FAQ: Health for fish

No. Zookainos.lt only compares prices from Lithuanian online shops and sells nothing itself. Ask a vet or another specialist about fish diseases and treatment, and use products as the label directs.

Shops set their own prices and discounts, so the same product can cost different amounts in different shops. It is worth comparing, and zoogidas.lt shows on each product when its price was last checked.

Bottle sizes and strengths vary, so on zoogidas.lt you can compare products by price per litre or kilogram and see price history on the product page. How much water a product treats is stated on its label.

A quarantine tank holds newly bought fish for a while so signs of disease can be spotted before they join the main tank. This lowers the risk of infecting every fish in the aquarium with diseases that are not visible at first.

Several weeks is often recommended, because many diseases that were not visible at purchase show up in that time. A more precise period for particular species can be checked with a vet or an experienced aquarist.

A quarantine tank must be roomy enough that the fish are not cramped and the water stays stable. A few dozen litres is often enough for small fish, while larger fish need a correspondingly bigger tank.

You need a filter, ideally with an already established sponge, a heater, a thermometer, a lid and a few hiding places so the fish feel safer. A separate net, siphon and bucket used only for this tank are also useful.

Without substrate the tank is easier to keep clean, leftovers and droppings are visible, and if treatment is needed some medications are not absorbed by gravel. Hiding places or plastic plants can be used instead.

The easiest way is to keep a filter sponge or small filter running in the main tank or its filter so beneficial bacteria live in it permanently. When quarantine is needed, moving it gives the tank working biological filtration straight away.

Many aquarists do, because plants and snails can bring in unwanted snails, parasites or residues of plant treatments. Rinse and inspect plants before planting, and keep snails separately for a while.

Yes, new shrimp are also worth keeping separately, as they can bring in pathogens or parasites. Quarantine also lets shrimp adjust gradually to your water, and they are sensitive to sudden changes.

Every day check whether the fish eat, how they breathe and swim, whether the fins are spread, whether there are spots or film on the body and what the droppings look like. Note your observations and water test results so you can spot changes.

Do not move it to the main tank, test the water and contact a vet who works with fish or an experienced aquarist. That is exactly why quarantine exists: the disease stays in a separate tank.

Yes, a sturdy food-safe plastic box with a lid works temporarily if it fits a filter and a heater. Rinse it well with water and no detergent before use. What matters is stable, clean water, not how the container looks.

Drain it, clean the tank and equipment, disinfect if needed with a product made for aquarium equipment as the label directs, then rinse very thoroughly and let it dry. If sick fish were in it, it is worth asking a vet about disinfection.

Yes, the net, siphon, bucket and other tools for quarantine should be separate, otherwise pathogens can be carried into the main tank. Wash your hands after working on the quarantine tank and service the main tank first.

A quarantine tank is for watching new fish before they join the main tank, while a hospital tank is for separating and treating fish that are already sick or injured. Often the same spare tank serves both purposes.

Many medications harm filter bacteria, plants, shrimp and snails, and in a separate tank they are easier to dose accurately by volume. Healthy fish also avoid unnecessary treatment, and the sick fish can rest more quietly.

Fill it with water from the main tank so temperature and parameters match, and add a heater, aeration and a hiding place. A sudden change of water would add stress to a sick fish, so use the same water.

Yes, it is worth it. Even healthy-looking fish from a reliable source can carry pathogens, and transport stress weakens their immunity. Quarantine is a simple precaution that protects every fish in the tank.