Search Results for: blog common freshwater fish diseases

Common Saltwater Fish Diseases

Saltwater fish are susceptible to some of the same disease you see in tropical aquariums. As always, determining the cause of the illness is the most important thing! Many diseases are caused by stress in the fish, whether from transport, water quality, or trouble acclimating to the tank. Quarantine tanks are even more useful for saltwater aquarium hobbyists than they are for tropical aquarium hobbyists! Your saltwater fish can live in your quarantine tank for a few weeks before entering the main tank; this gives them time to acclimate and time for you to make sure the new fish are … Continue reading →

Tips For Choosing Fish

Over the past few weeks, I’ve taken a look at some easy “beginner” fish if you’re new to the aquarium hobby. Some popular starter fish include zebra danios, platy, gold and cherry barbs, and tetra. But as the old saying goes, there are many fish in the sea. And out of the sea! With such a wide variety of fish available at your local aquarium shop, pet store, or online retailer, how do you choose the best fish for your tank? Doing your research can make a big difference. If you know as much as possible about a particular species … Continue reading →

The Pets Blog Week in Review for Oct 15-21

October’s speeding along at a frightfully fast pace. Before you know it Halloween will be here. If you’re having a heck of a time keeping up on everything, including the Pets Blog, let me be of some assistance with this week’s Week in Review. Here’s what Aimee and I covered on: Monday, October 15 Aimee’s been doing a good job covering all things fish this month. Today’s installment was More Common Freshwater Diseases. I reported on the dog days festival that Murph, Wayne, and I went to. Tuesday, October 16 Aimee explained that cloudy aquarium water is not normal and … Continue reading →

The Pets Blog Week in Review for Oct 8-14

Today marks the middle of the month. Say what? Didn’t it just start? Where the heck is the time going? I have no idea, but if you’ve been as busy as I have and didn’t have time to stay on top of the Pets Blog this week, no worries. Here’s the Week in Review that summarizes what Aimee and I wrote about on: Monday, October 8 In honor of Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, I gave six reasons why you’ll never regret adopting a dog. Aimee’s been doing a great job with a series of blogs on tropical fish, in … Continue reading →

More Common Freshwater Fish Diseases

Here are some more diseases you may see in your tropical aquarium. Fin rot — symptoms include rotting fins, loss of appetite, and fish lying on the bottom of the tank. Fin rot is caused by a bacterial infection. It is often a result of poor water quality, but may also be brought on by bullying from other fish. Increase the quality of your food, check your water parameters, and try separating your fish from any bullies. If those things don’t work, pick up medication at your local pet store. Fish fungus — a white or gray cotton-like growth on … Continue reading →

Common Freshwater Fish Diseases

Yes, even fish can get sick! Here is a list of some common freshwater fish diseases, symptoms, and treatments. Before you treat your fish, be sure you properly diagnose your fish and figure out why they are sick. There may be water quality or food issues that need to be taken care of before you can cure your fish! Many diseases are a result of the stress of transport, so take time to acclimate your fish to your tank. Ammonia poisoning — symptoms include red or inflamed gills. You may see your fish gasping for air at the surface of … Continue reading →

How to Find a Vet for Your Exotic Pet

Choosing a vet can be tricky. You want a doc and staff who know their stuff, convenient hours, close to home, fair prices, and more. Maybe you want somebody who remembers your pet’s name, or has a gentle hand, or seems to genuinely love all animals. Choosing a vet can get even trickier if you’re dealing with an exotic pet. It’s a relatively safe bet that any vet you find in the phone book can handle dogs and cats — but can they help your guinea pig? What about your sick fish or lizard? How do you find somebody who … Continue reading →