- Joined
- Aug 8, 2005
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- 11,498
Just some suggestions from working in a trout farm one summer. Fish are highly resistant to diseases provided they aren't stressed. With the rainbow trout I worked with this meant a water temperature range of X, a dissolved nitrogen level in the water never higher than Y, the water Ph was always maintained within Z range, dissolved oxygen level never dropped below ZZ, water clarity was maintained at YY and foreign dissolved chemicals were kept below XX. When all the parameters are met and maintained this is referred to as the optimal or zero stress level. It's pretty critical that anyone who keeps fish understand the zero stress level.
Now, the above variable parameters will vary with different species of fish. Thus it is critical that you know your fish and the zero stress level for that particular animal. As example, with the rainbow trout, raise the water temperature 7 degrees F, just a single variable, and they will quit gaining weight. Some fish are extremely tolerant to low quality of water, as the mekhong river cat that if things get too yucky they will take a stroll over dry land looking for a more salubrious environment. A certain species of, I believe Pike, will die off the second the dissolved nitrogen goes just .1% above the zero stress level.
Most fish can tolerate several water conditions being outside optimal. However, they will be living under a stress condition. When stressed a normally harmless organism, or just a slight variation further outside the optimal zone can be enough to trigger diseases or even a complete die off.
So, when keeping fish, learn the parameters that keep them at or as near as possible to zero stress. Then if you have an invasive organism, some bad food or some water condition dropping outside optimal, they are able to shrug off the effects.
Now, the above variable parameters will vary with different species of fish. Thus it is critical that you know your fish and the zero stress level for that particular animal. As example, with the rainbow trout, raise the water temperature 7 degrees F, just a single variable, and they will quit gaining weight. Some fish are extremely tolerant to low quality of water, as the mekhong river cat that if things get too yucky they will take a stroll over dry land looking for a more salubrious environment. A certain species of, I believe Pike, will die off the second the dissolved nitrogen goes just .1% above the zero stress level.
Most fish can tolerate several water conditions being outside optimal. However, they will be living under a stress condition. When stressed a normally harmless organism, or just a slight variation further outside the optimal zone can be enough to trigger diseases or even a complete die off.
So, when keeping fish, learn the parameters that keep them at or as near as possible to zero stress. Then if you have an invasive organism, some bad food or some water condition dropping outside optimal, they are able to shrug off the effects.