Care guide
Acclimating your new fish
Your fish has just travelled in a small bag. The next 30 minutes decide how well it settles — go slow, keep the lights off and don't rush it.
As soon as the box arrives
Open it somewhere calm and dim. Do not tip the bag straight into the tank and do not feed on day one.
- Turn the aquarium lights off before you start
- Check the fish is upright and breathing normally
- Photograph anything that looks wrong immediately — that's what the live arrival guarantee needs
Float method (most fish)
The simplest approach, and all a betta usually needs. It equalises temperature, then water chemistry.
- Float the sealed bag in the tank for 15–20 minutes
- Open the bag, add a small cup of tank water
- Repeat every 5 minutes, three or four times
- Net the fish into the tank — do not pour the transport water in
Drip method (shrimp & sensitive species)
Use this for shrimp, puffers, plecos and anything travelling long distance. It takes 45–90 minutes.
- Pour the fish and bag water into a clean container
- Run airline tubing from the tank with a loose knot to drip 2–3 drops per second
- Stop when the volume has roughly tripled
- Net across, discard the transport water
The first 48 hours
New fish hide, sulk and refuse food. That is normal and not a sign of illness.
- Lights off for the rest of the day
- No food for the first 24 hours
- Keep the tank quiet — no new tank mates, no rearranging
- Message us if anything worries you; we'd rather hear from you early
Still not sure about something? Message us — we answer every question, whether you buy from us or not.