We will talk about How to calm down stressed fish in this article. Fish can be easily scared and become stressed under certain conditions. We will talk about the reasons why fish go into stress as well as the solutions for you to help them with it.
How to calm down stressed fish
You can calm down stressed fish by:
- Remove the cause of the stress
- Pacify the environment
- Shift the fish to a less crowded environment
- Clean the water of the tank
- Remove the ornament that is triggering the stress in fish
- Maintain the temperature of the water tank
Fish are delicate creatures and it is necessary to provide the right conditions to thrive and live comfortably. Before knowing about How to calm down stressed fish, it is essential to learn the reason why fish can go into stress.
It should be kept in mind that keeping the fish in a stressed environment is against special animal welfare rights and it also violates the freedom rules of the fish as well. Fish need proper care and management. They are sensitive animals and therefore cannot survive prolonged stress conditions
Why do fish go into stress?
There are certain conditions in which fish can go into stress. We are going to talk about some of the common conditions here. Let’s find out why your fish go into stress and how it can affect its life.
Closed spaces
Fish are free-living animals and require spacious water to move around freely. Keeping the fish in small closed spaces where they cannot properly move or swim can send the fish into stress. Overcrowded tanks having less space but a large number of fish in them can make the fish go into stress. So if you are keeping your fish in closed and overcrowded spaces you should stop doing that immediately. Because it can lead to stress conditions for the fish and make it go into shock and eventually death.
Environment change
If you are looking for the answer to your question How to calm down stressed fish? You should avoid changing the environment around the fish. Fish take time to adjust in the new tank. Moving them from one tank to another can make them go into stress. The stress can induce negative impacts on the life of the fish that is why only move the fish when it is essential.
The temperature of the water
The change in the temperature of the water can send the fish into stress and be the reason for their death. Most of the fish are from tropical regions and that is why they do well in tropical temperatures.
Too much low temperature can cause hypothermia in fish while too much high temperature can cause hyperthermia in the fish. Both these conditions are lethal to the fish and can cause the death of all your fish. That is why maintaining an ideal temperature is one of the best ways to calm down the stressed fish.
Unhygienic conditions
Unhygienic conditions can lead the fish to go into stress conditions. Especially freshwater fish, that cannot withstand the change in the salt concentration levels in the water tank. The unhygienic measures can lead to the accumulation of harmful pathological agents that can induce stress in fish and lead to unwanted consequences such as shock and death
Improper feeding
Improper feeding of fish can also lead to stress. Hunger is one of the main causes that can send the fish into stress. That is why if you want to know How to calm down stressed fish? You should know the proper dietary requirements and schedule of fish. Fish are continuously moving in the water and that is why they require a sufficient amount of energy to keep them going.
Overfeeding can also lead to conditions that can induce stress in the fish. If you overfeed your fish, it can undergo constipation and dropsy both of the conditions can send the fish into stress.
The decor of the water tank
The decor of the water tank can also be the reason why the fish go into stress. Try to provide the decor that is matched by the natural habitat of the fish. If fish experience objects that are too stingy in color or exotic they go into stress. The stress can cause the fish drastic conditions and can even kill the fish.
We talked about some of the most common reasons why fish go into stress to know how to calm down stressed fish. Let’s talk about some points that will help us calm down these delicate creatures and save their lives.
How Can I Calm Down My Stressed fish?
Following are some ways which can help you to calm down your stressed fish. Keep in mind that fish are sensitive creatures and they can easily go into stress.
Proper water conditions
Provide proper water conditions to your fish. If the fish are stressed, clean the water from any kind of foreign objects and maintain proper sanitary conditions. Use chemicals such as chlorine or other liquids available for the hygiene of your water tank.
Keep the temperature of the water tank ideally at the specific temperature that suits best to your fish. Other conditions such as pH and salt levels also determine the stress which is why maintaining these points is also an important factor in how to calm down stressed fish.
Proper Feeding conditions
Feed the fish at the proper time and with popper dietary components. The best way to calm down stressed fish is by slowly bringing it back to the normal feeding routine. If your fish are not eating that might be due to any kind of disease conditions.
Get your fish checked by a vet as soon as possible to remove the cause of the stress. Certain injuries such as swim bladder injuries can also cause stress. Therefore proper feeding and proper checkup of your fish is an important point in how to calm down stressed fish
Remove the fighter fish
The fish can go under stress due to the presence of an aggressive nature fish. That is why it is important to remove the fighting. Choosing the best and suitable tank mates for the fish is one of the important attributes in how to calm down stressed fish.
Pat the fish gently
Fish are sensitive and delicate creatures but they can sense emotions very easily. If your fish is under stress offer it some treat and pat it gently. Patting helps in reducing stress and restoring the normal conditions of the fish. Be kind and affectionate to the fish and gently pat its body.
It is one of the animal welfare rights to treat the animal with love and kindness. Therefore you should treat your fish properly and spend time on its care. Light petting will also help the fish to recognize you and find peace in your presence.
Sufficient oxygen
Must have an oxygen pump in your aquarium. Supplying the fish with sufficient oxygen will help you to calm down the stressed fish and save its life.
When the levels of oxygen go down in the tank it may cause the suffocation of the fish. This suffocation can induce stress in the fish. Stress can trigger emergency hormones that increase the heart and breathing rate.
The accelerated heartbeat and breathing rate can cause shock and eventually death of the fish. Providing enough oxygen is important to calm down stressed fish
These are some of the most important ways to calm down the stressed fish. Let’s find out how you can find out that your fish is under stress.
How can I know my fish is under stress?
Following are some points that will help you find out if your fish is under stress or not:
- If your fish is not eating properly, that means it is experiencing stress. Stress can be of any kind thermal, physical, or as a consequence of some diseases. The prostaglandins made in the fish reduces its appetite and that leads to the stress
- If your fish is gasping at the surface it means it is suffocating under the water. Gasping for oxygen from the surface means that the fish is experiencing stress due to loss of oxygen. Therefore immediately check for the oxygen pump of the tank.
- If the body color of the fish is not as bright and shiny as it is usually then it means that it is experiencing stress. The dull color signifies stress. Therefore if you see the variance in the color of the fish do something to remove the stress. You can gently pat the fish or get it checked by the vet as well.
- Change in the swimming patterns of the fish is also an evident sign of stress. You will feel like the fish is drunk. Therefore it is one of the best signs to diagnose stress in the fish. The behavior change is also evident, the fish will become lazy and try to be isolated from other fish.
Conclusion
We talked about How to calm down stressed fish in this article. We found out that ish can be easily scared and become stressed under certain conditions. We also talked about the reasons why fish go into stress as well as the solutions for you to help them with it.
Feel free to ask anything about How to calm down stressed fish in the comment section below.
FAQs How to calm down stressed fish
Frequently asked questions about How to calm down stressed fish are:
How can you tell if a fish is stressed?
Following are some points that will help you find out if your fish is under stress or not:
- If your fish is not eating properly, that means it is experiencing stress
- If your fish is gasping at the surface
- If the body color of the fish is not as bright and shiny as it is usually then it means that it is experiencing stress.
- Change in the swimming patterns of the fish is also an evident sign of stress. You will feel like the fish is drunk
Can a stressed fish recover?
Yes, a stressed fish can recover if treated well. It also matters when you have found out about the stress condition of your fish. The sooner the better in this case.
Do fish feel stress?
Yes, fish feel stress. Fish are sensitive and delicate creatures and they can easily feel stress. There are several reasons why fish can go under stress such as improper feeding, unhygienic water conditions, or diseases.
Why are my fish not swimming around?
Stress can be the reason why your fish are not swimming around. Check for the water temperature and pH levels to remove any kind of stress to the fish.
Why do my fish hide in the corner of the tank?
It can happen when your fish get nervous or is under stress.
References
https://www.hartz.com/stress-in-fish-symptoms-and-solutions/
