple precautions.
Adding Fish to a Saltwater Tanks & Freshwater Tanks
Successful
introductions start at the aquarium store. Make
sure the fish you purchase are in good condition.
Healthy fish swim steadily with erect fins and have
well-filled-out body contours. Do not buy any animal
who is inactive or emaciated, or has any bumps,
lumps, open wounds or split fins. Also, determine
beforehand if the fish you have chosen will get
along with each other--or are they best kept with
their own species? If they are not yet fully grown,
is your tank large enough to accommodate their maximum
potential size? Will they thrive in the same water
conditions as your current fish?
At
the time of purchase, your new fish will be put
in sturdy plastic bags filled with water from the
tank they've been residing in. Take care when transporting
them home, and try to keep the bags insulated so
the water stays as warm as possible.
Once
home, shut off the aquarium lights and float the
bags in the tank for at least 15 to 30 minutes.
This will ensure that the temperatures in the bag
and in the tank are approximately the same. Next,
you may want to open the bag while it is afloat,
remove a small amount of water and add some from
your tank. This will allow your new friends an even
more gradual adjustment to the water conditions
in their new home. If you wish, you can repeat this
process three to four times. When you are ready,
gently net the fish out of the bag and place them
in the aquarium. Introducing foreign water into
the aquarium could increase the chances of transmitting
certain diseases.
Water Conditions When Adding Fish to a New Saltwater or Freshwater Tank
Please
note that if you are setting up a new tank--one
without any inhabitants--you'll need to let the
water "ripen" for a week or two before
adding fish. Using a biological supplement is recommended
too introduce beneficial bacteria and rapidly mature
the new tank. And when you are ready to introduce
fish, start with just 3-4 small fish or 1-2 medium
fish, ideally the hardiest of the species you plan
to keep. After that, add a couple of fish every
week or so until your tank is complete. If you are
adding fish to an already established community,
it's smart to clean the tank beforehand so the levels
of waste are as low as possible.
Once
you've made your successful introductions, be sure
to keep up your aquarium maintenance schedule and
carefully observe newcomers. If they appear listless,
swim with abrupt movements or gasp at the surface
of the water--all signs of illness--it is best to
isolate them in a holding tank and consult your
aquarist about possible problems and treatment.
Other possible causes could be water condition changes,
temperature shifts.
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