Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!

There's a wide array of heating solutions to provide the optimal temperature for your aquatic friends to thrive. Dive in to navigate options & ideal wattage.
Updated on November 13th, 2025
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
Looking to learn about low- to medium-light aquarium plants? Petco has the information you need! View our guide to low- to medium-light aquarium plants today.
Updated on November 13th, 2025
Discover how to hardscape your aquarium here at Petco. Visit Petco and check out aquarium hardscape ideas, solutions and much more for your fish.
Updated on November 13th, 2025
Learn how to test your aquarium water. Poor water quality stresses fish, which leaves them susceptible to disease and possibly death.
Updated on November 13th, 2025
I would recommend using an aquarium thermometer to check the starting temperature and that the heater is working correctly. The heater should have a thermostat which switches on and off to keep the temperature constant. You can leave your fish in the tank during this process if you can monitor with a thermometer.
Updated on August 12th, 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 August 12th, 2025
Pimafix is an acceptable "natural" antifungal treatment. Melafix is for bacterial infections. Kanamycin, erythromycin or metronidazole are good broad spectrum antibiotics. Fungus Cure (by API) is an excellent antifungal. You can find these medications in the aquarium section of most pet stores or even online. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated. The cornerstone of any treatment is to first maintain pristine water quality and stable chemistry.
Updated on August 12th, 2025
Feed as many pellets as would fit in her head if it was empty. Do this once daily. Offer greens daily, in the morning about 2 hours after the heat/light comes on. Supplement with a multivitamin and calcium supplement several times a week. I like Rep-Cal HerptiVite and Rep-Cal Calcium (w/o D3 as long as she has UVB lighting). An incandescent bulb or spot light will be sufficient for use as a heat lamp. Use thermometers or an infrared temperature gun to monitor ambient temp and basking spot temp.
Updated on August 12th, 2025
Too much light, whether natural or artificial (green/yellow LEDs can worsen the issue) can sometimes cause an increase in algae growth. Moving the light around a bit to see if it helps, changing to a different type of LED, or just cleaning the tank more regularly/adding in algae eaters may help.
Updated on August 12th, 2025