Frequently Asked Questions

Fish care during your holiday can be relatively straightforward with a bit of planning. Having someone check on your fish once or twice a week can be beneficial. It's crucial to avoid overfeeding, the most common issue when leaving fish in a novice's care.

If you're entrusting your fish to someone, familiarize them with the normal operation of filters and other vital equipment, and leave your preferred fish store's contact details nearby. Store the main food supplies out of sight and prepare clearly labeled portions to minimize feeding mistakes. You might also consider tablet foods for easy portion control or, for frozen foods, portion them in an ice cube tray.

Leaving your aquarium without supervision is another possibility. Automated feeders are a great way to ensure your fish are fed in your absence. Set these up a few days before leaving to fine-tune the settings. Remember, underfeeding is better than overfeeding; it's safe to skip feeding over the weekend. Traditional plaster-based food blocks and their modern alternatives, which are less impactful on water quality, are also options.

Finally, complete any routine maintenance like filter cleaning or water changes before you leave to prevent any potential issues or equipment failures.

Yes, we are open everyday except Wednesday. See our contact page for more information.

 Avoid introducing chlorine or chloramine into your aquarium, particularly if it's home to fish. These potent chemicals, typically used for purifying tap water by eliminating bacteria, can be detrimental to fish and the beneficial bacteria in your filter. To make tap water safe for your aquarium, it's crucial to treat it to remove these chemicals or let it sit for a while to let the chemicals evaporate. Certain fish species, like Discus, thrive in softer water conditions, which can be achieved by mixing in some rainwater or using 'Reverse Osmosis' water. Similarly, species like Shrimps and Cardinal Tetras prefer less hard water. If you need more guidance on this, feel free to contact us. 

The number of fish that you can keep in your PEMFISH.com aquarium depends on the size of your tank and the type of fish you have. As a general rule of thumb, you should have one gallon of water for every inch of fish. However, this can vary based on the individual needs of your fish.

There are several types of filters that you can use for your PEMFISH.com aquarium, including hang-on-back filters, canister filters, and sponge filters. The type of filter that you should use depends on the size of your tank, the number of fish you have, and your personal preferences.

Yes, you can keep different types of fish in your PEMFISH.com aquarium as long as they are compatible. When choosing fish, make sure that they have similar water requirements and temperaments. It's also essential to consider the size of your tank and the adult size of your fish.

This question involves several factors, including the quantity of fish and the efficiency of your filtration system. In a tank with fewer fish, changing 10% of the water weekly or 20% every two weeks is often effective, especially if paired with cleaning the gravel simultaneously. However, tanks with a high fish population might require larger or more frequent water changes.

Maintaining stable water chemistry for your fish is crucial. Therefore, smaller but more regular water changes are preferable over larger, sporadic ones.

It's more beneficial to feed your fish small amounts frequently rather than giving them large feeds sporadically. Typically, fish are fed once or twice daily. Ensure that the feed is consumed within two minutes, although remember that some bottom-dwelling fish may take longer to eat. 

It's not unusual for fish to experience an itch, and observing a fish brushing against a rock occasionally isn't always a reason for concern. However, if this behavior is frequent, it's advisable to test for ammonia, nitrite, and chlorine (especially from untreated tap water) as these can irritate the fish.

Other potential causes of this behavior include particles in the water from unclean sand or debris, or more concerning issues like flukes or white spot parasites. Conducting a water test can help eliminate many possible problems in fish care.

Cichlids are widely admired for their unique traits, including personality, making them a popular choice for aquatic enthusiasts. These intelligent fish, particularly the more aggressive species, are known for their distinct character. While many aquarists are drawn to the larger, more dominant types that even challenge household pets like cats, these might not be suitable for everyone.

Many people begin their cichlid journey by integrating one or two into their community aquariums. A classic choice for community tanks is the Angelfish, well-known but sometimes challenging for novices due to their intelligence, which differs from that of tetras, catfishes, and livebearers. Proper care for these fish involves a spacious tank and keeping them in groups, as even a pair of immature Angelfish might not coexist peacefully without additional company to diffuse aggression. It's advisable to purchase a variety of sizes, since females grow more slowly than males of the same age, which helps in forming compatible pairs. These pairs can then be separated if there isn't enough space to house adult pairs together.

Another option is to dedicate a smaller tank exclusively to cichlids, particularly the compact Tanganyikan shell-dwellers. These small, charismatic fish are extremely entertaining, requiring hard water. Some, like Neolamprologus multifasciatus and similis, are colonial, while others, such as N. brevis and Lamprologus ocellatus, form pairs or harems.