** This post contains affiliate links that give us a small % of your purchase for our recommendations. ** Almost all city municipalities treat their water systems with chlorine or chloramine to make it safe for people to drink. Chlorine is a cheap and efficient way to treat water and the levels used have no
“What can I do to set my fish up for a long, healthy life?” We hear this question a lot and there are a few simple things all pet fish owners can do to improve their fish care and quality of life. 1) Maintain Your Water Quality This is what my tombstone will say. Water
When it comes to sick fish, the internet can be more confusing than helpful. As far as we know, Google does not have any medical degrees, so let’s clear some things up. Here are the most common fake fish diseases our offices comes across: “My fish has ‘swim bladder.’” This is the equivalent of you
What is the answer to “do fish need light?” Fish respond to the same circadian rhythms as most other life on earth. The best lighting for fish tanks utilize this same rhythm. For outdoor systems, this is easy to utilize for your fish, provided you do not blind them overnight with underwater lights. For the
Happy 2020! I’m sure you all have great resolutions for yourself and your family for the new decade, but what about your fish? We invite you to choose any and all of the below resolutions for fish owners to ensure happier, healthier fish in the new year! Perform ___% water change every ___ week(s) Put
Another year almost gone! Catch up on some of our favorite posts from the past year. Many more to come in 2020, and we’re always open to new ideas! Comment with any topics you would like us to cover in 2020 and beyond. May all your fish be happy and healthy in the new year.
How do you know which is the best fish food? There are numerous fish diets on the market and making the critical decision of good vs. bad is not very straightforward. With too much information, your brain goes on overload and you will simply buy the cheapest or most expensive food. By following the rules
If you are new or old to the fish keeping hobby, no doubt you have heard the phrase “fish system cycling.” What does this mean? To “cycle” an aquarium is to establish its biological filtration, more specifically, your nitrogen cycle. Cycling refers to the colonization of beneficial bacteria to convert your fishes’ primary waste, ammonia,
How do you choose the best fish tank filter? There are two main types of filters you can use on your aquarium – hang-on and canister. No matter what type you choose, remember the all important point – NEVER REPLACE YOUR FILTER MEDIA!! Hang-On Filters These filters come in a variety of layers, shapes and
What does “preventative medicine in fish” mean? Essentially, all it means is calling the doctor before your fish is sick in order to catch disease early. The earlier a disease can be caught, the easier it is to manage. This is why you get your yearly physical, routine bloodwork and colonoscopy. The same is true
Fish metabolism plays a critical role in our treatment protocols. Why do we have to wait on surgery and other treatments until the water warms up? Well, it’s one of the unusual things about aquatic veterinary medicine: our patients cannot regulate their internal body temperature. Known as “ectotherms,” or “cold-blooded,” fish along with amphibians and
If you’re planning on leaving your fish at home, it is critical to plan their vacation care. It’s a lot harder to take your fish with you on vacation compared to your dog or even cat. That means you’ll have to plan for them to receive care while you’re away. If you don’t have a
Looking for pet fish help? If you can’t find what you’re looking for on our site, here are other references for pet fish help. These pages have been vetted to actually hold helpful and correct information, unlike the rest of the internet. The Spruce Pets This newer website puts a priority on good fish health.
It’s a well-known stigma that pet fish don’t rank on the same level as cats and dogs. Often considered “disposable,” fish are often trial pets for many families and veterinary care for fish isn’t even considered. They are thought as “lesser” animals mostly because we cannot relate to them like we can cats and dogs.
If you own pets, they better be a part of your disaster planning. No matter where you live in the world, there is some sort of disaster that can strike with little to no warning. If you haven’t started planning, we recommend taking a look at the AVMA’s Disaster Preparedness website. After reading that, you