Fish Stress is caused by a number of reasons. Below are some of the most common reasons:
Improper Water Quality: Having water that don't match your fish's requirement's in regards to pH, temperature, and others conditions that are found in fishes natural home!
Poor diet: Feeding fish food that is not supposed to be fed to it!
Tank Design: If you tank design is not comfortable for your fish providing hiding spots and safety retreats it can surely cause stress! My suggestion when choosing a tank design that is least stressful for your fish is to try to imitate your fishes natural habitat!
Over Crowding Tank: Too many fish in your tank!
Bullying: If your fish is being bullied by other fish stress is sure to come!
Poor filtration: If your tank is not being filtered and cleaned properly it can stress your fish out!
External Stress: People tapping glass, putting hands in tank, chasing fish with net, etc.!
Signs Of Stress
When your fish are stressed, they will not keep it a secret from your, they always show signs of stress! However, some signs are easier to notice than others.
- Hiding: Often times fish hide when stressed!
- Not Eating
- Diseased or sick
- Torn fins
- Lack of color
- Lack of activity
Prevention Of Stress
There are many things to do to prevent stress:
- Make sure you have good water quality, meeting all needs and requirement of your fish!
- Make you fish comfortable, provide hiding spots and many things than imitate fish's natural environment like rocks and plants:
- Prevent bulling, removed all bullying, or bullied fish!
- Feed You Fish the appropriate diet for your fish!
- Be sure to have Perfect Filtration!
- Keeping Children from tapping on glass and bothering the tank!
