How To Take Care Of The Aquarium In Winter
Aquarium maintenance in winter is essential to protect the health of your fish. With the arrival of the cold, in fact, a series of changes are necessary to ensure maximum comfort for these aquatic animals.
For this reason, we have collected 5 tips for you that will help you against low temperatures and ensure the balance of your aquarium in winter.
Learn more about the body temperature of fish
Most mammals, including humans, are endothermic. It means that they are able to generate heat and heat their body tissues through their own metabolism.
Therefore, they are known as warm-blooded animals .
Most fish, as well as reptiles and amphibians, are ectotherms. Their body is unable to produce heat.
In fact, it is the external conditions that determine their body’s temperature. Therefore, they are unable to withstand any temperature differences and changes.
These cold-blooded animals use external sources to warm up or cool down.
The conditions of fish in the sea
Saltwater fish usually regulate their body temperature through behavior.
Unlike mammals, they do so using physiological methods.
The deepest water masses in the ocean are colder, while the lower ones are warmed by the sun’s rays.
Fish with greater thermoregulatory capacity remain in a deep-water layer, without migrating in winter.
Conversely, those who do not possess this same ability usually move to warmer depths, where their body adapts better to the temperature.
5 tips for aquarium maintenance in winter
1. Adjust the proper temperature
Keeping a fish in an aquarium means having to recreate the temperature of its natural habitat to allow it to develop.
According to specialists, about 70% of fish species are native to the waters of temperate climates.
Therefore, if you have an aquarium in Italy or Europe, when winter arrives you will need to provide an efficient heating system.
Equally important is a thermostat (or measuring system) that allows you to regulate and control the internal temperature of the aquarium.
Fish can suffer greatly from excessive overheating of the water.
Whenever we talk about heating, it is essential to reiterate the importance of proper room ventilation.
You should leave part of the window open during the day to avoid any accidents or poisoning.
Many specialists argue that it is advisable to turn off the aquarium circulation pump in the winter.
Especially in the case of large aquariums with a considerable number of fish inside.
2. Choose the ideal location for your aquarium
Buying a suitable, large and good quality aquarium is only the first step in taking care of your aquatic animals.
It is also essential to choose the place where to place it, inside the house. This will serve to recreate, as much as possible, the environmental conditions to which the fish are used.
You should never leave an outdoor aquarium. Cold and heat stroke are very dangerous for fish health.
The ideal is to prefer a ventilated environment with good penetration of sunlight.
The Feng Shui of aquariums suggests installing your aquarium on the right side of the windows.
Preferably, in the north area of the house or work area. This arrangement would be perfect for providing good energy flows to the aquarium.
3. Balanced nutrition in winter
The majority of animal species adopts natural changes in their eating habits during the winter. And fish are no exception.
If you have configured adequate heating, the fish should be fed 2 to 4 times a day, whenever the temperature is above 12 degrees.
But when you choose to let the fish hibernate, feeding should only be offered once a day.
This practice respects dietary changes, but requires a lot of care. And, in addition, permanent control of the aquarium temperature in winter.
How do you know if your aquarium is balanced?
The best way to find out if the water in your tank is well balanced is to observe the behavior of your fish.
These animals are very sensitive and clearly show symptoms of possible discomfort.
When the temperature inside the fish tank is balanced, fish tend not to show large changes.
They respect normal activity and eating habits, as if it were always summer.
But if the aquarium waters become cold, the fish are prone to exaggerate their survival skills.
Above all, they remain motionless on the bottom of the aquarium, avoiding to circulate.
This same behavior can be caused by cold weather or an unbalanced diet during the winter.
With the arrival of the cold, your management and control over the aquarium will have to be much more careful and constant.
Keeping it running properly and balanced in winter is the best way to protect and protect the life of your fish.
