Common Fish Problems

Answers to the most common fish keeping issues

My fish keep dying…what am I doing wrong? – And how to fix it.

• Overfeeding

  • Fish should be fed every second day with just a tiny pinch. It should only be a much as they can eat in three minutes. Remember a fish’s stomach is only as big as the pupil of their eye. 

   

• High/low pH

  • Check your source of water
  • Remove any foreign objects that have been introduced to your tank as they can adjust this
  • Do a little bit of research, find out what the ideal pH is for your variety of fish and get a treatment from us to bring your water to this level

   

• High Ammonia

  • High ammonia is a sign of waste build up in your tank. Use gravel cleaner (available in store) to remove waste every week by removing approximately 10% of the water. This will keep the ammonia level down.

   

• High Nitrite

  • This is a sign of too many water changes meaning there is a lack of good bacteria in the water. Add a bacterial supplement such as Stress Zyme or Cycle to the tank and stop over changing the water or over cleaning the filter.

   

• Overcrowding

  • As a general rule of thumb allow 7 to 10 litres of water per fish but some fish require more space than others. Always remember, your fish will grow.

   

• Non-compatible fish

  • See compatibility charts or talk to a staff member if you are having trouble with your fish living peacefully together.

   

• Common diseases

  • There is a range of bacterial and fungal disease which can harm fish. These include white spot, fin rot and tail rot. Talk to a staff member for the best treatment for these in store.

My tank is green

Algae are a common issue for fish keepers. The more sun a tank receives the more growth will occur. There are a few options for keeping a tank free of algae: scrubbing the tank during the weekly 10% water change, snails, algae blocks and algae remover treatment. Talk to a staff member in store to decide on the best treatment for you.