Illness and disease are usually rare in a well-maintained aquarium, which means that, as an aquarium owner, you’re in a perfect position to prevent them, since many ornamental fish diseases are attributed to poor living conditions. You don’t even need to be a complete expert for this. Simply follow a few basic rules to significantly reduce the risk of your fish falling ill.
- Use a premium staple diet that offers your fish the right combination of essential nutrients.
- Test the aquarium water on a regular basis and ensure that it remains clean and clear. As well as checking the water values each week, for instance using the Tetra Test 6in1 strips, this also involves proper filtration, carrying out partial water changes and using the right water conditioning products.
- Aquatic plants produce essential oxygen and reduce nitrogen compounds, so it’s a good idea to plant your tank with suitable greenery. This will also make your aquarium more attractive and will give it a more natural appearance.
- It’s also important to ensure that fish don’t become stressed or anxious. In addition to an unbalanced diet and poor water conditions (e.g. a lack of oxygen due to excessively high water temperatures), other factors that can lead to stress and must be avoided include overstocking the tank, combining incompatible species of fish or even variations in temperature, for instance during large partial water changes.
Of course, it’s not always easy to make an accurate diagnosis by a simple visual inspection. If you’re in any doubt, it’s important to seek advice, for instance from a veterinary specialist.