Stressed-Out Fish: Understand Where It All Begins

Most fish can learn to live in conditions that are pretty different from their natural homes in the wild.

Just like a stressed out person eventually breaks down, a fish to out of place in its environment will, in all likelihood, end up belly up on the water’s surface.

In fact, just being in a tank can be a drastic change in habitat for the fish. Moving fish from place to place is extremely aggravating as well.

Understand Where The Stress Begins

Do you know that almost all fishes in the aquarium store are stressed-out fish, way before you could pose any more stress to them?

Fish dealers would tell you that the single most stressful event in the life of a fish is often the big move that happens when it is transported from where it is bred to the place where it is sold.

Being packed in plastic bags in crowded conditions over long flights has been the cause of many fish fatalities even before the fish reaches your local aquarium stores. Such conditions place the fish under so much stress, they reduce its ability to ward off disease and heal itself from small wounds.

What You Can Do To Minimize The Stress Level For Your Fish

Before any potential buy do give a careful examination for cuts or signs of disease or lethargy, as these will not bode well for the fish, once you introduce it into your tank—yet another stressful new environment.

All this means that factors which can be controlled within your own aquarium should be kept as close as possible to the fish’s natural conditions, to help give your fish the best chance of living a long and happy life.

Hence, one of your priorities would be to remove sources of stress wherever possible.

Although a stress-free life is not an automatic guarantee that your fish will thrive, it definitely gives your fish a better chance at a healthy life.

A small amount of stress by itself is not usually fatal, but every little thing builds up. Stress reduces a fish’s ability to breed successfully and shortens its natural life span. Also, stressed fish become more susceptible to disease and death.

For example, keeping a fish in water that is cooler or warmer than its preferred temperature forces its body organs to work harder to keep itself alive.

So, just like the right food, lifestyle, and a healthy dose of exercise will give us the best chance at a long and fruitful life, a stress-free life will do the same for your fish.

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