Leading off our #10 mistakes new fish owners make: plan your fish tank BEFORE you buy ANYTHING!! A little advanced planning will go a long way to ensure your fish will survive those first critical weeks in their new home. Unlike purchasing a cat or a dog, usually adding a fish tank is a spur …
Never Flush Sick Fish If they are not quite dead, flushing a dead fish is an awful way to die from chlorine toxicity. Learn more about humane pet fish euthanasia. If you have a sick fish, contact your aquatic veterinarian for additional assistance. If your fish is too sick to be helped, your veterinarian will …
We are frequently asked the question, “do fish sleep?” The answer: yes, they do! Although it may look considerable different from humans or fluffy pets sleeping, most fish require rest periods where they reduce their activity and metabolism. Many fish must stay alert to danger in this low-energy state, so there is still some brain …
Keeping fish couldn’t be simpler! Get tank, add water and then add fish, right? Well, I’m sorry to say it just isn’t that easy. Here are the 10 top mistakes that all new fish owners make. Not learning about fish prior to getting them. You wouldn’t get a dog or a cat without some prior …
Over the years, many of our clients have added fish to their pond without quarantine and denied any problems simply because the fish have come from a “reputable fish dealer.” Unfortunately, even our store, with some of the strictest quarantine guidelines, cannot guarantee our fish are 100% disease free. Why is this? Well, keep in …
Reputable Fish Dealers Cannot Guarantee Healthy Fish Read More »
** This post contains affiliate links that give us a percentage of your purchase for our recommendations. ** Dear Fish Tank Owners, Please stop replacing your fish tank filters media every month. I know it says to do so on the box! But, guess what? They do that in order to SELL MORE!! When you …
Interested in buying new fish for your pre-existing system? Here’s a helpful checklist to help you through! Questions to ask yourself before buying new fish: Do you have room for more fish? The standard 1 gallon of water per 1″ of fish is a terrible standard. Fish vary too much in their build and nutritional …
“Constipated goldfish” is the most widely over diagnosed case on the internet. Most commonly, goldfish “constipation” is misdiagnosed as a cure all for a sick fish. And in comes the main treatment… feeding goldfish peas! But even with the incorrect diagnosis, your fish gets better! What is going on with these shelled green peas? But …
How does a fish interact with its watery environment? They have many of the same senses as we do: sight, taste, touch, smell and hearing. But, did you know that fish can sense vibrations in the water around them using a special organ called a lateral line? If you look closely at the side of …
** This post contains affiliate links. ** It’s time for everyone’s favorite topic: water quality! Today we will be learning about your fish tank pH and supporting kH, also known as alkalinity. What is pH? Fish tank pH is a measure of the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution. Hydrogen ions play an important role …
Unfortunately, fish bowls are antiquated technology still for sale on your pet store shelf today. It’s an idealized image handed down from Disney movies in our childhoods. Who doesn’t like the cozy image of a happy fish swimming around its bowl? Sorry to tell you that fish bowls are awful for fish. Fish kept as …
**This post contains affiliate links that gives us a small percentage of your purchase for our recommendations.** When it comes to selecting the best fish food for your fish, the selection can be daunting. If you own any pets, I guarantee you have fallen victim to pet food marketing. It happens to all of us, …
One of the most important factors that comes into keeping fish in tanks or ponds is how many fish you can get away with keeping in one system. The tried and true rule of how many fish per gallon is: 1″ of fish per gallon of water. Well, that’s great and all, but have you …
** This post contains affiliate links that give us a small percentage of your purchase for our recommendations. ** Many of the fish issues we see at Aquatic Veterinary Service condense down to one thing: ineffective husbandry. We’re here to set the record straight and make it easy to take care of your fish by …
Interested in getting started in the fish hobby? GREAT! Don’t know what to start with? Do we have ideas for you! Here is our list of the best beginner fish species. These fish are known for being tolerant of most beginner mistakes. But, don’t forget, a regular maintenance routine is key. Best Beginner Fish Species …