I bought 13 fish 2 days ago and 8 out of 13 have died a few hours ago=),& im still waiting for the next deaths

Question

I did everything i can, i set up a big aquarium, i bought them from the most famous fish store in town, and i got this filter, and everything was great .. and now i have like 4 or 5 left, and as soon as the shop opens im taking them back! i have pets:D , i hate fish , i hate all animals:@

Answer 1

You can't just set up an aquarium and drop fish into it. You have to get the water ready first. It's called "cycling". Here:

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cycling.php

Follow that procedure, and your fish won't die next time.

Answer 2

You fallen to a common trap for noives. I can't say much for your "famous fish store" if they let you buy 13 fishes, and didn't mention how bad an idea that was. Quick summary of the nitrogen cycle in fish tanks. Fish + food -> ammonia + bacteria -> nitrates/nitrites. Ammonia is highly toxic and will kill your fish. In a normal fish tank you have enough bacteria to convert ammonia into less toxic chemicals, but in a new tank there aren't very many.

What you need to do in a new tank is give the bacteria time to multiply. Ideally you setup your tank, and throw in a bit of fish food. Then wait a week. (With 40+ tanks I just wait a day, and put in a pair of fish.) After a week slowly add 1-2 fish a week. (Ideally you want to monitor ammonia levels as well.) This generally called cycling a tank. (Nitrogen cycle) See the various posted links for details.

PS- You can most likely save the remaining fish, by replacing about 1/2 the water. (Be sure to remove the chlorine 1st, and get the new water near the temp of the old.)

Answer 3

Most pets stores will replace your fish within a couple days. However, if you lost that many you may want to check your tank. It is possible that you got sick fish but that's a lot of sick fish. Your ph could be off in your tank. They have test kits for that. Maybe it's the water you're using. If it's a small tank, buy spring water. If it's a big tank buy a water safe kit that balances all the chemicals in the water. If it's not a new tank (used) you really should bleach it out and then use a dechlorifier before putting in fish. It really could be any number of things. Talk to your local pet store. I've found the smaller companies know more about their fish because they aren't in it for the money. My husband and I had a lot of problems when we started buying fish. We now have a 125 gallon, 45 gallon and a 10 and we finally have our tanks under control. Remember too, fish get stressed easily so don't put too many into one tank. The rule is one inch of fish per gallon (10 gallon tank = 2 five inch fish, 10 one inch fish, 3 three inch fish + 1 one inch fish, etc.)

Answer 4

Next time you decide to set up a tank keep this in mind. Your tank, water, filter, heater, gravel and lights all need to be set up and running for DAYS before you can even add one fish. The rule of thumb is for every gallon you have you wait 2 days ( 20gallon / 4 days) and so on. Second off you should take a water sample in to be tested before you buy anything. Fish live off of their own bacteria so one or two fish will create enough for the next one or two to live off of. If you add 13 fish there isn't enough bacteria for them to live off of. The pet store that sold you these fish are morons!! The should have asked you all these questions about your tank before selling you any fish especially 13. Next time when you say you did everything make sure that includes research.

Answer 5

new tank syndrome is the probible cause, with a new fish tank, there is no benificial bacteria built up in the gravel, this can take several months, what the bacteria does is feed off fish waste and food waste and also the ammonia that fish excrete in the form of urin, with not bacteria in the gravel on on plants etc... to process this waste, levels of toxins rise in the water and poison the fish, ammonia being the most likely culprit, bye a water test kit, or take a water sample to the aquarium store to have it tested, these test include ph, ammonia, nitrates, ph is important to the type of fish being kept and their additives you can buy to adjust this, ammonia and nitrates are dangerous to fish and all by products of waste, this is what benifical bacteria are for, there are also additives at the store to bring these under control, an undergravel filter is great because that is how it works is by pulling the water thru the bacteria laden gravel bed, also what helps is to get a handful of gravel from an establised aquarium and add it to your own, this intruduces bacteria to the system and greatly speeds up the whole new tank syndrom process......good luck

Answer 6

Your tank wasn't cycled and the ammonia is killing the fish. Look up aquarium cycling (like www.worldcichlids.com ) and give your tank a chance to build healthy bacteria. It can take several weeks so be patient. You need to test the chemical for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates and when they are at the correct levels, it will be safe to start adding a couple of fish every week. Go slowly!

Answer 7

Forget about going to the "famous pet stores," I bet you paid a lot of money for those fish........I am proud to say that I have 3 fish, which I paid $0.82 for from Wal-mart that have been alive for over a year, they are my babies =). Listen to all of the advice about checking the tank but when you go buy new fish, don't waste your money on expensive fish from famous stores if you are just starting out.

Answer 8

Even in a well established tank that has been cycled you can't add 13 fish at one time. Did you do any research at all?

The fish hate you more than you hate them.

Answer 9

Try testing the PH and the Ammonia. We had this problem for a while too. We got the PH set and an Ammonia blocker and the fish do great now. We even had a guppy have babies!

Answer 10

Sheesh, speak it! I know exactly what you mean, and it sounds like your a starter, so listen...guppies and goldfish and saltwaterfish aren't for starters! And ask if they can put a squeeze of stress syndrome when they put it in a bag for you to take home. It helps the fish not to be stressed. (that's self-explanitory!) well, i've had a fish jump out of a temporary bowl and live, and that's lucky. i've been pretty lucky, and i hope you will be too. good luck!