User:Dekarajohnson20/sandbox

Care of tropical fish.

In rare cases disease can effect tropical fish. It is important that you understand how to effectively care for an ill pet. "Introducing new fish to an established aquarium is a potential source of new disease organisms"  Fortunately, many fish diseases can be cured, particularly if noticed early on. When introducing a Tropical fish to a new environment it is important to provide a quarantine tank. Providing a quarantine tank allows time to observe the new fish in isolation before adding to the main tank, risking putting the rest of the fish into shock.

Common but rare diseases tropical fish are subjected to include but are not limited to;

Columnaris- “frequently be caused by internal infections by a number of different bacterial species. Viruses have also been associated with the disease. Poor water quality and/or diet may trigger the disease. If the problem has been caused by permanent damage to the kidney, then treating the infection will not eradicate the symptoms.”

Fin rot- The fins become opaque and ragged, and may be blood-streaked. The fin erosion may continue until it reaches the base of the fin, at which point fish usually die. The disease is usually triggered by poor water quality or where fin damage has occurred, often caused by fin-nipping fish.

Fungus- Cotton-wool like growths on the body of the fish, usually grayish-white, but can be darker. An outbreak of fungal disease usually occurs after damage to the fishes skin or gill area, and as a secondary infection.

Gill Disease- Rapid gill movements, and swollen or discolored gills. The disease can be caused by infections of fungi, bacteria and parasites, and poor water quality is likely to be a contributory factor.

A change in water quality is  the first step in treatment. At the first sign of illness remove from population. Be sure not to over feed or overcrowd and please change water often. Use a water conditioner during water changes to avoid irritation of the gill membranes by chlorine. Anti-bacterial my be added to the water. “ If gill parasites are suspected, it may be necessary to treat with formalin or copper based medications.” (cite) Anti-bacterial medications should cure this disease if used promptly. “At later stages, the bacteria may invade internal organs, in which case only antibiotics may be effective.”

Choosing a tank

It is a known fact  that stability of the environment is the most important secret to successful fish keeping. There are many important considerations that affect the ongoing expense as well as the health of the inhabitants. One of the first choices you will face is whether to purchase a glass or acrylic aquarium.

Acrylic has a better insulator than glass so a smaller heater will work for the same sized aquarium and temperature fluctuations happen slower. This is good for stability! (Cite)

Acrylic is clearer than glass. It actually lets 14% more light through than glass. (cite)

Acrylic can have a much greater variety of shapes. Acrylic aquariums commonly have rounded corners (rather than seams) and usually have a more 'contemporary' look. Acrylic coffee tables and even bubble tanks (like Captain Picard's) can be found. (cite)A disadvantage of acrylic is that it scratches much easier (be careful with inside decorations) so special cleaning pads must be used. NEVER use a brillo pad or a green pot scrubber on an acrylic aquarium.

The biggest disadvantage of acrylic is the cost. Usually an acrylic aquarium will cost 2 to 3 times what a similar sized glass aquarium would. (cite)Acrylic can be shipped via postal, UPS, or FedEx. Glass aquariums cannot be shipped by these carriers so you must purchase them from a pet store. (cite)

The next choice you will have to make is the size of the aquarium.. “The larger the aquarium is the more stable it will be and the easier it will be to maintain healthy fish.” The amount of oxygen

available is determined mainly by the amount of surface area of the aquarium since oxygen enters the water primarily at the surface. “Water movement at the surface also increases oxygenation and will generally increase the stocking capacity as well as the health of the fish.”(cite)

Next you must select a filter. There are 3 different types of filters for a fresh water aquarium, biological, mechanical, and chemical. Biological Aquarium Filtration's is most important type of filtration for stability and reduction of toxic wastes. Mechanical Water Filtration is good for keeping the water clear and free of debris. Chemical filters are most useful in getting rid of the yellow color that often develops in aquarium water over time. Chemical filters are used to remove things that are dissolved in the water, and therefore cannot be removed by mechanical filters.