How do I safely bring my new guppies home and acclimate them?

The majority of the acclimation guide is intended for introducing animals recently purchased online into a quarantine environment that have been inside a dark box for 24+ hours and the water quality is most likely degraded from waste. Hopefully you followed these steps before introducing your pond animals into their quarantine environment. After the quarantine period the acclimation from this environment should be relatively easy and quick – given the water parameters in the quarantine environment are ideal and similar to your pond. The best way to move the fish would be to put them in a 5 gal. bucket and float the bucket in the pond for at least 30 minutes so the temperature in the bucket can gradually reach the same temperature as the pond. Make sure you do this in a shady spot of the pond or during a time period when the bucket will not be in the sun. In order to keep the bucket from tipping it may take some creativity but it may be as simple as using a wooden pole laid across the pond centered through the bucket handle to achieve this. Make sure to add a small air-stone to the bucket to agitate the surface so the oxygen and pH levels don’t change. From there you can gradually introduce pond water to the bucket and remove the mixed water until you are confident that the majority of the water left in the bucket is water from your pond (should take no more than 20-30 minutes). From there, gently scoop the fish out and place them in the pond and discard the water from the bucket.

As log as she is acclimated to the water temperature, she should be fine. Place her in a bag of water and then float the bag in the tank for 20-30 minutes. You can then scoop her out with a net and place her in the new tank. Confirm proper chemistry of the new tank using a home test kit or by submitting a water sample for testing. The local Petco may do this for free or for a small fee. Aim for 0 ppm ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 20 ppm or less. pH should be around 7 and water temp should range between 65 F and 72 F since goldfish are cold water fish.

The most common cause of death of a newly acquired fish is usually shock or incorrect water quality. Fish tanks should be set up and left running without fish for at least 3-4 weeks to establish a proper nitrogen cycle. There are products that can shorten this time period. If this is not done, there may be high levels of ammonia, chloramine, nitrates and nitrites which can kill a fish. When introducing a fish, the bag should be floated in the tank for about 30 minutes to acclimate the fish to water temperature. This can prevent shock if the water is too hot or too cold. Test your water quality with a home test kit or submit a sample for testing. Most pet stores or aquarists will do this for free or for a nominal fee. Correct any imbalances as indicated. Slowly acclimate any new fish as written above. You can request a consultation to discuss your concerns in greater detail if necessary. Buying fish and starting a tank can be quite confusing initially.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Begin your preparation for the move a week or so before the day itself, by removing ornaments and other obstacles from within the tank. Each day leading up to the move, perform a 15-20% water change, so that by the time you are ready to move, the tank water will be clean but also stable and mature. On the day itself, preserve as much of the original tank water as possible, to re-introduce into the tank at the other end. The best way to transport your fish is within thick bags, like the ones pet shops provide when you buy new fish. Make sure that the top of the bag is well sealed to prevent spillages. Store the bags containing your fish in a sturdy box, padded with polystyrene or other filled bags to keep the bags secure and upright. Cover the box, as darkness helps to reduce stress in your fish, then secure the box safely within your vehicle. Since your journey is more than a couple of hours long then you may need to arrange for a rest stop to re-open the bags and allow oxygen to enter. Once you've arrived, get the tank set up and watered, with all of the filters and air pumps running, and allow at least half an hour for the tank to settle. You will probably need to add more water to the tank, but try to keep this to a minimum and use as much of the original water as possible. Finally, introduce your fish to the tank in the same manner as you would if bringing them home for the first time, by floating the bags with the lights off, allowing the temperature to stabilize, and gradually mixing tank water with the bag water before releasing your fish. I hope this is helpful!

Ideally you would quarantine any new Fish in a separate aquarium for a few weeks to make sure they do not show any signs of diseases or infection. Once 2-3 weeks have passed without any signs of a problem then it is usually pretty safe to introduce to the common aquarium. Good luck and I hope they do well!

Thanks for reaching out. If is a good idea to fast for 1-2 days prior to shipment, this decreased feces and will help to keep the ammonia down. Typically clear bags are utilized with about 50% water, and 50% air/oxygen used. A local pet store might be able to assist, as they get shipment in (so have older bags and boxes, which need to be disinfected) and hopefully the skills to ship. Check with the airline also, box needs to be well labelled "LIE ANIMALS" and "THIS END UP". Sometimes a health certificate for interstate travel is needed, so contact airline and State of Utah, veterinarian. Good luck.

Check the water chemistry and water temperature. If it is a new tank, it may not be properly cycled and could be undergoing and ammonia or nitrite spike. Either can drive fish to the surface or to one area of the tank. Submit a water sample for testing or use a liquid master test kit at home. Aim for 0 ppm ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 40 ppm or less. Water temp should be in the mid 70s F. Perform a partial water change (30%) if necessary to stabilize chemistry and maintain water quality. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched o prevent stress or shock. Survey the area around the tank to rule out negative stimuli such as bright/direct light or loud noises/vibrations. These can also stress fish and cause them to move as far away as possible. Make sure the tank is large enough to support 8 guppies. Overcrowding can cause stress and aggression. Lastly, provide plenty of cover in the form of live or artificial plants. Guppies prefer cover and guppy fry (babies) need it or they will get eaten.