General fish Wellness

When selecting a location for your aquarium make sure that it is on a sturdy piece of furniture capable of handling the weight of an aquarium.

Do not place the aquarium in a place where it will receive excess sunlight. Sunlight will definetly increase the rate at which algae grows in your tank, requiring frequent cleanings of the aquarium.

Place the tank in an area that does not have people walking around it all the time or in an area in which doors are opened or closed. All of these actions cause vibrations which will disturb your Tropical fish.

In order to ease the process of maintaining a stable temperature place the tank away from windows, doors, vents and radiators. fish need oxygen, and some fish are more tolerant of low-oxygen water than others. Water with insufficient oxygen stresses fish. Note that as the water temperature goes up, the amount of dissolved oxygen in water decreases.

Common symptoms of stress include

fish stays near the surface gasping for breath, indicating that it has trouble getting enough oxygen (the concentration of dissolved oxygen is highest near the water's surface). Possible causes include low oxygen concentration due to poor water circulation, toxins that have damaged its gills, high ammonia or nitrite levels, etc. fish won't eat, or doesn't eat as aggressively as in past. fish stays hidden continuously and won't come out where it can be seen. Possible causes: aggressive fish, insufficient cover (e.g., plants, wood, etc.) to make fish feel ``safe'' while swimming about. fish has nicked fins, open wounds that don't seem to heal. Possible cause: fish is target of aggression. Normally, minor nicks and cuts heal quickly. If they don't, stress levels may be suppressing the fish's immune system. fish has disease (parasites, fungus, etc.) Of course, the disease itself is a major problem. But in most cases, a healthy fish's immune system keeps it from getting sick in the first place. Thus, getting sick is a sign that the fish is in a stressed state (or had been until recently).