Stress in Fish, What are the signs ?

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redtailfool

Dovii
MFK Member
Feb 17, 2005
8,452
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How can you tell when your fishes are stressed out ? and what do you do to remove the stress? Lets all share our ideas. Ill start first..



My arowana swims eratically when it is stressed out. You can also see the breathing rate is faster and even gasping for air if it is really stressed. I usually make it feel at home by leaving the lights off and keeping a nice distance away from the tank.

For stingrays, the breathing is labored and it is very noticeable. They also display their "stress colors" when something is not right. They also tend to bury in the sand
or not move much.

Rays are easily stressed so i usually make sure that there are no other fish that bothers it. If its really bad, i may consider isolating it with a divider. I also cover the glass specially when newly aquired to give it time to settle.
 
my arow doesent eat when shes stressed other than that you really tell if she's stressed, so fat and healthy :naughty:

my tinfoils tail turned pale when its stressed

my loaches loose all their color when their stressed like at the end of the refill process they look like their almost dead but after i add declorinator they then just flashback with color, i dunno its really weird

my flower horn never stresses an i mean NEVER!!! not even with the ich outbreak i had a month ago, never even bothered him one bit.

hes practically bullet proof
 
in fish:
cowering in the corner,
floating upside down, :ROFL:
labored breathing, also like rtf said sometimes color loss
also won't eat

rays:
i read some where that rays swimming at the surface is bad* not against the glass but actual swimming at the surface.
i don't know about burying themselves, because everytime i feed mine *and they eat alot* they bury themselves.
also when they are stressed, they usually won't eat!*for all fish*
 
I have a cat that floats upside down when happy, when the fish are really stressed they make rude gestures through the glass. Sometimes they send e-mails to the local newspaper's editor and sign my name. I know it was them because they leave the keyboard soggy.
 
guppy said:
I have a cat that floats upside down when happy, when the fish are really stressed they make rude gestures through the glass. Sometimes they send e-mails to the local newspaper's editor and sign my name. I know it was them because they leave the keyboard soggy.
Click to expand...
:ROFL:

Discoloration, abnormal body shapes, labored breathing, scratching, twirl swimming, inactivity.
 
redtailfool said:
floating upside down! LOL thats not stress and you know it .
Click to expand...
i know!
i threw that in for *****s and giggles ;)
 
I agree with the signs above. Add to the list problems with buoyancy, activity that is not usual (IE, if you have a nocturnal catfish, and it is swimming around during the day in a bright tank), flashing, apparent disease (ich).
 
All great signs of stress!

but what do you do to fix it?

I do water changes, aquarium salt, and lights out! Make sure the temp is approrpriate.. Remove any 'active' tankmates if they are of concern.. Watch and look for the 'root' of the problem.. oh yeah, AND MORE WATER CHANGES..

Miles
 
I take my cat out of the tank


but seriously stress i notice faded coloring and excess slimecoat when mine are stressed-Anne
 
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