pet fish

Ask Patches – hostile takeover

Ask Patches is a tongue-in-cheek series where pets ask questions and get these quirky answers from Patches. The information is for entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be taken to heart. Murky waters Dear Patches, I live in a huge tank with two other fish. We are generally happy and well fed. But we struggle to […]

Ask Patches – hostile takeover Read More »

Setting up an aquarium

Setting up an aquarium requires some basic knowledge of the equipment needed, tanks and accessories, water quality, light, water temperature and aquarium fish species. Which tank is best? There are a number of different sized rectangular glass tanks available on the market, ranging from 10ℓ to over 600ℓ. The shape of the tank is less

Setting up an aquarium Read More »

Fish care tips in winter

Caring for fish in the winter can be challenging, especially in our mid-year months when temperatures drop significantly. In South Africa, we face the added challenge of power outages. Animaltalk spoke to Kevin Till from Koi Medic about helping your fish survive the cold. According to Kevin, tropical fish need a constant temperature and a

Fish care tips in winter Read More »

Goldfish myths busted

Do you also think that goldfish have very short memories? Or that they can live in a small bowl? Then you definitely want to know the truth about these four goldfish myths. Myth: goldfish have a three-second memory Much research has already been done to disprove this common goldfish myth. Has your goldfish ever looked

Goldfish myths busted Read More »

Q & A: Choosing a fish

Q: I would like to buy my son a goldfish as a pet. How do I choose the best fish? A:  The most important fact to consider is the welfare of the fish. Goldfish are actually fairly complex to care for and should under no circumstances be kept in a bowl. They need a properly

Q & A: Choosing a fish Read More »

Q & A: Sick goldfish

Q: How do I know if my goldfish is sick? A: A sick fish will display a number of different signs. Lethargy and poor appetite are common. Inability to swim properly (either sinking to the bottom or floating to the surface), clamping or shaking the fins, bloating or weight loss, strings of stool hanging from

Q & A: Sick goldfish Read More »

First pet fish tips

So your child has gotten into the habit of persistently reminding you that he or she wants a pet. Or, you decided that you would like to give your little one a companion animal, in order to have a friend and learn responsibility. However, you don’t have the time to deal with the hair, noise,

First pet fish tips Read More »

Common mistakes fish owners make

Fish can seem pretty easy to keep – some water and food and you’re sorted. This is very far from true! And probably the reason why many pet fish don’t enjoy the kind of lifespan they should… We look at a few common mistakes fish owners make. Planning is vital Our daily lives revolve around

Common mistakes fish owners make Read More »