Things to Avoid with Pet Fish

Just like having a cat or a dog, taking care of a pet fish is a lot more work than it would initially seem. The difficulty is only allayed through experience and knowledge, and knowing what to expect when raising pet fish can make a huge difference in what results you see. In this article, we’re not going to go over the typical ‘tips to remember’ about raising fish, but instead, we’ll focus on what to avoid during pet fish caretaking. That way, if you’re the kind of person who listens better to things you can’t do versus remembering everything you can, you won’t have to worry about putting your fish in harm’s way.
Avoid Wild Fish
This is a huge priority and this warning should not be ignored. Wild fish in their natural environment have adapted to living in such a way. Forcibly removing fish from that environment in the hopes of keeping them as pets may seem like a great way to obtain new pets, but it isn’t. The shock from water temperature changes, salinity adjustments, and more can make the fish ill or even kill them, whereas fish that were bred for domestication face far fewer potential problems down the road. Plus, in many regions it is illegal to remove animals from their natural habitats, so you’ll want to avoid breaking the law as well.
Avoid Small Fishbowls
Television and film have done a great job portraying pet fish in the tiniest possible fishbowls, but this often isn’t a realistic way to keep them. While a pet fish may survive in a small enclosure filled with only water, it often won’t thrive without plentiful space and an abundance of objects to interact with in its environment. And the larger the fish is, the larger the space he needs is, so make sure to avoid fish tanks that are so small that the fish can barely turn around in it. Instead, always go for a bigger space than you would think the fish would need, just to play it safe.
Avoid Overfeeding
For the neurotic types out there, this is an especially important thing to remember: don’t feed your fish too much. While you may think it’s better to feed a fish too much than to not feed him enough, you’re putting the fish at risk for health issues and even death. Always sway to the side of caution, and look up the exact amount of food a fish of your pet’s type and size requires per day, so you don’t have to play guessing games with yourself to see if you got the amount right or not.