Help Me Please.?

Question

I had a small aqauriam. When it was first bought we had 4 fish, they are guppies. Cinderella, Prince Charming, Ariel, and Jasmine. (My daughter named these fish) Ariel and Jasmine died not long after getting the aquariam, and then a few weeks later Prince Charming committed suicide by climbing underneath the air filter.
A few weeks ago, Cinderella had 4 babies, I never knew she was pregnant. Crush, Flower, Rose, and Nemo. Well things have been going fine, and the fish were in the tank together, Cinderella didn't bother them. I just went to clean the tank for the 2nd time since the babies were born, and when I went to put the oxygen filter back in, I noticed there was rocks in the pipe. I took the fish back out, fixed the pipe, and then put the air filter in. Then I put the fish back. Less than a minute later, all 5 fish were dead, floating upside down...as well as our fake Dollar Store hermit crab. Can someone please tell me what happened?

I used water...I've cleaned the tank the same way I have since we got it....I pull the fish out, put them in a cup with clean water, and wipe the tank out and wash the rocks off. It's never caused a problem up until now after numerous cleanings.

I thought the temp was the same as it always is. But these fish died in a matter of seconds. If the water temp was wrong, would it have killed them all that quickly?

It's a fake hermit crab, from the dollar store. One of those shells, and you put it in water and it "blooms" I did use some Dawn dishwashing liquid because the tank felt greasy, but I know that I got all of the soap out of the tank. And again, they died in a matter of seconds.

Answer 1

If you didn't get all the soap out - which is really hard to do! Even if it looks like it's out it isn't always out this is why it is recommended to never clean a tank with soap. All you should ever need is hot water and a paper towel.

If the water was warmer then usually, then yes it could have killed them quickly. Especially if your hands had been the water alot due to the cleaning - your hands would not be able to feel the correct temperature. So when it might feel warm to us - it could have been 90 degree water very easily.

I worked at a fish store for two years. There were many times I put my hands in water and then put it in another tank saying "WOW something is wrong this is too cold!" and after checking the temperature it would be at its normal 78 degree temp. My hand just felt it different since I had recently had it in a dif temp of water.

Also I do not reccommend placing them in clean water. Place them in a cup with their old water. It's much less stressful to them.

And when you clean do not change all the water at once. There is good bacteria in the water that they need. When you change all the water the bacteria is gone and has to regrow, which takes a while. This stresses the fish out and less hardy fish will die. Guppies are pretty hardy fish though - but I still reccommend it as a safe measure to take. You can change 25%-50%.

It could have been the move to a clean cup.. move to a clean tank.. move back to a clean cup.. move back to a clean tank that just stressed them out horribly and ended up killing them as well. Stress is the #1 killer in fish.

Goodluck!

PS: Guppies do better in cold water then warm water. So use cool water when changing.

PS: It has nothing to do with the air filter. Guppies can survive without one.

Answer 2

before being able to really answer this question, I need to ask for some information. What did you use to clean the tank, did the cleaner say it was safe to fish? Were the rocks there when you pulled the pipe? How much water did you pull out doing the cleaning? Have you talked to your local pet store?
Okay, it could possibly been that the temperature was too high, or there was an imbalance created with the ammonia levels. I would recommend bringing the problem to your local pet store.

Answer 3

That is really weird, did you use something to clean the tank you weren't supposed to use? The rocks shouldn't of been in the pipe so that was good to take those out. What about the temperature of the water? Was it too cold, did you let it heat up to the right temp first?

Answer 4

first of all i have a hermet crab and they don't live in water. Did you use soap if so and if you didn't clean the soap out they could have died from that.
They also could have died from the shock of you moving them so much.
Next time only clean out the tank once every one to two months.
They don't need a lot of care. My hermet crab has lived for 4 to 5 years now and he never switched shells!
I also have a batta fish, for like ever.

Answer 5

Think you answered your own question. Never use soap to clean anything inside a fish tank.

Answer 6

You might of put the air filter in wrong and they were sed to and waned it off. Thats when the rocks were in there they didnt die and they were alive. That means the filter killed them. Sorry.

Answer 7

well it could of been somthing with the water you had placed them in, or the lack of oxegen they got, they may have had to much oxegen, many thinggs could happen, some fish can't be handled much at all..........but there are many things that could of happend.