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Learn how to care for soft coral, recommended care & habitat setup. Find the right food, supplies & equipment at your neighborhood Petco.
Updated on October 23rd, 2025
Visit Petco to learn about cleanup crews and how they can help your aquarium health.
Updated on October 23rd, 2025
Learn how to pick the right aquarium plants, substrate, lighting, and fertilizers to ensure that your aquarium plants thrive and stay healthy.
Updated on October 23rd, 2025
Tanks with live plants can be excellent additions to your home, bringing a touch of nature indoors. Learn how to take care of aquatic plants.
Updated on November 6th, 2025
Learn how to care for Boxfish & Cowfish, recommended diet and aquarium setup. Find the right food, supplies and equipment at your neighborhood Petco.
Updated on December 21st, 2025
Guppies or Neons are excellent "starter" fish. Care is simple and they are inexpensive. A standard 10 gallon tank is recommended to start. Most people don' t realize the amount of "work" needed to maintain a tank. Filter maintenance, monitoring water chemistry, water changes, monitoring fish health and providing a balanced diet are just a few items that need regular attention to keep a tank thriving. Even though fish aren't as cuddly as cats and dogs, they do have their own personalities and even respond to their owners, especially at feeding time! Studies have shown that simply watching fish in a tank can lead to a reduction in both heart rate and blood pressure. It is quite relaxing.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This could be due to pain or discomfort as he could have hurt himself. However, it could also be coincidental. If he is otherwise doing well without limping, I think it would be ok to monitor him for now. However, if he develops a limp or any other signs such as crying in pain, inappetence or continued lethargy, have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They can check him for any evidence of pain and treat him based on findings. Good luck and have a great day!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Hi, and thanks for your question. Begin by submitting a water sample for quality testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or a nominal fee. Clinical examination should always include a water quality check, even if you have done so already. Water testing should be performed with a quality test kit, measuring NH4, NO2 and NO3. High ammonia levels, PH imbalances may be responsible for these signs. Oxygen concentration and quality of the filters should be determined as well. If water quality is good and there are no major imbalances, your fish should get examined to look for any sign of bacterial/fungal infection and eventually water should be treated. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Thank you for using Boop by Petco! Ariel does look like she has a little bit of white on her abdomen, and potentially some raised scales. She also appears to be swimming towards the bottom of the tank, but this may just be a coincidence in the photo. The white on the abdomen can be caused by a fungal or parasitic infection, so I recommend separating this fish from the others. You may want to change the water and sanitize the tank if any other fish start to get similar symptoms. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Check the water chemistry to rule out elevated ammonia or nitrite levels. You can do this using a home test kit or by submitting a water sample for testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee. Perform partial water changes (no more than 30% total volume at a time) to stabilize chemistry and/or to improve water quality. use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. If all 7 fish are goldfish, a large tank is strongly recommended. The general rule is 20 gallons for the first fish and 10 additional gallons per extra fish. This is due to the goldfish producing a larger than average bio load (wastes) which can quickly overwhelm a small tank. Check the water temperature as well. Goldfish are cold water fish and do best between 65 F (18.3 C) and 72 F (22.2 C). The use of antibiotics or other medications would not be recommended in the absence of symptoms of illness or infection. Plain aquarium salt (NOT table or Epsom
Updated on September 24th, 2025