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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 December 18th, 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 December 18th, 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 December 18th, 2025
Learn how to care for semi-aggressive fish, recommended diet & aquarium setup. Find the right food, supplies & equipment at your neighborhood Petco.
Updated on December 18th, 2025
Although you may not realize it, aquaculture is something that touches our lives on a regular basis. Read more about what exactly aquaculture is, why it is important.
Updated on December 18th, 2025
Without anything to use for scale, it is hard for me to tell how big your tank is, but in general it seems very small. Also, the water that is in the tank appears very cloudy right now, so that would be the first place to start. Water quality is very important, and will make or break your ability to house and care for fish. I would recommend getting a good filter system (you can visit a local pet store to assist you with brands in your area, as I am not familiar with what you can get in India). Be sure to bring the measurements (height, length, width) of your tank, or the gallons or liters so they can tell you what capacity of filter you will need. Everything else will depend on what types of fish you get - if you plan on getting multiple fish, they will need to be small - a general rule of thumb is one square inch of fish per gallon of water. Depending on the species you get, you may need to also get a bubbler to ensure there is enough oxygen in the water for them, and you will also
Updated on November 25th, 2025
Anytime there is an unexpected loss of fish, water chemistry should be checked. Use a home test kit ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/api-freshwater-master-test-kit# ) or submit a water sample for testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee. Confirm an absence ( 0 ppm ) of ammonia and nitrites with a nitrate level of 20 ppm. pH can range between 6.5 and 8, water temp should be 65 F to 75 F. If chemistry and water quality are within normal parameters, then illness or aggression would be other reasons for the loss. It is always recommended to quarantine fish in a separate tank for 2-4 weeks prior to adding them to the main tank. During this time, they can be treating for infection or parasites. I am sorry for the loss of your fish.
Updated on November 25th, 2025
Check the water chemistry. Confirm ammonia and nitrite levels are 0.25ppm or less and nitrates are 40ppm or less. Use a liquid test kit or submit a sample for testing. Most pet stores or aquarists will do this for free or for a small fee. Partial water changes, about 30% can be done to decrease high levels. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. My preferences for water conditioning are AmQuel Plus and NovAqua in addition to StressCoat. Confirm water temperature between 78F and 80F. You can soak pellets in some garlic juice to stimulate his appetite.
Updated on November 25th, 2025
Check the water chemistry first. Use a home test kit or submit a sample of water for testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee for. High ammonia or nitrite levels can be toxic to fish. Aim for 0 ppm ammonia and nitrites with a nitrate level of 20ppm or less. Perform a partial water change, if indicated, to stabilize chemistry and maintain water quality. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Check the water temperature as well, confirming it is appropriate for your species of fish.
Updated on November 25th, 2025
I would recommend to have the water completely changed. New water should be ideally submitted 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 as well. Oxygen concentration and quality of the filters should be determined as well. 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 November 25th, 2025