Freshwater

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Part II: Fish and How to Care for Them
Treatment: A complete water change. To avoid accidentally poisoning your
tropical fish, never allow any metal to come in contact with the aquarium
water. Metal hoods and metal equipment clips are two common sources of
poisoning. To keep this equipment from poisoning your fish, use plastic clips
and make sure that the glass cover on your aquarium fits properly so that no
water comes into direct contact with the hood and light fixture.
Chemical poisoning
Symptoms: Erratic behavior; gasping for air; fish lying on their sides; paleness;
clamped fins; refusal to eat.
Cause: Other common sources of water poisoning in aquariums are cleaning,
cosmetic, and insect-control products. Never use insecticides, hair sprays, or
mist cleaners near your aquarium. Small drops of these airborne products
can easily fall through the small equipment holes in the top of your tank and
poison your fish. If you have to use one of these products near your aquarium,
tightly cover your tank ahead of time with plastic sheets or large towels
to protect your fish.
Treatment: Complete water and filter change.
Improper diet
Symptoms: General poor health; paleness of color; inactivity.
Cause: You. Poor nutrition.
Treatment: An unbalanced diet doesn’t contain all the vitamins and minerals
important to your fish’s health. Begin feeding a wide variety of commercially
packaged flakes, small servings of fresh lettuce, peas, and other green vegetables,
and live foods (see Chapter 10 for more information on what foods are
good for which species).
Overfeeding
Symptoms: Lethargic fish; excessive weight gain; and constipation.
Cause: Overfeeding your tropical fish on a regular basis.