Caring for a Pet Fish
A gold fish can be a great pet for those who want a low maintenance responsibility. But just as any other animal, they need certain things to stay healthy and happy. To preserve the beauty and longevity of your fish, there are some steps that you must follow.
There are several differences between store fish and those found in saltwater or tropical areas. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on the store bought fish. These are the least expensive and easiest to maintain.
Once you have picked out your bowl, you need a water conditioner to remove harsh chemicals such as chlorine and a fish net to assist in cleaning the bowl which should be done every week. Gravel and plastic plants are optional for decoration.
The bowl and decorations should be cleaned with warm water and non-iodized salt. Using soaps and chemicals while cleaning are a sure way to make your fish's living environment potentially toxic, so leave these out. When adding the water and conditioner, the water should be room temperature. Follow the product guidelines for the amount of conditioner to use. It is wise to let the fish bowl sit for at least an hour to let the water and conditioner settle.
Now it's time to introduce your fish to its new home. Carefully place the bag containing the fish into the bowl. Let this sit for about 15 minutes. Then add some of the water from the bowl into the fish bag and wait for another 15 minutes. Then release the bag in the water so the fish can swim freely into the bowl.
Feed your pet small amounts of food twice a day. Feeding them too much food will cloud their bowl which equals more cleaning for you. You should change the water once a week at the least. When cleaning the fish bowl, use the fish net to capture it and place it in a bucket with room temperature water and conditioner. Once you have cleaned the bowl in the same method as mentioned above, you can return the fish and go on with your day.
Caring for a fish can be simple and easy. Just make sure you follow these steps for a happy, healthy fish.
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Olivia from H2PMV
About the Author
Olivia from H2PMV
