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TIPS FOR INTRODUCING NEW FISHES

 

 

 

Introduction

It is always a challenge to introduce newly purchased fish into an established aquarium. In the case of cichlids, the odds that the new fish will be bullied and harassed is very much higher as cichlids are not community fishes.  However, we all acknowledge that at times it is impossible to avoid putting new fish into the established aquarium. Sometimes, the newly introduce fish can quickly established control and harass the existing fishes.    

However, there are some tips that one can follow to minimise the possibility of losing any fish during the process when we introduce any new fish. 

Essentially, we  need to know fish have a short memory, fights for territory, food and mate. Therefore, the tips will revolve around such factors to limit the fighting. 

1.    Re-orientate.   Try introducing them during feeding time or during a water change. This needs to be accompanied by a slight re-arrangement of existing rocks/decoration. However, be warned that this will cause the existing occupants to re-contest the territory and sometimes can result in loss of not only the new fish.

 

See Other Related Topics :

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See Other Related Articles

Community tank set-up
Central America tank Set-up
Lake Tanganyika (tropheus) set-up
Aquarium Surface Skimmer
Tips for Introducing New Fishes
Aquarium Maintenance
Crash of my Tropheus Tank

 

 

2.    Blinded them.   Remember to turn off the lights to calm the new  fish.

3.    Avoid similar fish.  Avoid introducing fishes with the same colour, shape and size. From my experience, existing occupants seemed to ignore newly introduced fishes if they are much smaller, maybe because they form no threat to them.

4.    Power balance.    Introducing bigger fish to a tank of smaller incumbents is also risky as the new fish could quickly establish control. The challenge is to be able to maintain some kind of balance between 2-3 large fishes in the tank to maintain "harmony".

5.    Hungry fish is an angry fish.  Make sure that there is adequate food for each fish. Often observe aggressiveness in the fish after they first tasted their feed. The dominant fish will chase any competitors that come within the feeding zone.  Therefore also establish a few different feeding zones instead of always feeding at the same spot.

 

Other Tips :

1.  Curing of Pop Eyes.    Pop Eyes are caused by sudden change in water  quality. A 50-75% water change will normally resolve the problem.

2.   Managing old filter hoses.     Soften old filter hoses with warm water to fix to attachments. They can also bended easily after softening them with warm water.

3.    Reduce noise from canister filters.   To reduce noisy canister filters, periodic replacement of the rubber pads are necessary.

4.    Over feeding.   To prevent over-feeding, do not feed more than enough food that the fish can consume within 3 minutes.

 

5 Important Tips 

- Do water changes and slight aquascape re-arrangement

- Switch-off tank lights

- Avoid similar colour, shape and size of new fish

- Maintain balance, not too big new comer

- Ensure adequate feed after introducing new fish.

 

 

 

 

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Last update : 18 May 08

Established since June 2001