What You Should Know Before Buying a Home Aquarium

A few colorful fish swimming in a gorgeous watery home, what could possibly be dangerous about that?

A lot, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). New studies note an increase of salmonella reports found in reptile terrariums.  In addition news reports out of Australia say that several children have been hospitalized after contracting infections from their fish tanks.

The news has the CDC warning aquarium owners to follow safety tips when taking care of their fish. For example, workers say it’s best to wash fish tanks, bowls, and accessories outside. Resist the temptation to clean your fish tanks in your kitchen or bathroom sinks.

Experts say if you can’t clean the tank outdoors, then be sure that you thoroughly clean the sinks and countertops with a mild bleach solution to get rid of germs and bacteria that could have been living in your fish bowl.

In addition, health experts strongly suggest that you wash your hands each time you touch the inside of your aquarium. This is especially critical for children under the age of five. Studies show that young children are more susceptible to contracting infections because their immune systems are not fully developed.  The CDC also advises all parents to carefully monitor their children around fish bowls and larger aquariums.  Youngsters should never dip their hands into the water.  It’s not good for them or the fish. 

Finally, when it comes to feeding, it’s okay to allow your children to do the task, if they do so straight out of the fish food container.  If your children have a tendency to place the fish food in their hands and feed the fish directly, then you need to thoroughly wash their hands when they are done.  Fish rarely eat out of a person’s hand, so it’s best to teach your children to gently sprinkle the fish food on the surface of the water.

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