New fish are usually kept in one of those tiny plastic bags half full of water, and half full of air. Bring them home asap before they suffocate! (Yes, fish can suffocate!)
**Side note: I've wondered for the LONGEST time how they can tie up those bags so perfectly that there's a nice bulge of air in the bag. I kept practicing it at home and finally figured it out: you fill it half with water and then start rolling the opening edges of plastic DOWNWARDS (like packing a lunch bag)until you push all the air in, then bring the ends together and tie with an elastic. ***
1. Make sure the fish bag is secure and either someone else is holding it or it's sitting in a container of some sort. This reduces stress and ensures your fish don't die from the bumpy ride.
2. Float the bag of fish in your tank with the top OPEN to allow oxygen to enter. The bag will attempt to float away or empty itself into the main tank. Clip it to the side of the tank to prevent mixing water (which is gross and not a good idea) I use a pair of tiny tongs or one of those big veggie clips
3. Every 5 minutes, add a little bit of mature tank water into the bag.
4. Wait 20 minutes for temperature and water conditions to equalize.
5. Prepare a bucket and place a large fish net over the top.
6. Gently squeeze the opening of the bag so you only let out a little bit of water at a time.
7. Let go of the opening to drain the rest of the water and the fish will fall into the fish net.
8. Don't panic as they will flop about and attempt to escape.
9. Gently wrap your fingers around or cover the top of the net to prevent escapes.
10. Place the net into the main tank right side up and allow fish to swim out when they are ready.
11. Turn off the lights to reduce stress if you want.
12. Observe the fish. Do they get along with the other tank mates? This is an important step! Spotting and stopping aggression can prevent future injuries/deaths!
Enjoy your fish!
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