My fish keep dying! I have a 20 gal freshwater tank, temp set at 78 degrees. I had some blackskirt tetras in the tank but gave them to a friend. I then bought new fish and a pleco and introduced them to the tank. My pleco is doing great, but the other fish -- a silver molly, a black molly, several guppies, and two blue danios -- died within 2 days.
I took a water sample to the pet store and everything was fine. The nitrates were good, the ph was good, the ammonia levels were good. The pet store told me to add a bit of salt to the tank, do 5 gallon water changes ever day for 4 days, the whole routine, just to be sure. I went back on the 4th day and my water STILL tested good, so brought home 2 adult mollies and 6 baby mollies.
They all died within a week. The babies lasted longer than the adults. What could be going on if the water tests fine and the pleco is thriving?
2006-08-10 23:43:44 · 7 answers · asked by rabidbaby 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Your water may be extremely hard. Try doing your water changes with bottled distilled or r-o water. I find it makes a huge difference with my own tanks. You should also be adding salt to all water you add to your tank. Buy a box of salt for freshwater tanks and add it according to the directions. It is possible that the stress of being shipped from the supplier to the pet store and then to your tank is affecting them. Take a look in the tank the fish are in and if any of them are sickly-looking don't buy them.
2006-08-11 02:45:20 · answer #1 · answered by iceni 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This kept happening to me when I got my fish. I started to learn to look at every fish in the tanks.
Did all the fish look just as healthy as the one I wanted to get? Where there any dead fish in the tank. How many were laying on the bottom or gasping for air around the surface. After looking for a while I would decide if it was really worth the risk of getting the fish. If there where any dead fish in the tank is was always no fish.
Also ask the pet store how long they have had the fish for. If it has been a couple of days don't get any fish. If they have been there for a week or more you should be ok.
I also started to take my fish home one at a time and put them in a 1 gallon tank (or bigger depending on the size of the fish) and if they lasted 2-3 days in there I would move them to the bigger tank.
I even test the water from the pet store to see what kind of environment the fish were living in. That has a lot to do with if they will live or not. The store may not be taking care of them correctly. Also never mix your tank water and the water from the store. It could be dangerious because the store water may have bacteria in it that can't be tested with our kits.
Also try not to add so many fish at once this could be very stressful on the fish. I've read you should start out with one and wait a week then slowly add in 2 fish every week until the tank is full.
Also if they keep dying don't flush them. Most pet stores will give you new fish if you bring the dead fish and a sample of water and if the water in your tank is normal they have to give you new fish. My pet store the fish has a 15 day gaurentee some are 30. This way your not waisting too much money.
I hope maybe some of this helps. Good luck with your fish.
2006-08-11 09:17:48 · answer #2 · answered by beachgirl111982 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
How lon does it take you to get home with the fish?
Howa re you transporting the fish?
How hot is itwhere you are?
During the summer, fish can only survive with a bag for about 20-30 minutes. Due to summer heat, theyrequire more oxygen and therefore run through what is available in the bag much faster.
Also, the summer heat can warm the water in the bag. This can sometimes kill them straight off, but more often th fluctuations from a nomal temp tank to a high temp bag and bakc to a normal temp tank will stress and kill the fish.
Next time you get fish, ask them to place an oxygen tablet in the bag - this will add oxygen AND has stress redcuing chemicals.
Also, take the fish directly home, keeping them in a cool dark area.
Lastly, do not buy fish in the middle of the day, as this is when its hottest.
2006-08-11 10:10:34 · answer #3 · answered by urbanbulldogge 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try dropping your temperature 2 degrees.
2006-08-15 01:29:13 · answer #4 · answered by AL 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe the pleco has a disease that is killing them did you quarentine him before putting him in the tank?
2006-08-11 07:19:00 · answer #5 · answered by C live 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have the same problem as you mine keep dieing 1 thing is ur gravel small and if it is maybe they go down and eat what is on the gravel and maybe suck a small stone and then they choke but i am probably wrong but their is a suggestion ok
2006-08-11 06:50:58 · answer #6 · answered by c_mikilas 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The pleco is killing them.
2006-08-11 06:46:38 · answer #7 · answered by Catmmo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋