I got my daughter a 2 1/2 gallon tank for her bedroom. We filled it up, added the stuff to make the water safe, added a little aquarium salt, and put in a heater and filter.
We started with 2 guppies and a shrimp. First 1 guppy died, then the other. So we got another guppy. It died, then the shrimp died.
We took the heater out so the water could cool down, and after it did we added 3 goldfish. Two died pretty quickly. We then added a snail. Then the 3rd goldfish died. All that is left now is the snail. What could we possibly be doing wrong?
2006-07-30 09:05:52 · 13 answers · asked by Shane and Sherry 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
I don't know why everyone above me is going on about salt being the problem... a little salt is good for freshwater fish. But... JUST a little. In your small tank, it would only be the tiniest pinch.
But I think it's unnecessary, personally... I've never used it in any of my tanks and my fish are fine.
My best guess would be that it's New Tank Syndrome. Many new aquarium owners don't realize that they need to "cycle" a new tank... that's the process where beneficial, necessary bacteria builds up to eat up the ammonia that fish produce. Without that bacteria, ammonia jut builds up and slowly kills the fish (or not so slowly).
The fact is, you're always going to have a hard time with such a small tank. The larger the tank, the easier they are to care for. You'd be a lot better off with even a cheap ten gallon tank and a cheap power filter, cycling the tank properly for a month, and then adding some guppies. You'll be surprised at what a difference it will make.
Don't attempt goldfish again... goldfish produce way too much ammonia to survive in a 2 1/2 gallon tank. A young goldfish needs at least ten gallons, more when it's older.
Also make sure that you're not accidentally introducing any contaminants, like bleach or soap.
2006-07-30 15:04:45 · answer #1 · answered by M.S. 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The tank has not been allowed to cycle properly. Ammonia and nitrites build up pretty fast - especialy in a small tank like that - and are toxic to all fish. Plus a tank that small isn't suitable for goldfish. You could have a couple guppies or a betta - which are tropical fish and need a heated tank . but first you have to cycle the tank - you can find bio-spira at most fish stores which is the fastest way to cycle.
You don't need to add aquarium salt either - a lot of people do - but really no need.
2006-07-30 17:54:09 · answer #2 · answered by Sage Bluestorm 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you may not be using the right kind of aquarium salt1 those other people are retarded salt helps your fish mucus membrane!!!!!!!! um if i were you i would clean out the tank rinse out the rocks you only need to add a teaspoon of aquarium salt for the first like day it will help protect them from ick i use API aquarium salt it works and you can get it at wal-mart It could also be a fungus in your tank or maybe a parasite you didn't give many details so its hard to tell. the smaller the fish tanks the faster water conditions change and the faster diseases spread so they are actually harder then people think!!! I suggest you find a friend who knows what they are doing to help you
2006-07-30 16:18:17 · answer #3 · answered by just duky 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you didn't clean the tank and put fresh water in, the gold fish died because of the salt in the water. I don't know anything about salt water tanks, but I've had a lot of gold fish, and they usually lived a LONG time. They are the easiest fish to keep, in my opinion. Try dumping the water, put clean water in, wait a couple of days, then get a couple of cheap "feeder fish", those are young gold fish cheap, people usually buy them to feed other fish. They are really cheap. I've seen them here for as little as 10 cents a piece. If those die, then I don't know what else to suggest.
2006-07-30 16:11:22 · answer #4 · answered by Linda 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is it a saltwater tank? If not you don't want any salt in it! That is most likely what is killing your fish! It sounds to me like those are freshwater fish! Start completely over! Clean the tank completely out and then start again but leave out the salt! Do not reuse any rocks or gravel! Get new gravel and get rocks that you know do not contain salt! This should put you on the right track!
2006-07-30 16:10:11 · answer #5 · answered by Jimmy Pete 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Leave out the salt and you probably dont need the heater unless you have them in a cold atmosphere. gold fish can live in a bowl without filters and air pumps, so can guppies. But those items wont harm the fish either, definitely loose the salt and the heater.
2006-07-30 16:59:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You've added too much aquarium salt. I know that they say that even fresh water fish need salt. THAT IS WRONG. Since the aquarium is only 2 1/2 gallons, salt is not necessary.
2006-07-30 18:23:41 · answer #7 · answered by DiRtAlLtHeWaY 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is it a salt water tank? or fresh water? If its salt water , then aparently u need salt in it, other than that dont put salt in it.Dont change their water alot either, cuz i had a fish and after i got it in my tank for the first time , i changed its water, and it shocked it becuz of the different tempertures. just feed the creatures once a day and they'll be fine and only change their water every 3 weeks and they should be fine.
2006-07-30 16:53:58 · answer #8 · answered by Adrienne 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't put the salt into the water. Those fish you mentioned don't need it. Just use the salt when you're cleaning the tank or if you ever decidde to start a salt water tank.
2006-07-30 16:10:32 · answer #9 · answered by J.D. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The salt you are using is the wrong kind for your freshwater fish. You are using marine salt. Don't add salt at all, you want need it for the fish you said or really and freshwater fish.
2006-07-30 16:49:36 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋