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Learn how to safely handle your aquatic life to avoid toxin & bacterial exposure. Find aquatic life care supplies at your neighborhood Petco pet care center.
Updated on November 13th, 2025
Learn how to care for Foxface fish & Rabbitfish, recommended diet and aquarium setup. Find the right food, supplies and equipment at your neighborhood Petco.
Updated on November 13th, 2025
Learn more about Killifish and their care to see if they are the right aquatic life to begin or add to your aquarium.
Updated on November 13th, 2025
Learn how to care for Marine FOWLR Aquariums. These tanks have easier upkeep and require less testing and supplementation than a reef tank. You can keep many fish who would generally consume corals and invertebrates, making it a popular setup choice for more aggressive fish.
Updated on November 13th, 2025
Learn how to care for live rock & sand. Live rock serves as a platform for coral and invertebrates and provides a surface for beneficial bacteria to live.
Updated on November 13th, 2025
Begin by submitting a water sample for quality testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or a nominal fee. High ammonia levels, PH imbalances may be responsible for that. Oxygen concentration and quality of the filters should be determined as well. Lack of oxygenation could be the cause of it. If water quality is good and there are no major imbalances, Bubbles should examined to look for any sign of bacterial/fungal infection and eventually water should be treated. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation (where you can post pictures ) if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.
Updated on August 12th, 2025
Before you buy any fish, you will need to set up the tank. A basic set up includes: a tank, filter, hood/light, heater, gravel and some decor. The tank should run without fish for at least 4 to 6 weeks. This gives it time to cycle. The Nitrogen Cycle is critical to the health of the tank and any fish you will be keeping. During this time, beneficial bacterial will populate the filter and substrate (gravel). These bacteria will be responsible for breaking down fish wastes and other wastes (uneaten food, dead plants, etc.). You will need a home test kit to monitor water chemistry (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH) or you will have to submit water samples for testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee. At first, you will see high levels of ammonia and nitrites. Over time, as bacteria grow, these levels will drop. When ammonia and nitrites are at 0 ppm and nitrates are below 20 ppm, you can consider adding fish. Regular (every 1 or 2 weeks) partial water changes as we
Updated on August 12th, 2025
I'm not as familiar with the Oxyfresh brand. The Oratene products are amazing and they have a brushless gel as well. ( https://www.allivet.com/p-5484-oratene-veterinarian-antiseptic-oral-gel-1-oz.aspx ) Glad you are getting the other products. Hope they help!
Updated on August 12th, 2025
Thanks for reaching out. Did you use tap water and dechlorinate prior to the water changed? The dechlorinating solutions do not work immediately can take several hours to lower levels of chlorine and chloramines (typically in tap water). Did you match water temperatures? Temperature shock of even a few degrees can lead to death or depressed immune system. A veterinary visit is recommended for the pleco to assess health and recommend treatments. Good luck.
Updated on August 12th, 2025
Your tank may be overstocked which will contribute to excessive algae growth. Other causes include poor water quality, overfeeding, too much light and slow water current. Consider removing some fish to another tank or getting a larger tank. If you choose the latter, it will need to be properly cycled before you move fish. A general guideline is one inch of fish per gallon of water. Use the adult size of any fish you plan on keeping when estimating tank requirements. Put the lights on a timer. A photoperiod of 10-12 hours on and the remainder off should suffice. Increase filter flow if you can. Standing or slow moving water will promote algae growth. For now, you can use an algae scrubber to clean glass and tank furniture. Perform partial water changes and rinse filter media. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Use tank water, not tap water, to rinse filter media to preserve beneficial bacteria in the sponge.
Updated on August 12th, 2025