Common Dragon Fish Rearing Myths Debunked

Common Misconceptions in Dragon Fish Care

1. Improper Feeding of Eels

Eels are a nutritious treat for dragon fish, often chosen for their ability to promote rapid growth. However, many enthusiasts are unaware of the proper way to feed them, which can lead to tragic outcomes. Before offering eels to your dragon fish, it's crucial to handle them correctly. Simply throwing a whole eel into the tank can be detrimental. Eels are incredibly resilient, and if swallowed whole, they might survive inside the dragon fish for an extended period, potentially piercing the stomach and causing fatal damage. The right approach is to acclimate the eels to a container for a while before feeding. Just before serving, treat them with a heavy salt solution for 10 minutes to remove any surface slime and bacteria. Then, cut them into smaller pieces for safe consumption.

2. Excessive Water Changes

Water changes are a vital part of maintaining a healthy dragon fish tank, but they must be done properly to avoid causing harm. Regardless of the water quality, frequent and largescale water changes can distress the fish, leading to illness or even death. Sudden changes in water conditions can overwhelm the dragon fish's ability to adjust, weakening their immune system. Therefore, it's essential to control the amount of water changed, ideally not exceeding onethird of the tank's volume per change. Additionally, the speed of the water change should be gradual to prevent any potential fatalities.

3. Incorrect Use of Water Clarifiers

Water clarifiers are commonly used to clean the water in an aquarium, but their use must be approached with caution. While they effectively remove suspended particles, forming clumps that can be filtered out, this process can be harmful to dragon fish. Fish breathe through their gills, which rely on a vast network of capillaries to absorb oxygen from the water. The clumps produced by clarifiers can clog these capillaries, leading to suffocation and death. It's important to remember that clarifiers should only be used as a preliminary water treatment. Once dragon fish are in the tank, it's best to avoid using them altogether.

4. Neglecting to Trim the Antenna of Small Shrimp

Small shrimp are a valuable food source for dragon fish, offering high nutritional content and beneficial pigments for color enhancement. However, improper handling can be dangerous. Dragon fish can suffer from gastrointestinal damage after eating shrimp without removing their antennae, leading to conditions like enteritis, ascites, or even death. Always trim the antennae before feeding shrimp to your dragon fish to prevent such hazards.

Dr. Oxygen Pet has compiled a list of common misconceptions in dragon fish care. We hope that by avoiding these pitfalls, dragon fish owners can prevent accidents and ensure the wellbeing of their beloved pets.