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Just chill it

Rising water temperature can be fatal to your beloved fish

PHOTO: C.H. VIJAYA BHASKAR

CONSISTENCY Keep the temperature in the aquarium steady

Easier said than done. How did your fish survive the summer? When temperatures rise, the fish in the wild die, and in the aquarium they gasp for breath. This happens as warm water holds little oxygen compared to cool water, thus depriving the fish of oxygen. If the aquarium you have is large, the chances of rise in water temperature are slim. On the other hand if you have a bowl of goldfish, the temperature can rise dangerously and fast.

So, how do you keep the fish cool?

Wrap the aquarium or the fish bowl with a thin cloth during daytime, switch off the lights and keep checking the thermometerevery few hours. If you have a large aquarium with plants where this is not possible, add a few ice cubes in the late afternoonto bring down the temperature. Some plants thrive in warmer waters but some others will just melt away. So, keeping the temperature at one level is the trick.

And of course, if you have a deep pocket, then get an aquarium chiller imported from Singapore or the U.S., then sit back and watch your fish frolic in the sun.

Ah, life is beautiful.

SERISH NANISETTI

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