| Bringing new additions to your aquarium should be | | | | brought back to a normal diet. If your new fish is |
| accomplished in a careful well thought out plan. | | | | to be introduced into an established tank it is good |
| This is especially true with expensive fish. Most | | | | practice to first feed the established fish and then |
| important is that the new fish are coming from a | | | | introduce the new members. This is especially |
| healthy tank. Also the water temperature in your | | | | important if your tank contains both large and |
| tank ideally should be within two degrees of the | | | | small fish. You don't want your present occupants |
| tank the fish were moved from. | | | | to think of the new addition as a special meal. |
| If there is more of a temperature difference than | | | | When dealing with expensive fish it is good |
| two degrees then float the transport container n | | | | practice to have a second tank to place the new |
| your tank long enough for the temperature to | | | | arrivals. This allows time to inspect the fish for |
| stabilize. Also it would help a great deal to | | | | possible disease or other unwelcome conditions. It |
| guarantee a safe transfer if the fish were placed | | | | could spell disaster to introduce a new member |
| in the new tank within a half a day of purchase. | | | | into an established tank only to find it has |
| A more difficult feature to ascertain is the | | | | sickened the entire population. |
| possible pH difference between tanks. If there is | | | | A practice seen at many aquariums which marks |
| a great change in the degree of acidity or | | | | the offender as a novice is the practice of tapping |
| alkalinity of the water the fish will most certainly | | | | on the glass of the tank to attempt to gain |
| be affected. It is sometimes the practice to dump | | | | notice. This in may cases can frighten and |
| the shipping water into the new tank which may | | | | confuse the fish and does absolutely no good as |
| change the pH of the tank. Caution should be | | | | far as attracting the fish. |
| applied here. | | | | In addition be aware of the tank lightening. A new |
| Your new addition should be fed lightly after being | | | | member who may have been kept in a dark tank |
| received especially if they were shipped by mail | | | | will be adversely affected if the lighting in or |
| or express. Many shippers do not feed the fish | | | | around the new tank is extreme. |
| prior to shipping and they need to be slowly | | | | |