its well worth understanding what the fish may of gone through to get there. Many fish are bred in the far east. The journey to your local stockist normally begins by being starved of food for a couple of days then packed with at least fifty other fish into a plastic bag and placed into a polystyrene box and flown half way around the world. During transportation the water will contain waste products and the oxygen levels and temperature will become dangerously low. After the journey the fish would hopefully be quarantined in a wholesalers tank. If not it could have just been given a general treatment like chloramine T and passed onto a local stockist within a few days. This fish could quite possible be in your home aquarium a few hours later.

Tropical Fish Buying Guide

When choosing a new fish only buy from a reputable shop / dealer. When selecting a new fish reject if any of the conditions are present :-

1. Cannot Swim effortless or maintain a steady position in the tank ( floats to the surface or drops to the bottom of the tank ).
2. A very thin cross section or abnormally thin body compared to other fish of the same species.
3. Folded down, split or frayed fins ( Possibly infected with finrot).
4. Spots, fungus, wounds or any body damage.
5. Abnormally small or large to add to your existing community as this fish may either be eaten or start to eat your existing stock.
6. Excessively expensive. Only buy expensive fish when you are a more experienced fish keeper.

All additions even healthy looking fish should be quarantined in a small quarantined / hospital tank for at least 2 to 3 weeks. This should be enough time for any diseases to manifest. If any disease is noticed the tank can be converted into a hospital tank. A basic quarantined / hospital tank consist of a small tank of known size that has good aeration. The lighting should be dimmer than normal. The tank should provide plenty of hiding places ( use small plastic plant pots ) and contain fake plants made from plastic. The plastic pots and plants can be disinfected between uses. When moving fish between tanks ensure that the net is cleaned and disinfected. It is usual to have a separate net for each tank including your hospital tank to limit the chance of cross contamination. Adding fish is not the only way to introduce disease into your aquarium, plants should be cleaned before adding to your aquarium. They should be fully rinsed under a running tap and bathed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate to destroy minute aquatic life in their leaves.

By maintaining correct water temperatures, cleaning filters , regular partial water changes combined with a varied and healthy diet will hopefully ensure that your fish remain in good health.