Fish Health 101

You can't spot a sick fish until you know how your healthy fish act. Spend a minute every day just watching your tank, especially at feeding time.

Signs of a healthy fish:

• Swims normally and holds its fins open
• Eats eagerly
• Has clear eyes and clean, even fins
• Breathes at a calm, steady pace
• Has normal color for its kind

Early warning signs:

• Clamped fins: fins held tight against the body
• Hiding much more than usual
• Not eating
• Gasping at the surface or breathing fast
• Rubbing or scraping against rocks or decor (called "flashing")
• Spots, fuzz, or cloudy patches on the body or fins
• Color fading or turning dark

Why daily checks matter: most fish problems are easy to fix when caught early, and much harder after a few days. Counting your fish every day also helps you notice if one goes missing, so you can find and remove it before it fouls the water.