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Like everything else on this planet that lives and breathes, your aquarium fish get sick much like we do. Of course, they get different illnesses but they are prone to other diseases that probably make them feel as miserable as we feel when we're ill.

Why Do Tropical Fish Get Sick?

There are many things that can cause a fish to deteriorate in health, however most fish illness is attributed to stress. Like humans, a fish's immunity defense is reduced when it's under stress. When your fish are stressed, the bacteria in the water that is usually harmless to them can make them sick.

Causes Of Aquarium Stress

Your tropical fish experience stress as soon as they're brought home, when new plants or decorative objects or fish are placed into the aquarium, or when they're removed from the tank. It's imperative that you add new tank decor and introduce your fish to a new tank gradually. Another thing that can cause stress is poor water quality, which is why the proper maintenance is key. All those procedures are designed to reduce stress and consequently, illness.

How Do You Know If Your Fish Is Sick?

Just like when you are sick, your fish just doesn't seem to have the same vigor he used to have might be a sign he is sick, so it is critical that you observe your fish every day. Strange breathing, irregular swimming and any irregularity on his fins or scales is a sign that your fish is not well.

Restoring Aquarium Health

One way to reduce illness is to reduce the stress on your fish. This means making sure the aquarium is clean, feeding your fish the appropriate foods and introducing them slowly when you first bring them home. Keep a keen eye on the behavior of the fish in your aquarium so you can get to judge when they are stressed. Maybe they stress out when you put new fish in. Maybe that new decorative object is upsetting the existing balance of things.

If you can provide a habitat that is closest to the fish's natural environment this will be the least stressful for them. If you can manage to represent a habitat that's close to the original, you should be able to enjoy your collection of healthy fish for a very long time.

Visit http://www.fish-tank-guide.com for more on aquarium maintenance as well as caring for your tropical fish.