Did you know that just as humans become more susceptible to illnesses during wild swings in temperature during the winter months, fish can too? Fish do not respond well to significant changes in water temperature. When this is likely or possible here are a few things you should consider to keep your fish happy:

Water Parameters

As we have discussed in prior blogs, water quality is critical for healthy fish and optimum success.  During winter it’s even more important to eliminate any water quality stress induced issues. Ramp up your water testing using a quality kit with non-expired reagents and clean your tank and filters often to maintain ideal conditions.

Temperature

Investing in a quality thermometer to easily check the temperature of your tank is a must during the winter months. Frequently monitoring of the temperature allows you to ensure that the water hasn’t deviated to far from the normal range or dipped into the danger zone leaving your fish vulnerable to illness.

Location

Verify that your tank is set up in a safe location means checking for exposure to drafts from heater vents, air intakes, windows, doors or any area that can bring a blast of cold air. You may want to consider adding weather stripping, door sweeps and drapes to the room your tank is in to limit drafts.

Heater

Depending on your geographic location and the changes in temperature in the room your aquarium is in, you may want to consider an in a tank heater to keep the water temperature dialed in and comfortable for your aquatic pets. If you live in an area that receives snow, this is most likely mandatory.

If you have any questions, reach out to our team at fish@hikariusa.com or call 800-621-5619. We have answers about how to keep your fish happy and healthy regardless of the season!