Angelfish are definitely some of the most iconic pet fish that you will find. They’re fish that have become popular for both their beauty and how hardy they are.
You probably know that most of the typical angelfish are freshwater fish. There are angelfish out there that are saltwater fish, though.
For example, the flame angelfish is a well-known and popular saltwater fish. When you’re talking about the most common angelfish, they’re freshwater fish.
Since the standard angelfish that you usually see at the pet store are freshwater fish, does that mean that you need to avoid using aquarium salt? Can you use aquarium salt with angelfish safely?
Keep reading to learn about using aquarium salt with angelfish. This should help you to figure out what you can and cannot do.
You Generally Don’t Need to Use Aquarium Salt
Aquarium salt generally isn’t something that you need to use in angelfish tanks. This is because they are freshwater fish and don’t need the salt in order to live.
Some people have actually noted having issues with keeping angelfish alive when using salt in the water for too long. You might think that using this salt as a disease prevention method is wise, but it really isn’t necessary for angelfish.
You might wind up doing more harm than good. That being said, there are situations where aquarium salt can be helpful.
However, you’re going to learn about this a bit later. For now, you should know that you don’t need to add aquarium salt to the main tank that you keep your angelfish in.
Aquarium Salt Is Often Used as a Treatment
You’ll find that aquarium salt is often used as a treatment. This is designed to help fish heal better in certain situations.
For instance, some people add aquarium salt to tanks when they’re trying to solve issues with parasites. If your fish has stringy and white poop, then it might have internal parasites.
Adding some aquarium salt to a tank has the potential to help the fish get better. You’ll also likely need to feed the fish medicated food to clear up parasite issues.
Another reason to use aquarium salt involves helping an angelfish to heal a broken fin. Broken dorsal or ventral fins can heal or grow back without aquarium salt, but it can still be helpful.
You want to keep the angelfish from getting an infection. Adding aquarium salt to a tank can make it so that it’s unlikely that the angelfish will get infected despite being wounded.
Generally, you’ll be raising the temperature of the water slightly when doing this, too. It helps to keep bacteria from becoming an issue.
You Shouldn’t Use Aquarium Salt in the Main Tank
Don’t put the aquarium salt in the main tank. Instead, it would be better to remove sick fish from the main tank and place them in a “hospital tank.”
The term hospital tank refers to a special tank that you use to quarantine and treat sick fish. You prepare the tank ahead of time and then place the sick fish in this quarantined aquarium.
When the fish is inside of the hospital tank, you’ll be able to more easily give it special food and medicine. You can ensure that everything that is meant to treat the sick fish gets to the fish that needs it.
Adding aquarium salt to this tank shouldn’t be a problem. You won’t need to burden the other fish in the main tank with something that they don’t need.
Aquarium salt does have the potential to aid your healing efforts. You’ll need to follow the instructions that come with the salt, though.
Aquarium Salt Is Different Than Normal Salt
Another thing to keep in mind is that you won’t be using table salt or any other type of salt. You’re only supposed to put legitimate aquarium salt inside of fish tanks.
The other types of salt that you might have at home aren’t meant for this purpose. This might seem to be an obvious thing that doesn’t need to be said, but many people are new to caring for fish and haven’t learned all of the basics just yet.
Go out to a pet store or a specialty aquarium store to get what you need. You can also easily purchase aquarium salt online.
Once you have the necessary salt, you’ll be able to use it in the hospital tank. Just don’t add more salt than is necessary since that could be detrimental to the fish.
Using the aquarium salt to treat sick angelfish should be fine. Quarantine the sick fish in a hospital tank and ensure that the water is at a temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
Once this is done, you’ll just need to keep an eye on the fish and see how it reacts. If the fish reacts negatively, then you might need to return it to its normal tank.
Know that many people have used aquarium salt to help sick fish get better. It’s just about using only enough aquarium salt without going overboard.
Otherwise, aquarium salt is not going to be beneficial to freshwater angelfish. There’s no reason to use it permanently in your main tank when you’re caring for freshwater fish.
Final Thoughts
You’ve learned that it’s acceptable to use aquarium salt for freshwater angelfish only under certain conditions. This is generally used as a treatment for sick fish, and you’re not supposed to put the aquarium salt in the main tank.
So long as you’re being careful, it should be fine to treat a sick fish in a hospital tank. You still need to make sure not to use more salt than you’re supposed to.
Hopefully, you won’t have any reason to consider using aquarium salt. Do your best to care for your angelfish to keep them in good health.
Angelfish can be very satisfying to take care of, and they’re hardy enough that they won’t get sick too often. If you’re keeping the water parameters in the right ranges, then there’s a good chance that everything will be fine.
It’s also wise to avoid stressing your fish since stress will weaken an angelfish’s immune system. Keep an eye on potential stressors so that you can feel confident that the angelfish will thrive.
Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his family’s fish tank. Being able to maintain a small ecosystem and observe the behaviors and interactions in the underwater world peaked his interest early on and has kept him hooked until this day. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything he’s learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium.