I have got a new goldfish that I would like to introduce to the existing fish in my aquarium. What is the best way to do this?
Before you buy any new fish, you should check that they are compatible with those you already own and that the water quality in your aquarium is suitable for the new fish.
New fish need time to acclimatise to their new home because the water conditions in the store tank are probably slightly different from your tank at home.
Carefully remove any outer wrappings from around the new fish, avoiding exposure to bright light. Let the bag containing the fish float in the tank for about 15 minutes to let the water in the bag slowly reach the same temperature as the tank water. Then, open the bag and ladle out some of the water. Replace the quantity you removed with some water from your tank. Repeat this process about three to four times, at10 minutes intervals. This will help the fish gradually adjust to the slightly different pH of your tank water. To release the fish, gently tip the bag and allow the fish to swim into your tank. The fish will be quite stressed at first, and may hide for a couple of hours.
Most diseases affecting fish have a very strong stress component, and minimising stress is an integral part of disease prevention. Remember that sometimes the stress of introducing new fish to an existing aquarium can precipitate existing or new conditions. By trying to reduce the stress of introducing new fish to your existing ones, you may find they are less susceptible to disease.
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