Searching the forums

The Search the forums… box sits near the top of the Forums page, every section page and every thread page. It looks through every public thread title, opening post and reply. You don't need to be signed in to search.

How do I search the forums?

1. Tap the Search the forums… box.
2. Type at least 3 characters.
3. Matching threads appear in a dropdown as you type. Tap one to open it.
4. Or press Enter (or the search key on your phone keyboard) to see the full list of results on the Search the forums page.

What's the difference between the dropdown and the search page?

• The dropdown shows up to 6 quick matches as you type, after a short pause. Each shows the section name, the thread title and a one-line snippet with your words highlighted. At the bottom, See all results for followed by your search opens the full page.
• The search page (Search the forums) shows up to 40 results with more detail: the section, the reply count ("3 replies"), how long ago the thread was last active (for example "2d ago" or "3w ago"), the title, a longer snippet with your words highlighted, and who started it ("by" and their name).

Tap any result to open the thread.

How many characters do I need to type?

The search box needs at least 3 characters before it shows dropdown results, and pressing Enter with fewer than 3 characters does nothing. The search page itself will run a search of 2 or more characters if you open it with a search already in the address, but for everyday use, type 3 or more.

With nothing typed, the search page shows "Type a couple of words to search."

What does the search look through?

Every public thread's title, its opening post and all of its replies. A match anywhere in a thread brings up that thread, and the snippet shows where your words appear. Threads hidden by our team aren't included.

Search doesn't cover the feed, classified listings, species pages, profiles or clubs. Use the search on those pages instead, for example Classifieds or the species directory.

Can I use the keyboard with the dropdown?

Yes, on a computer:

• Down arrow and Up arrow move through the results.
• Enter opens the highlighted thread, or the full results page if nothing is highlighted.
• Escape closes the dropdown.

Clicking anywhere outside the box also closes it.

How are results ordered?

Results are ranked by how well they match your words, so the closest matches come first. The search page also shows each thread's last activity so you can tell an old discussion from a current one.

Can I search just one section?

Not directly. Search always covers all sections. Each result shows its section name, so you can scan for the one you want. To browse one section by date or votes instead, open the section and use its Active, New, Top or Unanswered tabs.

Tips for better results

• Use the key words someone else would use: the species name, the equipment model, the symptom ("white spots", "cloudy", "fin rot").
• Try both common and scientific names, for example "bristlenose" and "Ancistrus".
• Fewer, more specific words often work better than a full sentence.
• If you still can't find an answer, start your own thread with Ask the forums. See Starting a forum thread.

Common problems

Nothing appears in the dropdown. You need at least 3 characters. If you see "No matches yet.", no thread matches those words. Try different or fewer words.

The search page says "No results for" my search. The page suggests "Try fewer or different words." Remove extra words, check spelling, or try a synonym.

Pressing Enter does nothing. Your search is shorter than 3 characters. Add another letter or word.

I know a thread exists but can't find it. It may have been hidden by our team, or its wording is different from what you're typing. Try words that would appear in its title, or browse its section's New tab.