Handling Fish
The fact that aquarium stores sell many sizes of nets, with varying sizes of mesh, should be indicative that different nets are used for different sized fish. In general, use a net at least 1 inch longer than the fish itself. Never use a dry net on a fish; let it soak for a few seconds. Sometimes a dirty net will become stiff when dry, which, if used in this condition, can cause serious damage to the scales of the fish and thus leave the fish open to fungus infection.
Fish can always jump out of small nets and fall onto the floor. This is usually not a fatal accident and, with proper handling by the aquarist the fish may be replaced in the tank. There are several methods for picking up a fish from the floor. The easiest is to throw a wet net over the fish and hope that it will stick to the net when the net is inverted. Another way is to place a stiff, thin card under the fish and get him into the wet net that way. Don't be foolish enough to grab the fish and squeeze. If you use your hands, it is better to get him by the tail fin between your nails—at least he can grow another fin!
It should be mentioned that fish can sometimes fall from relatively great heights and not be killed. Sometimes they are just stunned and when replaced in the aquarium they "come back to life." This is probably the explanation for a lot of stories about fish which were found "dead" on the living-room floor and came back to "life" after being placed in the aquarium.
Sick fish should be handled with a special net, and the net should be sterilized in boiling water before being used again. Diseases may be spread from one tank to another if these precautions are not taken.
