From their brightly colored, shiny scales to their relatively easy care, aquarium fish are popular as pets. In fact, millions of households in the United States keep aquarium fish. Fish are great pets for people with pet allergies and have shown to produce calming effects and to reduce stress among people who keep them.

Like all animals, fish may carry germs that make people sick. These germs can also contaminate the water in which fish live.

Although fish and aquarium water can spread germs to people, illness due to keeping fish is rare. By giving routine care to your fish and their aquarium as well as following some simple health tips you are less likely to get sick from touching, feeding, or owning aquarium fish.

CDC recommends washing your hands before and after you work with aquariums or handle fish.

• Always Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water before and after handling or cleaning aquariums and feeding fish. Be sure to help children wash their hands properly. Thoroughly washing your hands will reduce your risk of getting sick from a disease spread to you by your fish.

• To protect your fish, rinse your hands extremely well to reduce any soap residue after you wash your hands.

  • Adults should supervise hand washing for young children.
  • Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not readily available. Be sure to have hand sanitizer readily available near the aquarium to encourage guests and children to practice good hand hygiene after feeding fish or touching the aquarium.

• Do not let children younger than 5 years old handle or touch aquariums or aquarium water or feed fish without supervision. Children younger than 5 years old are more likely to get sick from exposure to germs like Salmonella.