a fish tank with colorful glass Aquarium Decoration

Can Aquarium Decorations Kill Your Fish? 

5 min read

Filling the tank is one of the most enjoyable parts of owning an aquarium. You get to choose what fish you want and what their habitat looks like, adding all kinds of fun decorations in the process. But can aquarium decorations kill your fish?

Aquarium decorations can kill your fish if you choose the wrong materials or put too many in your aquarium. Exposure to dying plants, sharp items, and decorations that leach toxins into the water could lead to severe injury or death for your fish.

Read on to discover what decorations are safe for your fish, which ones can kill them, and what you need to do to ensure that you are providing a safe environment for your fish when you own an aquarium.

Are Most Decorations Safe for Your Fish?

AquariumDecoration01 PetAquariums Can Aquarium Decorations Kill Your Fish? 

There are numerous things that you can safely put in your fish tank, but there are some that may cause your fish to get sick or, worse yet, die. Therefore, you must vet every item before placing it in your aquarium. But are most decorations safe for your fish?

Most decorations are not safe for your fish tank. You cannot grab anything and everything that looks like it would be a fun addition to your fish tank and place it there. Therefore, it is critical that you only choose items that are deemed safe for your fish tank by professionals.

It would help if you always bought your decorations from an aquarium specialist or pet store when decorating your tank. Even then, you must do your homework and be sure that you are choosing quality products that don’t have any chemicals that will harm your fish.

Safe Decorations for Aquariums

The safest decorations for aquariums are generally items you can buy in the store. You can choose from many decorative pieces. You can also build items at home, as long as you know the right materials to buy. So, what are some safe decorations for your aquarium?

Here are some of the safest things you can put in your aquarium:

  • Artificial plants and logs. Purchasing fake trees, seaweed, or other plant life is your best bet for filling your aquarium with things found in nature. This way, you know there isn’t any risk of unwanted microbes. This JIH Aquarium Decor Set will give you some beautiful nature-scape in your tank and is colorful and fun to look at.
  • Plastic toys that are food or aquarium safe. You want to choose decorations for your fish tank that are made with safe plastic materials that do not have paint or toxins that will get into the water.
  • Clean decorations. You want to ensure that any item you are putting into your tank is clean. Depending on what you are placing in your fish tank, you may need to take different precautions. Luckily with just a few easy steps, you can clean your decorations to ensure they are safe.

Choose Decorations That Are Safe for the Fish You Have

Not all fish are the same; depending on what kind of fish you have in your tank, you may need to avoid certain decorations. Here are a few things to consider, depending on what type of fish you have in the aquarium:

  • Know whether you have saltwater or freshwater fish. You will want to see the environment your fish thrives in before adding certain decorations. Some rocks, wood, or plants may be toxic to freshwater or saltwater fish. 
  • The size of your fish is essential to consider. You don’t want to overcrowd your fish tank, as your fish need ample room to swim. Make sure you know how big your fish is, or is going to get, and how much space they need to swim in before decorating your aquarium. You also want to ensure your conditions are suitable for your fish to breathe, overcrowding is a valid concern.

What Decorations Are the Most Dangerous for Your Fish?

We know that there are plenty of safe items for your fish that you can buy at the store or even find in the wild. Still, there are also some items you should never put in your fish tank. So, what are the most dangerous decorations for your fish?

The most dangerous decorations for your fish are sharp objects, items collected from nature, and toys that are not made of the proper materials. You do not want to use anything with toxic metals or harmful microbes that can leach into the water and harm your fish.

You want to choose your decorations carefully when you add them to the tank. It is crucial to avoid certain things or be highly cautious when adding them to your aquarium.

Here are a few things that are very dangerous for your aquarium:

  • Toys that have lead paint or other toxic metals. Make sure that you only use food-safe plastic.
  • Plants or rocks that you have collected from nature. You have to be very careful when adding items from nature. Clean the pieces thoroughly if you plan to use branches or rocks. Better yet, avoid these items altogether.
  • Sharp objects. Never put any items with sharp or ragged edges (like glass) in the fish tank. Fish will rub against these sometimes, and it can cause cuts that may eventually lead to death.

Final Thoughts

Designing your space is one of the most exciting parts of owning an aquarium. You can put your personal touch on how it looks and give your fish a fun place to call home. Still, it is imperative that you only choose the right materials, or you could accidentally kill your fish.

If you select the correct items, however, your fish will have a safe and enjoyable aquarium for years to come.

Sources

Written by:

Pet Aquariums

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