How to Care for a Chin Chin Fish

Chin chin fish, also known as doctor fish and massage fish, are most commonly used in modern pedicures. Chin chin fish are part of the Cichlid fish family. They have a similar appearance to tilapia fish that are used in fish food. They are small working fish that are very active.

Things You'll Need

  • Heated aquarium/fish tank
  • Goldfish food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select the size of the tank for the chin chin fish. Chin chin fish can grow up to 12.5 inches long when fully grown, so it is important to purchase a tank which can accommodate this size of fish. Generally, you want to purchase a tank which is four times the length of the fish, so to accommodate an adult chin chin fish you would need a tank that is at least 50 inches long.

    • 2

      Set the water temperature between 82 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit before placing the fish in the tank. Creating a higher or lower temperature can mean that the fish will either die through being too cold or will effectively cook in the hot water.

    • 3

      Feed the chin chin fish daily with goldfish food. Read the packet for recommended daily food amounts. Chin chin fish are very active and have stomachs that can accommodate a large amount of food relative to their size. They can also feed off scaly skin, which is why young chin chin fish are used in fish pedicures and manicures.

    • 4

      Refresh 20 to 30 percent of the water at a time to reduce potential changes to the temperature and pH of the water as well as the level of nitrates. All of these factors changing can adversely affect the fish.