Pets have their own and unique ways to show their affection and love for their humans. Cats purr as they butt their heads on you and even lick you as they would lick their fur as a way of mingling scents as the ultimate gesture of how they show their affection. Dogs, like cats, meet you as you enter the room while wagging their tail; and ask for a tummy rub. At extreme excitement, your pet dogs may even jump and lick you. Notice, too, how they both want to make you feel their love by following you everywhere and even sleeps with you.
But what about fish? Do they and can they show their love and affection to their keepers?
There are over 33,000 known species of fish. Not all fish can be petted while some varieties, like groupers, really enjoy being touched and caressed. At times, you may even notice that your favorite pet fish come up from their tanks to be caressed and petted. Some fish owners even say their fish spit water from above the tank; and swims happily towards the glass and follows the direction of their keepers.
So to answer the question if fish love and can show their love to their keepers, the answer is yes!
Just like other pets, fish show their love and appreciation when they are happy. Unhealthy and poor water condition can make them feel sick and very unhappy. Who would want to live in a dirty environment, after all. Fish looking gloomy while swimming sluggishly is never a relaxing sight to any fishkeeper. These signs tell you something is not right and your fish is not well; and you have to do something about it. So to make your pet fish happy at all times, make sure their habitat is clean and they are fed well. To do this, take note of the following basic pointers.
Re-Create A Natural Environment
Fish adapt easier and faster if their habitat resembles its natural habitat; making them live happier. Live plants, right temperature and lighting are the most common factors to consider. If your fish naturally lives in vegetated waters, make sure to put plenty of live plants and even corals that can provide hiding spots and places to swim around. Live plants also provide oxygen and filters out harmful elements such as ammonia, nitrite, phosphate, and nitrate.
Some fish also prefer to live in lighter conditions, and some in darker. In the case of the former, make sure to put enough aquarium lights. Get a good aquarium heater if your fish prefer higher water temperature. Watch out for any drastic changes in your aquarium water temperature.
Choose The Right Tank Size
When there is not enough space in the aquarium, some fish feel terrirorially-challenged and turn aggressive against other fish. So depending on the volume of fish you wish to keep in your tank, choose the right tank size where they can swim freely as they grow.
Choose The Right Tank Mates
Not all fish are compatible with other fish varieties. Make sure to do your research which fish can live harmoniously with one another before you put them together in one tank. Putting an aggressive fish next to a smaller fish is a big no no, as well as putting two territorial fish varieties together.
Keep Your Aquarium Clean At All Times And Change Your Aquarium Water Regularly
Regularly changing your aquarium water is a basic rule for all fishkeepers. Even if your water looks clean, some bacteria or dirt may already be building up that is not visible to the naked eye. Mineral and vitamin levels also deplete overtime and need to be replenished. Poor water conditions will limit the growth of your fish and allows algae to spread; and can even lead to fish kill. Smaller tanks with more fish require changing water more often.
Get A Good Filter
Consider the size of your tank and the size and volume of your fish. Do not get a strong filter if your have smaller fish as they may get caught by the suction. It should be strong and efficient enough to clean the water. Check your filters regularly to make sure its not clogged up or dirty. Filters are only effective when they are clean and may lose their effectiveness over time
Always Check The Quality Of Your Water
Prevent unnecessary problems and fish stress by regularly testing the quality of your water. Get a reliable and easy to use water test kit that can give you instant results in seconds. SJ Wave 7-in-1 Aquarium Test Kit tests the 7 most critical parameters in fish tanks and delivers fast and accurate results. Ammonia is a silent and invisible killer in aquariums because it is clear and dissolves easily in water that even a beautiful tank could be full of ammonia. Prevent unnecessary fish kill by regularly checking the ammonia levels in your water.
Before your fish can show their love for you; let them know you care for them by providing them with the best living conditions possible. Healthy fish are happy fish. Just like any other pet, fish are able to show their love to their keepers if they are happy and make a good therapy fora stressful day.