There are two areas of
introducing new fish into an aquarium that you must be aware
of:
1. Fish Quarantine
Fish quarantine is one big,
singular factor that must be observed strictly before you
can be sure that your new fish is of good health and not an
apostle of doom for the other inmates. Most new fishkeepers
don’t take consider this very important factor.
For the benefit of intending
aquarists, quarantine in the fish world refers to the
physical and chemical treatment of new fishes (either
imported or caught from the wild) to rid them of disease and
restlessness before introduction into a new environment,
A small quarantine tank
(30x20x25cm) is advisable for any serious aquarist. The
alternative is to be sure that your pet shop has a
functional quarantine section to cater for bacterial, fungal
and viral diseases.
This is a sure guarantee
against fish deaths. The unfortunate thing with most shops
in the country is the lack of space and inadequate expertise
to build and administer the prophylaxis procedure on new
fish, as the procedure is sure to last at least nigh days!
To the average aqua-investor, this is an unnecessary tie
down of capital and you know what that means.
Admittedly, the expense
incurred on quarantine by way of chemical purchase e.g.
copper sulphate, wescodyne, malachite green, teremycin etc)
is high. This is more or less reflected on the final sales
price of the fish, which is slightly higher in our shop.
But, this would pay you off in the long run, as it is
unlikely that you will complain of fish deaths any longer.
I am quite sure, some fish
farmers reading this column would be more concerned about
the application of this procedure to solve their farm
problems especially those with hatcheries or those who stock
with post fry and fingerlings.
2. Feeding New Fish
When you just introduce a new
fish to aquarium tank it’s necessary to feed the fish.
Though this will not be instant because no matter how
carefully you add the fish to your aquarium tank they will
look very unhappy for a while.
Thus it’s necessary that you
turn the flights out, and leave them overnight to get used
to their new home first before thinking of feeding them.
Then feed fish with aquarium fish food with fish flakes the
next day, this will make the fish feel at home.
If you already have an
established tank, it is advisable to quarantine new fish
before adding them to an existing populated, and the
cheapest way to do this is to purchase a plastic tank which
will need no gravel or plants.
This can be used solely for
quarantine and as a hospital tank.
Leave the fish in this tank
for about three days during which any disease harbored by
the fish would be evident for which it can be treated using
available chemicals from your dealer. The fish can then be
introduced into the tank in the same way as before.
When you add new fish to an
established community, there will probably be a certain
amount of harassment of the new arrivals by the original
fish. Try to divert their attention by giving them a good
feed when the fish are introduced.
