The acclimation tank will need to have the same pH and salinity level as the water in the bag. Float the bag for 15 minutes then drip acclimate for 30-minutes to an hour before adding the fish to the acclimation tank.

But in general, drip acclimation is not necessary except for inverts and can actually be harmful to fish.

There is no rule to feeding new fish straight after acclimation, but the fish will tell you. Some fish will be out swimming immediately, while others may go and hide. A small feed to test their appetite will show if they are ready to accept food. If not, wait 24 hours and try again.

We’ve all brought home new fish from the pet store in those heavy-duty plastic bags filled with water and air, but have you ever wondered how long fish can survive in a bag? It depends on a host of factors, but in general, fish can easily survive in a bag for about 7 to 9 hours comfortably, and possibly up to two days.

Osmoregulation is the fish’s ability to control the ratio of salt to water within its body. A sudden change in salinity can cause acute distress known as Osmotic Shock which usually leads to death within 2-3 days. Osmotic Shock is usually one of the biggest killers of fish when not properly acclimated.

Acclimation revolves around salinity. If you find out what salinity is at the fish store the animal came from and match it before the arrival, there’s no need for drip acclimation.

Terrible Advice Tuesdays: When placing a new fish in a tank, it should not be offered food until it has been in the tank for at least 24 hours.

Acclimating shrimp should always be done with the drip method. Drip acclimating shrimp can help reduce shock, as shock will affect shrimp and can lead to a shorter life expectancy, can cause death, cause unneeded stress.

Strange Swimming: When fish are stressed, they often develop odd swimming patterns. If your fish is swimming frantically without going anywhere, crashing at the bottom of his tank, rubbing himself on gravel or rocks, or locking his fins at his side, he may be experiencing significant stress.