Pet Care Articles from PETCO

Fish - Safety

Dangerous Decor
Many aquarium fish enthusiasts have one thing in common. They are happy to be able to express their creativity in designing their pets' habitats. It's likely that before you picked up your aquarium, you had drawn a mental picture of how the landscape, ...

Dangerous Foods
You might be surprised to find out what foods are dangerous to your fish.

Fish-Proofing Your Aquarium
Fish-proofing an aquarium is no more than making sure everything you place into the tank such as cleaners, water, substrates and decorations are safe and acceptable for your fish. Before you first fill your aquarium with water, give it a good cleaning ...

Preparing for a Power Outage or Equipment Failure
The risk of power outage should be a concern for aquarium owners. Not only does your aquarium completely rely on power, a power outage carries with it the risk of power spikes or surges, which is something that could be hazardous for your fish. ...

Heavy Metals
It's common for domestic water supplies to contain varying amounts of metal. Iron, lead, zinc and copper are particularly associated with soft waters. Because soft water is more soluble, it has a higher corrosive action than harder waters. Salt water is ...

Deadly Plants
Few plants sold for aquariums or fishponds are harmful to fish. However, many wild plants are poisonous or even fatal, so it is best to avoid picking your own plants to put into your pond or aquarium. As a general rule, purchase plants from a reputable ...

Poisoning
Unlike other animals, fish cannot get up and walk away from a dangerous situation. When toxins are in their aquarium water, accidental poisonings can occur. However, keeping the water clean, regular water changes of 20 percent once a week, and testing ...

Moving Your Aquarium
When you move your fish tank, you're affecting not only your fish's home, but your living space as well. While the logistical difficulty of the move will depend on such factors as the size of your tank and the distance of the move, any move is a stress ...

Chlorine and Chloramine Toxicity
If you've ever inhaled a lungful of pollutants while driving behind a large truck or bus, then you can imagine life in an unhealthy aquarium. Water quality problems can cause disease and even death, so monitoring your tank's water is the most important ...

Aquarium Safety Hazards
Keep your finned friends safe and sound by following a few basic steps.