Why Do the Fish in My Aquarium Keep Dying?

How many times have you brought home a beautiful fish only to find it belly up a week later? If you’ve been trying to care for fish in your aquarium but can’t seem to keep them alive, there are reasons the fish may be passing away so quickly. Keep in mind the top fish killer is stress. All of the following possible causes are stress-inducing problems that could eventually lead to death.

Overfeeding

The amount of food fish need is extremely small. Remember the two-minute rule—any food anywhere in the tank after two minutes is too much. We call this “loving your fish to death.” There are two major reasons overfeeding your fish could cause an extreme amount of stress. First, the more you feed your fish, the more waste they produce. This excess waste can easily dirty up the tank, creating a toxic environment that could kill your fish. Any uneaten food will rot and add to the toxicity of the tank. Make sure to feed your fish the right amount and type of food and clean out any uneaten food after two minutes.

Incorrect Tank Size

Overcrowding is extremely detrimental to every fish in the tank. Not only will your fish be stressed with no room to swim freely, but the good bacteria in the tank likely won’t be able to keep up with the waste production of so many fish. The best way to negate this issue is to keep your fish in a large, well-oxygenated tank that can accommodate the total number of fish you have.

Improper Aquarium Setup

You can’t just buy fish on a whim, put them in water, and expect them to thrive. If this has been your method for previous fish, it’s no wonder they died after a few days. Just like any other pet, fish require proper housing and care. Before you buy fish, you need to set up your aquarium with the proper saltwater or freshwater aquarium supplies and cycle it for a few weeks so it can grow the necessary bacteria your fish need to thrive. Setting up the aquarium properly ensures your fish come home to the ideal environment and don’t die.

The Tank Isn’t Optimized for the Type of Fish You Bought

Just like people, different fish need different things from their environment. For example, some fish need saltwater, while others need freshwater. The variants of your tank need to be properly researched and set up well ahead of time. Once you know what kinds of fish you want, simply set up the tank to suit their needs, and you give them a much higher chance of stress-free survival.

There are a variety of things you might need to keep your fish healthy and your aquarium running smoothly, from filters to aquarium controllers. At Aquatic Warehouse, we carry everything you’ll need to properly care for your fish tank. Take a look at the many great items on our website, stop by our store in Kearny Mesa, or give us a call at 858-467-9297.