General Care Discussion :: Water changes (for those of you with fish in the tank)

[Bumby's Mom]

When I go to do a partial or complete water change what am I supposed to do with the fish? Someone told me I can't just put it back into the tank that I have to "acclimate" it to the new water... I want to change teh water in the tank but I don't want to until I know for sure what I am supposed to be doing.

[mikee]

B Mom -- If you make the partial water changes and they get a little sickly would the turtles eat them? I have three survivors and they don't miss a beat when I change the water. If and when they become turtle food I would get some more.

[megcornell]

I'd bag them up with old tank water before you change the water. Then clean and change the water as you please. After that just place the bag in the tank for 15 minutes or so to let the temperatures even out. Since turtle tanks are heated, the heater should bring the water temp back up to the 75 or so you have it set at. Naturally don't put the bag in when the water is still cool and in the 60s... that would shock the fish.

[Bumby's Mom]

Ok thanks. My friend said something about adding new water to the bowl the fish was in because of new levels or something... Last time I did a change I just dumped him back in once the water was back to 78 and he seemed fine but I don't want to make him sick.

[Vtolds]

I would just leave them in as long as you arent taking all of the water out the fish would be more than likely fine. I have had fish for years and I dont take them out of the tank when I suck out there gravel I just work around them.

[FLhaven4strays]

There are maybe a dozen feeders & several babies in my son's tank. He does a full change every week or two and we simply move the fish to another container, clean the tank and put 'em straight back in. Feeders seem pretty durable from what I've seen (even all the 1 day old fry survived)....but I know all fish are not the same.

[Bumby's Mom]

I don't have feeder fish. I have a pleco. They are supposed to be pretty tough fishes.

[killrmack]

id say it depends on how much water your changing i my self usually do 20% to 30% in my fish tanks and don't even remove the fish same as my girlfriends african tank and there all fine

[Blue Flamingo]

I have a South American Cichlid tank .I never do a 100% water change but I uasually replace 50% up to 80% and I leave all my fish in the tank. I think that it would stress them all out way to much to be caught and moved to another setting so I just leave them in, they seem fine. I alos have a pleco in there and he does just fine too.

[Bumby's Mom]

I am just afraid of accidentally sucking him up or something. I will give it a try and see how it goes.

[Bumby's Mom]

Well I guess I don't have to worry about it now. Plinko died I don't know what happened to him. He hasn't been acting right for the past few weeks and I just found him in the bottom of the tank dead... pretty upsetting. I have only had him for maybe a month

[Blue Flamingo]

Sorry to here about your little pleco, somtimes these things just happen.