If you’ve ever tried to clean your fish tank, you might be familiar with the amount of guppy excrement that comes out of it. Whether you’ve had a constant flow for years or this is the first time you’ve tried keeping fish, you’re sure to be surprised by how much guppy poop there is, particularly in the beginning.
Guppy excrement is usually yellow or orange in color because of the high concentration of bile in their digestive system. While this might not sound like a problem, it can be when you’re trying to clean your tank and it goes a little something like this:
When you add water to your tank, it quickly rises to the top because of the fish’s natural buoyancy. Fish that are at least two inches (5 cm) long are typically kept in tanks with a volume of between 12 and 24 gallons (44 and 109 L). This means there’s a lot of room for excrement particles to collect at the top of the tank. So after you’ve added some fresh water, you might notice that a significant portion of your tank is already covered in poop. If you’re like most people, you might reach for a scrubbing brush to clean it off but, chances are, you’ll only make the problem worse.
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The Reason Behind The Excrement
The answer to the question “why do my fish poop so much?” is actually fairly simple. Fish live in water and they need to defecate to keep their tanks clean. Since fish have a large surface area relative to their size, they’re able to rapidly absorb toxins from the water. In addition, the oxygen in their blood is also quickly depleted when they’re active and roaming around the tank, especially if it’s not kept clean. So even if you’ve stocked your tank with the freshwater variety of fish, you’ll eventually want to start rotating through saltwater species so they don’t suffer from health issues caused by poor water quality.
In addition to having a large surface area relative to their size, fish have a very simple digestive system. Their stomach acid breaks down the food, which is then further broken down by enzymes and microorganisms into small molecules that can be absorbed by the body. The bile that continues to be produced as a result of chewing food is stored in the liver and excreted through the digestive system.
How Do I Prevent My Fish From Pooping So Much?
If you’ve ever tried keeping fish in water, you might be familiar with the amount of poop that comes out of them. Well, just because they need to poop a lot doesn’t mean you need to clean it out regularly. In fact, the opposite is true. When you first introduce fish to your tank, you need to keep the amount of excrement to a minimum while still providing them with enough food. To do this, you have a couple of options. Some people like to use gravel filters that can be changed out with ease while others use sand filters that require a little more labor but are still highly effective.
If you decide to use gravel filters you’ll need to make sure the gravel is of a good quality and a sufficient size so it can physically strain the debris before it settles back into the tank.
When Do I Clean My Fish Tank?
Once your fish have adjusted to their new environment and are eating properly, cleaning the tank is no longer necessary. However, if you notice that your tank has a foul odor, it can be an indication that something is wrong. If you’re not sure about whether or not this is normal, it might be a good idea to call a professional to have a look at your tank.
Even if you do everything right and your fish are healthy, well-fed, and there’s no apparent odor emanating from your tank, cleaning it every week or every other week is still suggested. This is to ensure that the tank is always maintained at a certain level of cleanliness, preventing any bacteria and fungus from forming and becoming a disease threat to your pet fish.
Am I Trapped With A Tank Cleaning Schedule?
Keeping a clean tank is certainly not something that needs to be done on a daily basis, particularly if you’ve just added a new tank to your collection. For the first few days, you might want to add extra feeding time to ensure your fish are getting the nutrients they need to grow big and strong. Once your fish have adapted to their new living conditions, it’s time to focus on whether or not the tank needs to be cleaned. Regular cleaning will prevent any bacteria and fungus from forming and becoming a disease threat to your pet fish.
While it’s ideal to simply leave your fishtank clean, avoiding all the hassles that come with regular cleanings, there are cases where this might not be possible. For instance, if you’ve taken your fish out of the water for medical reasons, the tank will need to be cleaned out and sanitized before being refilled. In addition, if you’ve moved your tank to a new location or if there’s been a change in water chemistry, the tank might require adjustment which could include the addition of chemicals or gravel with specific minerals.
Do I Need A Specific Size Fish Tank?
Just like with most other living things, the general rule of thumb is: bigger is better when it comes to fish. If you’ve got the space and the budget, go for the 10-15 gallon (3.7-5.3 L) range. Anything smaller and you might find it hard to ensure your fish have the proper environment in which to grow, particularly if you’ve got limited lighting options.
Even if you’ve got the money, bigger isn’t always better when it comes to fish tanks. Just like with most other living things, the exact opposite is true when it comes to fish tanks. Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to fish tanks because the additional space needed to house the extra fish makes the tank harder to keep clean. This is particularly important if you’ve got limited cleaning supplies or if you’ve just added a new fish tank to your collection.
My Tank Is Stuck At The Top. Help!
Every tank needs to have a drain at the bottom in order for all the liquid to be able to flow to the right place. In the case of a tank that is completely covered in feces, this can be difficult to do. If you’ve tried adding a tube and it didn’t work, try using a funnel instead so there’s a clear exit point at the bottom of the tank. If this problem persists for more than a few days, it’s time to get professional help.
Keeping clean, fresh water in your tank is certainly not an easy task and there are a lot of things you need to keep in mind so it doesn’t become a health hazard to your pet fish. Fortunately, as long as you do everything right and add the proper nutrients, their health shouldn’t be an issue. Still, if you want to ensure they stay healthy and cozy in their new home, it’s important to keep their tank clean, which means taking the time to clean it at regular intervals.