is it okay

[Renteria]

if i pet my fish ( tyson my midas) on his head and sides is it okay. i pet his hump during feeding times because its always out of the water because of him trying to get my hand.

 

[Renteria]

what wierd is that tyson the midas tries to bite my hand through the glass but once i put it in his tank he swims against it in a non threatening way. strange fish

 

[thebestincali2000]

some people pet their fish,but i have always been told not to touch them because you can remove their slime coating that way

 

[wataugachicken]

as long as your hand is wet, it shouldn't do too much to the slime coat. a dry hand will take it right off. it's actually a big problem with catch and release fishing - people think they are doing good by letting the fish go, but they used dry hands to take it off the hook, and the fish die from bacterial infections because the slime coat is gone. i've actually seen a picture of a dead fish with a hand-shaped infection. just make sure your hands are wet and you (and your fish) will be fine.

 

[Renteria]

thankx dudes

 

[js302]

he wouldn't let u do it if it hurt him or he didnt like it.
maybe ur finger looks different in the tank than to outside it explaining his change in aggression?

 

[thebestincali2000]

here i thought i was killing my fish

 

[Renteria]

as long as your hand is wet, it shouldn't do too much to the slime coat. a dry hand will take it right off. it's actually a big problem with catch and release fishing - people think they are doing good by letting the fish go, but they used dry hands to take it off the hook, and the fish die from bacterial infections because the slime coat is gone. i've actually seen a picture of a dead fish with a hand-shaped infection. just make sure your hands are wet and you (and your fish) will be fine.

thats interesting. i didnt know my hand could be that lethel

 

[evilxyardxgnome]

I would be worried about the slime coat.

 

[Natalie]

If you are worried about the slime coat but REALLY want to pet your fish, you could buy a box of non-powder latex gloves. That's what veterinarians and fish farmers use to handle the fish and it doesn't upset their slime coat. Just an FYI... I personally can't wait to have a fish that will let me pet it.