How to Move a Fish From a Fish Tank

Having a fish is a suitable first pet as the requirements for care are pretty minimal, unlike a dog that requires regular walks or a cat that needs a clean littler box. A pet fish can prepare you for the responsibilities of care-giving, easing you into remembering to complete the maintenance of a regular feeding schedule. With fish, there may be times when you'll need to move them from their tank to another tank, or into a traveling container or bowl. While this isn't complicated, there are things you need to do to ensure the safety of your pet and that he survives in his new environment.

Things You'll Need

  • Test kit
  • Fish flakes
  • Aquarium vacuum
  • pH strips
  • Thermometers
  • Scoop
  • Filter
  • Paper cup
  • Net
  • New vessel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Add water to the new tank and run the filter. Allow the water in the new tank to filter for two to four weeks before you move the fish into this new home. This will foster the colonies of bacteria which aid in biological filtration, as states the website "Fresh Aquarium Fish."

    • 2

      Add a pinch of flakes to the new tank each day as you are running the filter in this fishless envrionment. The flakes will help to create ammonia. Test the water once a week during the first two weeks. You will know that it is okay to add fish once the ammonia and nitrite both reach zero.

    • 3

      Prepare the old tank by vacuuming up debris from the bottom of the tank with an aquarium vacuum.

    • 4

      Test the pH of the water of the old vessel using pH strips. Test the pH of the water of the new vessel. The two readings should match before you transfer your fish.

    • 5

      Check the temperature on your old fish tank. Measure the temperature of the water on your new fish tank; it should be identical.

    • 6

      Transfer all the plants, rocks and gravel slowly using a scoop, if you're transferring the fish from the old tank to a new tank or bowl. Move the old filter from the old tank to the new tank to help it generate good bacteria in that tank.

    • 7

      Dip a paper cup in the old tank and use your net to coax the fish in the cup. Pour the fish into its new home.