Stress and Aquarium Fish Health
Today in our article we will talk about the health of aquarium fish, or rather, about stress, which is often the cause of many diseases. Prolonged stress undermines the health of all pets, but fish do not interact with humans, such as dogs and cats, so it is almost impossible for an inexperienced owner to understand what is bothering them. Therefore, when setting up an aquarium, it is very important to familiarize yourself with situations that provoke stress in aquarium fish in advance and try to avoid them.
First, let’s talk about what happens to fish during stress and how it reacts to adverse factors. Like people, in stressful situations, the heart of fish begins to beat faster, the hormone cortisol is released in the body, blood sugar rises, blood pressure increases, etc. But if a person can independently solve an unpleasant situation, get rid of the problem and drink a sedative, then an aquarium fish will not solve its own problem – and you are its only hope.
You need to know that even short-term stress can undermine the health of the fish, while a long-term stressful state can completely kill it, gradually disrupting the functions of the digestive system and lowering immunity. Fish with poor immunity becomes vulnerable to various parasites, bacteria and fungi, which sooner or later leads, unfortunately, to negative consequences.
Now let’s move on to the possible causes of stress and start from the very beginning – from the moment you purchased the fish and brought it home.
Unfortunately, quite often fish are immediately released into the aquarium after purchase, but without prior preparation this can provoke stress and even shock. How to do everything right?
As a rule, fish is sold in a special package. Without opening the bag, simply lower it into the water in the aquarium for about half an hour so that the fish can get used to the temperature. Then open the bag slightly and put some aquarium water into it, and only then release the fish into the aquarium. Transplanting to a new aquarium is a serious stress for the fish. Make sure that the condition of the aquarium and the water is in perfect order.
Temperature is one of the most important characteristics of an aquarium. It is necessary that the temperature of the water in the aquarium suits your fish. Set up the aquarium correctly, do not place it in direct sunlight or place it near heat sources. Fish have a hard time with temperature fluctuations, this is another common cause of stress.
Lack of oxygen in the water will also lead to constant stress. The correct equipment of the aquarium, the installation of an aeration filter, etc. will help to solve this problem.
If the environment in the aquarium has not yet settled down or if it is not properly equipped, then the content of nitrites, ammonia and nitrates in the water can be increased, which is very harmful to the fish and will also lead to chronic stress. Be sure to monitor the condition of the water in the aquarium!
Remember that any changes in the composition of the water affect the condition of the inhabitants of the aquarium. Try to resort to the use of drugs and medicines only as a last resort, use a quarantine aquarium to treat sick fish.
Another cause of constant stress is fluctuations in the acid-base balance. Often fish adapt to an unfavorable balance for them, but in the future this will negatively affect their condition. Any fluctuations in acid-base balance higher than 1,5 points plus or minus from the desired indicator are unfavorable for fish.
In nature, fish often have to hide. They will also need secluded places to rest in the aquarium. Be sure to set up some decorations for the fish to hide in, otherwise your aquarium fish will become restless and even aggressive towards their neighbors. Decorate the aquarium only with special elements, do not cover the bottom of the aquarium with river sand, use special pebbles, etc.
Overcrowding in an aquarium is also a common cause of fish stress. In such cases, the fish often show aggression, the stronger ones oppress those who are weaker, the fish often get sick and die. If you want to have a lot of different fish at home, it is better to purchase several aquariums.
Improper nutrition is one of the most banal, but also popular causes of fish stress. If you feed your fish too infrequently or too often, use unsuitable or low-quality food, be prepared for your pets to have health problems.
It should be borne in mind that the fish can live for quite a long time eating unsuitable food, but it will be under constant stress, which will eventually undermine its health. To prevent this, feed the fish with the right type of food – fortunately, pet stores just have a huge range of food for completely different fish!
This cause of stress is especially relevant for homes with children. Children should be explained that it is impossible to knock on the aquarium, put their hands into the water, etc., as the fish begin to get very worried because of this.
Try not to disturb the aquarium yourself too often: do not move it, and also do not overdo it with catching fish, replacing equipment and elements of the landscape of the aquarium, cleaning the water, etc.
Of course, in reality there are many more possible causes of stress, but we have tried to identify the most common ones. Always take these points into account when caring for an aquarium and fish, carefully create favorable conditions for fish and exclude possible discomfort, and also purchase an aquarium, equipment, food and the fish themselves only in specialized, trusted stores.
Take care of the condition of your pets, so you will save them from stress, and therefore from numerous problems in the future!
