First, let’s get one thing straight: not all quarantine protocols are legitimate. You may have been told your fish has been “quarantined,” but what does that really mean? How long was the quarantine? Were they mixed with fish from other dealers? Were they prophylacticly treated with anything? The best way to protect your fish is …
Many pond owners will prophylactically treat their ponds every spring, regardless of many criteria. Whether it’s an anti-parasitic, a “clarifier” or a “refresher” treatment, you probably DON’T need to be adding most pond treatments. Using unlicensed products is a dangerous idea and if you aren’t sure of your total pond volume, you can severely hurt …
Sorry to tell you that if you add fish to water, you will get algae. No matter how diligent your quarantine, you can’t avoid it. So what can you do to minimize your algae effects on fish? Should I be worried about algae effects on fish? Remember: people hate algae; fish don’t really mind it. …
Outdoor ponds are at the mercy of the elements. If you’ve designed your pond properly, your fish are set to weather many environments. But what are you to do if an animal starts to view your pond as an all-you-can-eat buffet? Learn how to prevent fish pond predators from eating your fish. Smart Fish & …
Thinking about adding a pond to your landscape or investing more in what you already have? Trying to decide the which is the best pond fish for outdoor ponds? If you’re thinking about adding more fish to your pond, we advise you wait until your pond has been eating for a few weeks or late …
** This page contains affiliate links that make us a little $$ from our recommendations. It does not change your pricing. ** Many systems can benefit from a deep cleaning once a year or twice a year. In order to get in there and get all the muck out, some owners and maintenance companies will …
Looking to decrease your water changes and grow some delicious veggies for your family to enjoy? Then you need AQUAPONICS! What is “aquaponics?” Aquaponics utilizes “natural” fertilizers in water to grow plants. It is similar to “hydroponics,” which uses synthetic fertilizers to grow plants. Aquaponics most often refers to growing fish and plants simultaneously, using …
We have had several of our clients ask us if it is okay to put plants in koi ponds. Simple answer? Yes! Read along for our recommendations for the best plants in koi ponds. But aren’t plants bad for fish? Not one published scientific study has shown any plants attacking fish. Yes, they may be …
What should you use to disinfect fish equipment and what is the safest way to use it? If you keep any fish you will have multiple tanks at some point, even just a simple hospital/quarantine tank at the ready. You may have adopted a new tank off the “FREE” Craigslist page and want to use …
Most pet fish live in either an indoor tank or outdoor pond. We already covered what the bottom of your tank should look like, but what is the best pond substrate? Ponds are much more diverse than tanks and can come in a variety of shapes, layouts and “all natural” finishes. What is the “healthiest” …
We commonly hear this question and it’s a little bit of a headscratcher. Let’s look into the similarities and differences of koi and goldfish and what diseases you should consider between the two. The Goldfish – Carassus auratus Among the many variations of goldfish is a common ancestor. Thought to be a distant descendant of …
Now that we’ve covered all your potential options for fish pond substrates, how is the best way to go about cleaning the bottom of your fish pond? Here’s the full checklist of tasks for all ponds to keep up with on a daily/weekly/monthly/yearly basis. If you have rocks on the bottom of your fish pond: …
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Koi ponds make up the majority of our veterinary practice, and in seeing so many cases, some common themes occur. Don’t make the same mistakes with your fish! Not Checking Your Koi Pond Daily – We know in the winter, when metabolisms are quiet, your fish are not very entertaining. However, even in the slower, …
The biggest hurdle for new fish owners is New Tank Syndrome. When you set up a new fish tank for the first time, there are a few things you can expect to happen that can severely impact your fish’s survival. With a brand new filter, your nitrogen cycle has not been established. It will take …
Have you ever been cleaning your pond, maybe pulling out dead plants, and smelled rotting eggs? This unfortunate smell is hydrogen sulfide, the product of anaerobic bacteria buried deep in the mud. Hydrogen sulfide is highly toxic to fish and can can death very quickly. Fish who are exposed suffer an increase in secondary infections …