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How to Acclimate Your New Angelfish After Shipping · AngelfishUSA
AngelfishUSA · Care Guide
How to Acclimate Your New Angelfish After Shipping
Your fish have traveled far. A careful, patient acclimation is the single most important thing you can do to ensure they thrive in their new home.
① Before your fish arrives
Preparation is everything. Have your tank cycled, heated, and ready before the box lands on your doorstep.
Temperature
78–84°F
pH range
6.5–7.5
Ammonia / Nitrite
0 ppm
Pro tip: Pick up your package at the UPS Customer Center as soon as tracking shows it has arrived — it’s faster and far less stressful on the fish than waiting for a delivery driver.
② The acclimation process
Angelfish are sensitive to sudden changes in water chemistry. The drip method gives them time to adjust gradually — plan for 1–2 hours total.
Open the box and inspect immediately
Open your box in a warm room as soon as it arrives. Check each bag — most fish will look a bit ragged or pale after transit; that’s completely normal. Don’t be alarmed if a fish appears still. Cold shipping temperatures can cause a torpid, near-motionless state that looks alarming but isn’t. Always attempt to acclimate before assuming a loss.
Dim the aquarium lights
Turn off or dim your tank lighting before you begin. Bright light adds unnecessary stress to already-exhausted fish. Keep lights dim or off for at least 30 minutes after you add them to the tank.
Temperature match — float the bag
Empty each bag into a clean, fish-safe bucket. Do not aerate the water and do not float the bags directly in the aquarium. If fish arrived in very cold water, warm the bucket by setting it inside a larger container of warmer water until the temperature reaches the low 70s°F. This warming can happen while you begin the drip setup.
Drip acclimate — the key step
Run a siphon of airline tubing from your aquarium into the acclimation bucket. Use a valve or a simple knot in the tubing to control flow. Start at 1 drip per second for every 3 cups of water in the bucket. Every 20–30 minutes, double the drip rate. When the water volume in the bucket has doubled or tripled, your fish are ready to transfer.
If any fish look overly distressed during acclimation — spinning, on their side, erratic movements — speed up the acclimation and get them into the tank sooner rather than later.
Net the fish — never dump the bag water
Always use a net to transfer fish into your tank — never pour the shipping water in. Shipping bag water carries waste, elevated ammonia, and potentially pathogens you don’t want in your display tank. Add one fish at a time and watch its reaction before adding the rest.
Ammonia warning: Once you open the shipping bag and oxygen enters, the relatively harmless ammonium in the water begins converting to toxic ammonia within about 30 minutes. This is why keeping the drip acclimation under 2 hours and netting — not pouring — fish into the tank matters so much.
③ The first 24 hours
Your fish made it into the tank — but the transition isn’t over. The next day is critical.
Leave lights off and let them settle
Keep aquarium lights off or very dim for at least 30 minutes after introduction, preferably overnight. Resist the urge to rearrange décor or tap on the glass. Your fish need quiet and darkness to decompress.
Hold off on feeding for 24 hours
Your angelfish are stressed and unlikely to eat. Uneaten food will spike ammonia in a tank that’s already under pressure. Wait until the next morning after lights turn on before offering food, and start with a small amount.
Monitor closely for the first week
Watch for clamped fins, rapid breathing, loss of color, or refusal to eat after the first day. Some initial shyness is normal — most angels settle in beautifully within 3–5 days. If you have a problem, contact AngelfishUSA within 2 hours of the first delivery attempt to protect your guarantee.
Color tip: Don’t be surprised if your new fish look paler or duller than their photos for the first few days. Stress causes fish to temporarily “blank out” their colors. Good water quality and regular feeding with a high-quality color-enhancing food will have them glowing within a week or two.
Questions about your order? Contact AngelfishUSA within 2 hours of delivery for any DOA concerns. Every fish is guaranteed.
