Introducing new fish to your aquarium

When visiting an aquarium shop it is always tempting to buy lots of fish.
This often leads to disappointment especially in new aquariums.

Here are our simple ideas for successful fish introduction.

1. Take it steadily, less fish is definitely more in the end.
2. Try to choose and understand the fish you want, and its needs before going to the store.
3. Try to make sure you minimise the time your new livestock is in the transport bag.
4. If it's extremly cold or hot outside, provide an insulated box to protect the fish when they are being transported.
5. Float the fish in an open bag on the aquarium and change part of the water as you go.
6. Provide further hiding places for the new fish and existing fish.
7. Reduced lighting while the fish are being introduced will minimise stress levels.

Remember you have a duty of care under law (the animal welfare act) in the EU to your fish. To find out more click here...

If you have a seneye device, you may want to place it in the bag with the fish so you can check the key parameters as the fish are floated-in, and see the difference between the bag and the tank. (please note that you need to wait for the seneye device to take a reading on it's half hour cycle to update the display when placing it in the bag)

If the water parameters in the bag are very close to yours then floating time can be minimised.

Often fish kept in transport bags for long periods will start to use up the water's oxygen and replace it with CO2. This in turn lowers pH and allows the toxic NH3 being produced in the bag  to turn into non toxic NH4. Once the bag is opened, oxygen will replace CO2 and the pH will rise. Also, pH can rise when adding water to the bag from an aquarium with a higher pH. A pH rise will increase NH3 levels - the larger fish the more noticeable it will be. Again, a seneye device in the bag while floating-in will help alert you to any raise in NH3.