In the last two days I've lost 4 fish and one more is dying right now. I bought them about a month ago, three were Tetras and one was a guppy. I added the proper chemicals, although I haven't had a chance to vaccum the gravel. Could this be it? Is this what's killing my fish? Or is it something else?
2006-06-19 20:57:00 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
first get your water tested, its free at most petsmarts and petcos. Water test kits run around 27.99 and up for the liquid kind, 12.99-15.99 for the "dip stick" kind. Sounds to me that it was probally just your tank going through its cycle. This is called differant things depending on who you talk to, Biological cycle or nitrate cycle or new tank sydrome. Basically when starting off a tank you want a min. amount of fish and hardy fish. guppys are not hardy fish, there are 100's of differant kinds of tetras and a good bit of them are hardy fish there are a few that should not be in a new tank like, neons, cardinal tetras, black neons, ect. Think of your tank as a mini ecosystem, when you add your first fish your adding also fishy waste.which is straight ammonia. Waste being present in the tank will cause bacteria to form, called benefical bacteria. This bacteria like to eat ammonia, and breaks it down into nitrites then into nitrates. Nitrates are not as toxic untill there has been enough time for the levels to eventually build up. During the first mnth you will have spikes in your water chemistry as the tanks biological gets "situated". These spikes happen on the first day you add fish and every seven days from that day untill you have reached a mnth or a little longer. During these spike usually you loose the more fragile fish. Also gravel syphoning should only be done after your water has been tested and shows you that the nitrate level is in the "caution" zone. If you clean your tank to soon you could over clean it taking away the bacterias food, and causing them to die off which will mean the tank will have to cycle again
2006-06-20 05:49:36 · answer #1 · answered by talisy77 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Tetras refers to an entire family of fish.
If you mean neon tetra's then be sure that you are not alone, most people have difficulty keeping them alive.
How is the guppy doing? Did you cycle your tank? Are you feeding your fish sparingly? Vacuming the gravel once a month should be fine, this will not be the cause of your fish deaths.
2006-06-19 23:40:58 · answer #2 · answered by � Fuzzy Dice 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We need tank size and water stats. Do you have test kits, if not you will need them. Also, did you cycle the tank?
Cycling is the process of building up beneficial bacteria that deal with fish waste. Right now ammonia, or nitrite are probably buiding up and killing your fish. To remedy this, do 25% water changes daily until the tank is cycled, when ammonia and nitrite are 0.Even "proper chemicals" can't replace cycling, unless you added Bio-Spira. Research cycling and do it before ANY more fish are added. Hopefully you have a filter, heater and other necessary equipment.
RESEARCH First
2006-06-20 03:47:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, there is a such thing as New Tank Syndrone. No one knows what causes it, or even what it really is. You can have everything right and still have fish die. Or, with them being Tetras, you might have them in a spot where there's too much going on around them and they're getting stressed out. It really shouldn't be any sickness from the store or you would have seen symtoms sooner. I would completly redo my tank. Rewash everything and rinse VERY thorouly. Hope this helps.
2006-06-19 21:50:53 · answer #4 · answered by HawgHunter 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Personaly, Ive NEVER had good luck with tetras (neons or cardinals). After loseing whole bunches of them ive learned to treat them like a cannary in a mine. Tetras are super sensitve to changes in PH/amonia levels/nitrogen levels and any other thing that might kill fish (velvet/ich/insertnameoftypeofdeathhere) The only thing i can suggest if you want to keep Tetras is to get a really good water test kit.. spend a good 40$ on one and learn how to use it.
2006-06-19 21:05:39 · answer #5 · answered by zippo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its probably amonia buildup from the bacteria in the wasted food and fish droppings. Do a water change of about 30 to 50% making sure to vaccuum the gravel, and change at least 10% ofthe water every week
2006-06-20 00:08:50 · answer #6 · answered by judy_r8 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
bacteria or fungus
2006-06-19 23:09:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋