My main goal as an experienced aquarium hobbyist is to keep my fish healthy and safe. But how can you tell if they’re ‘happy’ in their aquatic environment? Are there ways to know for sure? Well, I have the answer for you below:
You know your fish are happy and healthy if they swim actively throughout the tank; consistently eat enough food; don’t have any white spots or torn fins on their bodies; expand their gills regularly to receive water and oxygen; are brightly coloured and have vibrant scales; interact often and well with other fish.
Now that you know there are obvious physical signs to demonstrate that your fish are indeed ‘happy’ and healthy, let’s take a closer look at this further and in more detail in this article. I’ll explain how to tell if your fish are doing okay in a community tank, what behaviours signify sadness, stress or illness in fish, and whether (or not) fish get attached to their owners.
So, if you’re ready to learn all you need to know about keeping your fish pets happy and healthy, then let’s get started!
What are the Signs of a Happy Fish?
The signs of a healthy, ‘happy’ fish in an aquarium include the following:
Swimming Actively
A clear-cut sign of a happy, healthy fish is one that swims actively about the tank. A fish that likes to explore freely shows that it feels safe in its aquatic environment. As well, a fish that swims mostly in the middle of tank is another sign of happiness, since those that float lifelessly near the surface or lay dormant at the bottom are likely sick or stressed.
Eating Regularly
A fish that eats well and often is usually another good sign. A sad or unhealthy fish won’t eat regularly and if it does, it’ll only eats very little. A picker eater may ignore food, not because it’s sick or unhappy but because it just doesn’t like the smell or taste! Try switching up the food to see if your fish prefers the new option instead.
Breathing Normally
Fish, like any other living creature, need to ‘breathe’ oxygen to survive. If your fish is breathing properly – that is, with its gills expanding and contracting slowly and consistently, then it’s likely healthy and doing well in its aquatic environment. An unhappy or sick fish will look as if it’s struggling to breathe with its gills expanding very quickly and then contracting suddenly.
Looking Healthy
Another telltale sign of a healthy, happy fish is a good physical appearance. If your fish has white spots or blemishes on its body, torn or ragged fins, and/or severely bulging eyes, then it’s probably not doing so well in its aquatic environment. Brightly coloured scales and intact fins that move freely with no indication of damage are what you want to see in your fish.
Socializing Effectively
Another positive sign of a happy, healthy fish is socializing well (and often) with other creatures in the aquarium. If a fish shows sign of aggression or demonstrates a territorial nature, then that could indicate it’s unhappy in its aquatic environment. Some fish are just naturally aggressive in which case, you need not worry unless their hostility is negatively affecting the other fish in the tank.
How Can You Tell if a Fish is Stressed?
A stressed-out fish is definitely not a happy or healthy one. The most common symptoms of stress in aquarium fish include the following:
- consistently hiding for long periods of time
- flitting or darting around the tank
- acting skittish around other fish
- franticly swimming about in all directions
- crashing into either the walls or bottom of the tank
- frequently gasping for air near the surface of the water
- not eating very much or very often
- laying dormant on or scraping against the substrate at the bottom of the tank
- floating lifelessly at the top of the tank
- acting aggressively towards other fish in the tank
How to Keep Your Fish Happy?
To keep your fish happy in a community tank, be sure to do the following:
Keep the Tank Clean
A clean tank with clear water will make any fish happy! After all, no creature wants to swim about in dirty or toxic water. Doing partial water changes (removing 10-15% of the water) every week or two – depending on how ‘dirty’ the tank is – is the primary step to maintaining it properly.
Provide Adequate Lighting
Like any living creature, fish need (sun)light to survive. Providing your fish with at least 12 hours of light each day not only mimics the natural day/night cycle that most creatures adapt to in the wild, but also provides vital photosynthetic energy to both the fish and the plants in the tank.
Ensure the Water Temperature is Correct
Ensuring the water parameters of the tank are correct is also vital to having healthy, happy fish. Confirming that the water is conditioned properly with the right pH level and at an appropriate temperature is key. Also, checking the filters regularly helps keep the water clean and safe for fish.
Give Enough of the Right Food
For happy, healthy fish, it’s not just about having enough food but also having the right food! The more nutritious it is, the better (and happier) your fish will be. To provide a variety of nutrients, consider feeding them both fish flakes/pellets as well as freeze-dried options like brine shrimp and bloodworms.
Do Not Overstock the Tank
Having enough room to swim and explore freely in an aquarium is vital to fish health and happiness. An overcrowded tank not only raises stress and aggression in fish, but also increases the chances of illness and even death! Limit fish to one (approximately 2-4 centimetres long) per gallon of water, if possible.
Why Do Fish Stare at You?
In most cases, when fish look directly at you it’s because they associate your presence with food. They’ll likely stare at you in anticipation, hoping that you’ll feed them soon. They may even come closer the glass or swim to the surface when they see you – yet another indication that they recognize you and/or want to eat.
Do Fish Get Attached to Their Owners?
Fish are far more intelligent than you may think. Researchers have discovered that they can (and do) recognize not only each other but also their owners. Swimming near the glass or to the surface when their owners approach the aquarium is an indication that they know who you are – the person that feeds and cares for them. They may even swim near your hand when you place it in the tank to clean it.
How to Know if Your Fish is Sad?
While it’s not really possibly to tell if your fish are ‘sad’ or not, there are definitely ways to determine if they’re healthy. And since a healthy fish is likely also a happy fish, observing their eating and socializing behaviours as well as their general appearance should indicate their overall well-being.
For information on recognizing stress or illness in fish, see above under the subheading entitled: How Can You Tell if a Fish is Stressed?
Conclusion
To conclude, though it may be tricky to determine if your fish are happy, there are definitive ways to tell if they’re healthy. And since a healthy fish is likely a happy one, look for the following signs of wellness:
- swims actively and explores its surroundings
- eats plenty off food regularly
- doesn’t have any white spots or torn fins on its bodies
- expands its gills enough to receive both water and oxygen
- is brightly coloured with vibrant scales
- interacts often and well with other fish.
I hope you’ve found this article both interesting and informative. Thanks for reading and good luck with your aquarium hobby endeavours!
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