How to Care for Sick Fish

Aquariums provide hours of visual enjoyment for everyone who views them. Although properly maintained aquariums usually promote healthy fish, occasionally one or more of the fish will become ill. When a fish becomes sick, it is critically important that you care for it immediately, as fish can die very quickly. It's also important to immediately remove the fish from the aquarium and quarantine it so that it does not infect the other fish in the aquarium.

Things You'll Need

  • Small aquarium
  • Filtration system
  • Aeration device
  • Heater
  • Thermometer
  • Fish net
  • Medicine
  • Camera
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove 30 percent of the water inside the aquarium and replace it with new distilled water. Treat the new water with a water conditioner prior to pouring it into the aquarium.

    • 2

      Prepare a quarantine tank by filling a small aquarium with water from the existing aquarium. Fill the aquarium with water until it is approximately 75 percent full. Install a filtration system, aeration device, heater and thermometer in the aquarium to maintain the same conditions the fish is accustomed to living in. Do not place gravel or plants into the quarantine tank.

    • 3

      Capture the sick fish in a fish net and then place it in the quarantine tank.

    • 4

      Examine the fish for signs of illness, including white spots, shredded fins, fins that are held close to the body, moldy growth and cloudy eyes. These are the most common fish symptoms and indicate different diseases.

    • 5

      Go to a professional fish supply store and describe the symptoms the fish has. The experts will supply the correct medication for the fish's specific disease.

    • 6

      Add the fish medication to the quarantine bowl as directed by the manufacturer's instructions. Fish medicine is usually either poured into the bowl or fed to the fish as food.

    • 7

      Keep administering the medication until the fish shows no sign of illness.

    • 8

      Scoop the fish up in a fish net and place it back into the main aquarium. Do not pour the fish bowl water into the aquarium.