How to Keep Your Fish From Getting Stressed

Keep in mind that if your fish is sick, it's stressed. And stressed fish are more likely to get sick.

Know that a fish whose wounds don't heal is having problems. Make sure it doesn't have parasites. Watch to see if it's the victim of a bully in the tank. Make sure that there are plenty of hiding places.

Make sure you're giving it a variety of foods and that it isn't having to compete to eat if your fish has lost its appetite.

Give your fish space. Make sure that the tank is not too crowded. Like people, fish need their space.

Be sure that the species in your tank are compatible.

Keep the tank at optimum temperatures and the equipment in good condition. Fish need oxygen; some fish are more tolerant of low-oxygen water than others. A fish that stays near the top of the tank and gasps for breath is telling you that it's having trouble breathing. Check the ammonia and nitrite levels, the filters, and the fish's gills.

Never add untreated tap water to the tank. Chlorine and chloramine are toxic to fish.

Keep the tank and filters clean. Poor water quality, especially levels of ammonia and nitrites, and the pH can really put a fish in a bind.

Find out what your fish like. Some prefer hard water over soft, some prefer acid over alkaline, and some do better with a little bit of salt in the water. Are they solitary or school fish?

Make sure the tank doesn't get too small for its occupants. Crowding can lead to increased aggression.

Use extreme caution when adding medication to the tank water. Any change you make to the chemistry is going to affect everything living in it.