Angelfish Acclimation Tips & Hints

Angelfish Acclimation Procedures

Angelfish are very sensitive. Given this, it is important to note that their acclimation procedure is very crucial. If done properly, you will be assured of a successful relocation and adjustment of your angelfish with its new environment.

Angelfish Delivery Preparation

• Have a separate aquarium to quarantine your new angelfish. Shipping causes stress on your angelfish, making them vulnerable to any pathogens present in your aquarium. Failure to quarantine newly arrived fish may kill them.
• The aquarium for the new fish must use regular tap water. Ensure that it has nitrifying bacteria or an active filter with nitrifying bacteria. Alternatively, you may also use a bacteria starter culture to help the biological cycle inside your aquarium.
• Never use pure reverse osmosis water or de-ionized water in the aquarium to prevent the new fish from becoming even more stressed. This will also greatly prevent the death of the newly shipped fish.
• Begin the acclimation process upon the arrival of the fish and make sure that you closely follow each procedure
• Prepare fish-safe buckets, a quarantine tank with a biologically designed active filter, valves, ammonia neutralizer, nets, and siphons.
• Monitor the condition of your angelfish on the day you received them.

Angelfish Acclimation Tips

• At the rate of one drip per second, carefully drip water from the aquarium into the fish bucket.
• Double the drip rate every 30 minutes.
• Once the rate has doubled or tripled, add one fish to the aquarium. Closely observe its reaction.
• If you think the fish is still not fine, proceed with the acclimation of the rest of the angelfish for another hour. You may add another fish to the aquarium at this point.
• If the newly transferred one easily adapts with the environment, you may proceed with moving the rest of the angelfish into the aquarium. However, if the remaining fish shows some signs of stress like spinning, and grasping for breath, you need to prioritize their acclimation immediately. These fish must be placed in a separate container. Every 10-15 minutes, the container’s water volume must be doubled and then you can add the stressed fish.

Do not be alarmed when your angelfish looks a bit worn out at the time of its delivery. During handling, there are several varieties of angelfish that easily become damaged, particularly black breeds. Damages can be broken fins or missing scales. These damages are usually repaired and gone in a matter of time. In only one to two weeks, they will be well again and will be as beautiful and lively as they are.

Fish usually get stressed during shipping. To alleviate their stress, add a right amount of ammonia neutralizer to their bag. You may repeat this until such time the fish are already well adapted to their new environment. Water temperature can also stress your fish, often when it is cold. In this case, you must increase the temperature immediately to the appropriate degree. To do this, temporarily place the fish and the water on each bag into a fish-safe bucket with a large surface area. Never attempt to aerate the water nor make the bags float in an aquarium.

There are cases in which angelfish may appear dead when tranquilized or when the water temperature is extremely cold. You can warm them up by putting their bucket into a bigger container with warmer water. While the water around the bucket is warming, you can start the acclimation process.

Drip Method of Angelfish Acclimation

Through airline tubing, create a siphon from the aquarium where the fish is placed into the bucket where they will be acclimated. To control the drip rate, you need to put an airline valve inline. If you do not have one, you can just tie a knot in the airline, which you need to tighten or loosen in order to manage the drip.

Angelfish Food Info

When acclimating your new angelfish, it is safe not to feed them right away. You should pay particular attention to your angelfish’s behaviors, but normally the angelfish need to get acclimated to it’s new environment first. Use your best judgment when to start feeding your angelfish, and always use small amounts first. This will help prevent the angelfish from getting sick or dying. If there are food remains in the aquarium, remove it within two minutes after feeding.

In some cases, angelfish do not eat dry food. As an alternative, feed them with a little live food, just so they will not starve. But ideally during the first week, they should not be given any live or frozen food.