Should I get my water tested?

Question

I came home from work and found my bottom feeder (catfish) dead but it wasn't just floating he was stuck to my filter system and it was fuzzy looking and when I got him out I looked closer and he had like thick slime on him...it was fine when I left for work then 8 1/2 hours later that is how I found him. What would make that happen so fast??

It is a 30 gallon tank have had it running for almost a year. I have starter fish in there from day 1 and out of 5, three are still going strong.

I did get the water tested and the benefical bacteria was low....I came back from the store and I had another fish dead. The pet store had me get Stress Zyme. Hope this works...

Answer 1

Yes. Have it checked for pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels.

You should really consider getting at least a pH and ammonia tester for yourself. Look into the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals brand for both of them.

Anytime anything happens with your fish, you should do a quick check on it. You should also check it once a week just to make sure your levels are in check.

I'm sorry to hear about your fish. Was he lethargic or not eating beforehand? Swimming erratically? Do you have any other fish in the tank? What size is the tank?

Good luck.

EDIT: Did the pet store tell you your beneficial bacteria was low? Because they have no test to check the level of your bacteria. However, if your ammonia or ntrites were high, it's a safe bet your tank isn't cycled.

If you can, either try Bio Spira (the best cycle starter ever) or Cycle. Stress Zyme may not work.

Good luck.

Answer 2

No, you should buy a test kit. The aquarium pharm master here http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=19383;category_id=3081 is cheap, will last you about a year, and is great for occational testing. pH must be stable, ammonia and nitrite 0, if not do water changes and check for causes. Nitrate under 50 or so. Again, if above do water changes.

By the way, change water now. There may be something bad in the water for your catfish to make additional slime ( a fishes first defense against disease) and dead fish decay

Answer 3

You should be testing your water periodically anyways. If someone dies that would be a red flag that something might just be wrong. If he was in there for 8 hours decomposing then he probably raised your PH. You should do a partial water change. The description you gave sounds like he had been dead for longer then 8 hours though. Sounds like he died last night. The fuzzyness and slime sounds like he was rotting- not like clues to why he died. If you have really high Ph then it may speed up the process a little.

Answer 4

I would ask a pet store owner or vet I think it could have been ick or some disease. Introducing new species or plants can do this or what you clean the tank with or a death in the tank many factors could have caused or contributed to the death of your catfish.

Answer 5

test your water and take your fish the a professional pet store - not one at walmart but a REAL pet store... or a vet

Answer 6

i had a one do it too i am not to sure what made it cause it but i look it up and my goldfish had it to and die ..if you have a big tank you might want to get a fish kit to test your water

Answer 7

yes god knows what you've been drinking who knows someone could have peed in your WELL ha ha ha lol no its good to get that check for bacteria and parasites every now and then

Answer 8

check the water ph level

Answer 9

yes

Answer 10

he probably died, did you recently change the water? if so could have been contaminated.