How To Be Best Prepared

[Hathaway]

With just having added my first stock of fish a couple of weeks ago my thoughts turned to "what if" scenarios and how best to deal with them.
So I wondered whether those more experienced aquarium keepers, if there is anything you keep available at all times to hand, rather than purchase at the time of need. For example if your fish should become ill or injured etc.

As a relative newcomer and wanting to be prepared for at least the most common eventualities, I'd be interested to know what sort of things those more experienced keep stocked away in the fish cupboard. I'm already considering having a back up heater in case mine should malfunction, but what else might you suggest?

 

[fluttermoth]

Definitely have a spare heater; every tropical fishkeeper should have a spare heater!
 
I don't keep medications, as the active ingredients can 'go off' or become less effective over time, so they're best bought fresh, and anything treatable is very unlikely to kill your fish before you can get to a shop.
 
I have a plastic storage box, a few plastic plants, a sponge filter (I keep the sponges in one of my main filters, so it's always cycled) and an air pump so I can set up a hospital or quarantine tank very quickly, if I need it.
 
The air pump and sponge filter also work as a back up in case one of my 'proper' filters fail (although having kept fish for many years and being a bit of a hoarder, I have a few old internals that I could use in an emergency as well!). Also, some medications can reduce the amount of oxygen in the water, so having an air pump available to you in those situations can be a fishy lifesaver too.
 
I also have a bottle of clove oil, plus a jar and old ice cream tub for euthanasia, if I feel feel a fish is suffering with no hope of recovery.