Rescuing Fishes: Beginner’s Guide

a collaboration with Friends of Philip Fish Sanctuary

Are you interested in rescuing fishes? This guide offers an overview of what you’ll need to get started and how to advocate for fishes when asking stores to surrender them.

Before you rescue:

find a specialized aquatic veterinarian.
have a thorough understanding of the nitrogen cycle. You don’t have to have a cycled aquarium to rescue a fish but you absolutely must understand the cycle and how to keep a fish safe in an uncycled aquarium.
research the specific care needed for the species you intend to rescue. The care requirements of a betta and a goldfish are as different as those of a dog and a horse; the basics might be similar, but past that everything is different.
have a tank, filter and heater equipped to meet the needs of its residents. This will vary hugely by species, so there isn’t a set list. For instance, a betta needs a five (ideally ten) gallon tank, while goldfish need 100+.
have an understanding and ability to practice biosecurity including quarantine and cleaning protocols. Quarantine is just as critical for fishes as for terrestrial species. You need to be able to provide an appropriate quarantine environment for at least 4-6 weeks for any fish you bring in. This means a tank with a filter and good water quality, heater if needed, and enough enrichment for them to be comfortable and happy. If you want to rescue more than one fish, you need to understand proper biosecurity, quarantine, and cleaning protocols. You should not share equipment between tanks, move individuals between tanks unnecessarily, or re-use tanks and equipment without proper sterilization. Fishes can carry zoonotic diseases as well, and while transfer to humans is exceedingly rare, you should learn how to keep yourself safe as well.

When approaching stores to surrender fishes…

we must recognize that the employees and even managers at pet stores generally have no say over the environments the animals are kept in. Often times the employees at a store are the ones most excited to see a fish go to sanctuary, they just also have to follow corporate policies. If an employee tells you that they cannot surrender an animal, they usually mean that to do so would put their job at risk, not that they don’t want to see that fish safe.
be prepared to walk away from an animal offered at a discount. Purchasing animals, regardless of the price, will go back to supporting the system that was exploiting them in the first place. Accepting a sick fish at a discount is sending the message that they are nothing other than objects to be bought and sold depending on their perceived value.
learn to recognize what a sick fish looks like, and how to talk about what’s happening to them. Employees cannot surrender an animal for no reason.
be prepared to tell the employee or manager what you intend to do with the fish and any treatment you have planned.
prioritize getting the fish(es) home and acclimating to their quarantine tank as quickly as possible. Travel is exceedingly stressful for fishes.

Additional Resources: