Vet Guide 2025: Housing, Husbandry & Health of Aquarium Fish 🐟 | Dr Duncan Houston
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Vet Guide 2025: Housing, Husbandry & Health of Aquarium Fish 🐟
Whether you're new to aquarium keeping or looking to enhance your care practices, this in-depth 2025 guide by Dr Duncan Houston BVSc covers everything you need to know for optimal fish health—from biotyping and water care to feeding and disease prevention. 🧪💦
🏠 Housing: Setting Up a Healthy Aquarium
Creating a safe and enriching environment starts with proper aquascaping—this is the art and science of designing your tank to mimic natural habitats 🌿🐠. Here's how to do it right:
🪨 Substrate
- Acts as a base for plants and a habitat for bottom dwellers
- Provides surface area for nitrifying bacteria 🧫
- Choose particle size and type based on species: sand, gravel, or aquasoil
- Regular cleaning & occasional replacement improve stability and hygiene
🪵 Rocks and Driftwood
- Offers hiding spots and breeding zones for territorial and prey species 🐟
- Expands surface area for bio-filtration 🧬
- Some rocks (like calcium carbonate types) buffer pH—ideal for African cichlids 🌍
🌿 Aquatic Plants
- Oxygenate water through photosynthesis 🌬️
- Absorb ammonia and nitrates 🧪
- Encourage beneficial bacteria growth and offer shelter
🔧 Setup Steps (Freshwater)
- Rinse substrate, ornaments, filters, and tank with clean water (no soap!) 🚿
- Arrange substrate and decor 🪨
- Fill with conditioned tap water and add water conditioner
- Install and activate heater, filter, light, and air pump
- Set heater to species-appropriate temperature (see table below) 🌡️
- Plant aquatic vegetation 🌱
- Add a nitrifying bacterial supplement
- Test and adjust pH as needed 🧪
- Let the tank cycle for 1 week, then introduce a few hardy fish
- Cycle completion (3+ weeks) = ammonia & nitrite = 0, nitrate slightly present ✅
🔬 Water Quality & Husbandry
Healthy fish require stable, clean water—this is the foundation of successful fish keeping. 🧪💧
📊 Water Testing & Parameters
- Test weekly for: pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, GH (hardness), KH (buffering), temperature, and oxygen
- Use a reliable liquid test kit
🌡️ Temperature Ranges & Parameters by Biotype
| Biotype | Temp (°C) | pH | GH (ppm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical General | 23–27 | 6.8–7.2 | 50–150 |
| Amazonian | 23–27 | 6.5–7.0 | 0–50 |
| African Cichlids | 25–28 | 7.5–9.0 | 200–400 |
| Goldfish/Koi | 20–22 | 7.2–7.5 | 50–150 |
💧 Water Changes
- Replace 25–30% of the water fortnightly using a gravel siphon
- Always condition new water before adding
- Match temperature and pH
- Re-dose with bacterial supplement to replenish beneficial microbes
🧼 Filter Maintenance
- Monthly: Clean impeller, pipes, and sponge
- Rinse biological media in used tank water—never in tap water 🚫
- Re-dose beneficial bacteria after cleaning
🍽️ Feeding Aquarium Fish
- Feed once daily—just what they can eat in 30 seconds ⏲️
- Staple: Flakes or granules daily
- Frozen: Bloodworms/brine shrimp 1–2× per week ❄️
- Live: Blackworms every 2 weeks for enrichment 🪱
- Remove uneaten food to prevent waste buildup
🦠 Algae Control
Algae blooms are common—but controllable with good husbandry!
- Limit light exposure—6–8 hrs/day is often enough 🔦
- Water changes reduce phosphate and nitrate buildup
- Algae-eaters: Bristlenose catfish, True Siamensis, Otocinclus help naturally 🍃
- Manual removal: Soft scrub glass with filter wool or magnetic cleaners 🧽
🩺 Fish Health & Disease Prevention
Veterinary care begins with prevention. Here’s how to protect your fish from disease:
🧂 Use of Aquarium Salt
- Natural aid against parasites and fungus in freshwater systems 🌊
- Use cautiously in planted or sensitive species tanks
💊 Treating Illness
- Identify symptoms early: flashing, white spots, ragged fins, lethargy ⚠️
- Isolate infected fish in a hospital tank 🏥
- Select treatments safe for fish, invertebrates, and bacteria (check labels!)
- Re-dose beneficial bacteria post-medication 🧪
📱 Ask a Vet for Help
If you're unsure about a diagnosis, download the Ask A Vet app to get expert veterinary advice on your fish’s symptoms, treatment plans, or water issues—anytime! 🐠💬
🧠 Final Thoughts
Ornamental fishkeeping in 2025 is both a science and an art. With proper setup, regular maintenance, and a vet-backed approach to feeding and health, your aquatic pets can thrive for years 🌊💚
Need help understanding your test results or choosing fish for your setup? Reach out through the Ask A Vet app for trusted, real-time support! 🩺🐟
— Dr Duncan Houston BVSc
