Pet Articles
How to Buy Healthy Fish
Author: William Berg
Well, of course there is no guarantee that the fish you see, you
are interested in (and you are going to buy) is totally healthy.
A Fish can appear as healthy as it could be but in fact it has
invisible inner problems. There are many ways, many things you
should seek out to determine if a fish is healthy.
And here's a list of some:
Firstly, look for physical characteristics of good health. A
healthy fish should have bright body color, not pale or dull.
However darker or patchy coloration may be an indicator of
stress and not of bad health. Before you buy a fish, find out
how it should look under normal conditions. No open sores,
boils, ulcers, peeling scales or blemishes. No visible
parasites, such as tiny white crystals that look like salt or
tiny black nodules that look like "blackheads". There are also
viruses, like the Lymphocystis (cauliflower-like growths on the
edge of fins). Be sure to examine the fish before buying it.
Eyes should be clear, not cloudy or popping out of the sockets.
Fins are erect, especially the top fin (dorsal). Buckled fins
can mean trouble. No ragged, torn or ripped fins. All of them
should be intact.
Scales are flat and smooth, stomach is well rounded, girth of
the entire body is of normal size, not bloated or sunken.
Visible fish waste should be dark in color, not pale.
You should also examine their behavior! Healthy fish should
breathe normally, not guzzling for air or hanging around the top
of the tank where its mouth kissing the top of the water.
Compare the gill movement of a fish with other fish in the tank.
Extremely rapid gill movement may be a sign of stress.
The fish should interact well with another fish, as they pass
each other, moving out, etc. Healthy fish should swim in a
horizontal motion (not with its head up or down with a few
exceptions) throughout the aquarium---not just creeping around
the corners or hiding all the time. Don’t pick a fish that
allows itself to be bullied or likes to bully others! Spend some
time watching the fish you're interested in buying maybe a good
advice. Sometimes you'll see things you didn't notice right
away. Watch how it behaves for a while.
Only buy fish that eat well! If possible watch them being fed,
as this is very important. You won’t have a wonderfully
beautiful fish that only lasts a day, right?
It would be wise too to check fish prices. Unusually cheap price
should be questioned, as there are some dangerous yet awfully
cheap methods to caught fish today, like using cyanide and
drugs. Cheap prices don’t have to mean poor quality.
And make sure that the fish be caught with two nets. That’s the
best, since using one net will usually only result in a crazy
chase around the tank, making the fish extremely stressed.
About the author:
William Berg Has over 20 years of aquarium experience. He runs
the website http://www.aquaticcommunity.com which features a lot
of information about all kinds of tropical fish such as
cichlids, predatory fish and crayfish. Ask you questions at
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/forums.html
