Daily Maintenance

• Check all your fish for Signs of Stress and Disease. Click here for a list of the common Signs of Stress and Disease. The earlier you spot a sick fish and begin to give that fish special care, the sooner it will recover, and the less likely that disease will spread to other fish.

• Is the water cloudy or foamy? Does the water have an unusual odor? If so take immediate action. Click here for more about how to fix cloudy, foamy, or smelly water.

• Check the thermometer to be sure the temperature of the water is in the correct temperature range for your fish. Click here for more about thermometers, heaters, and the correct temperature range.

• If your fish's home has a filter, check it to be sure that it is clean and the water is flowing at the usual rate. Click here for more information about aquarium filters.

• Feed your fish at least twice a day. Don't feed them more than they will eat. Remove all uneaten bits of food after 10 minutes. Be sure all the fish are eating. Loss of Appetite is a Sign of Stress and Disease. If any of your fish do not eat, look at them closely for other Signs of Stress and Disease. Click here for more about Signs of Stress and Disease.

There is more information below about weekly and monthly maintenance.

Weekly Maintenance

• Change 20% of the water twice a week in your fish's home. This is one of the most important ways to care for your fish, keep them strong and vigorous, and prevent them from becoming sick. Click here for more about changing water.

•  Wash your Gravel. When you change 20% of the water in your fish's home, you should wash your gravel, if your fish's home has gravel. Click here for more about gravel washing.

Monthly Maintenance

• Clean your fish's home thoroughly.
  Click here for more about cleaning your fish's home.

There is a summary below of the information on this page.

Summary. The list of maintenance tasks given on this page will prevent stress and disease to tropical fish, goldfish, koi, and all the other inhabitants of freshwater aquariums, fish bowls, and ponds.

This same schedule can be used in aquariums, fish bowls, and fish ponds. Of course you'll have to make some common sense modifications. For example, fish bowls and ponds usually do not have heaters or filters, so you won't need to check those pieces of equipment. But there is a lot in common in maintaining aquariums, fish bowls, and ponds.