Tip of the Day – 8/15/2011

When aquarium hobbyist encounter fish that show signs of physical damage, parasite infestation, or disease, the best thing to do is not knee-jerk react to the symptoms. Instead, observe the fish and determine the type of problem it has encountered, then wait patiently to see if the problem is one that the fish can recover from on its own. A small scratch or a couple of Ich spots can go away entirely on their own, and attempting to treat the issues can cause undue stress and additional issues. If the fish gets worse or the problem is very serious from the onset, remove the fish immediately (if a quarantine/hospital aquarium is available) and treat the problem accordingly.