Are fish keep dying...why?

Question

In a 75 gallon several fish have died lately. Water temp is good, all tests show water to be good, all levels check out, plants seem ok and the dead fish dont appear to have been attacked by anything else in the tank or show signs of sickness or anything. The tank has had two ghost shrimp, four snails, a cat fish, a pleco, and a flounder for some time now. Recently we added two frogs (died within 24 hours), a Guarmi which is still alive, a small angel fish (died within a week), a guppie(lived three weeks), a bala shark (lived two weeks). WHY?

Answer 1

Assuming by what you said that your water is perfect, I would consider either the source of fish (Did you get them from Petco? fish dont live long from that place!). Or perhaps one fish has gotten the others sick, but some arent being affected. Its hard to say. Wait before adding new ones, and see how the tank fairs for a while.

Answer 2

I would question the health of the fish to begin with. Balas can ship very poorly. Sometimes guppies die readily too. I have also seen angels be very sensitive. These fish all do great once well established, but seem to be more suseptible to stress. After working for soo many years in the pet trade, you get to know the fish that just don't ship well, and don't seem to "last long" in many instances.. You may try a different pet shop, or only buy fish that they have had for at least a week, and have been eating well and showing no signs of disease. It sounds like you are not a beginner...your tank is good sized and you are checking your water quality. Your tank isn't overstocked(unless your fish are very large) You may try some hardier fish and see how that goes. I also notice most of your fish that you DO have are bottom feeders. Although the angel, gourami, bala, and guppy were not, I would try not to get any more bottom feeders. You may try some more gourami, some larger tetras or some rainbow fish ( which get more and more beautiful as they mature) Good luck! :-)

Answer 3

How long was the tank established before the fish started to die? If they die within a week or two, it is usually due to improper cycling. In the wild, and in established tanks, there are nitrifying bacteria that break down toxic ammonia from fish waste and excess food into less toxic nitrates. In a brand new tank, these bacteria don't exist, so any fish in the tank will produce ammonia, which, not being broken down by bacteria, will kill or weaken the fish.

Are you using dechlorinator to eliminate chlorine/chloramines/heavy metals? What is the source of your tap water?

Are you acclimating your fish when you get them? Let them soak in the bag in the tank for 10 minutes, then slowly add some tank water into the bag and net the fish after an hour or so. Discard the water. If you dont' do this, it may be shocking your fish.

Is it possible something is getting into the water? Cleaning products sprayed into the air, using teflon too close, etc, can easily contaminate tank water.

Is your tank heated? These fish need temps of 77-80F.

Are you filtering? And have enough aeration?

Did all the fish start to die right after you added a new fish? You may have introduced a pathogen, virus, bacteria, parasite etc into the tank that is killing the fish.

Answer 4

Too many new fish within a short time first of all. NEVER add more than 1 fish at a time new. Second, never add fish bought into a standing aquarium. INVEST in a quar. tank. Leave them in that tank for 3 weeks before moving them into a bigger tank.

Second, the combo you said is terrible. angel fish are too aggressive for for the cat fish, flounder (???) ghost shrimp and guppies.

Answer 5

The new fish have probably carried something in with them. Wait and see if the other fish die, if they don't just add more fish from a different fish store. If they die out too empty your tank and scrub it. Let your plants have a few days in a clean tank and get new gravel and decorations.

Answer 6

Have you put any new rocks in your tank? I once put rocks in the tank that a brougth from the pet shop for a fish tank and i did wash them correctly, but everything died later found out that the rocks where the problem.

Answer 7

since the frogs died frist they may have carried something into the water with them that are killing the fish try emptying the tank and starting with fresh water see if this helps if not call your local fish store and see what they think good luck

Answer 8

If there was mo signs of dessies
s then your fish could have died of old age. try to consolt an expert such as a petshoh keeper.

Answer 9

Maybe the change is traumatic for them. Do you let them adjust to the water temp. before releasing them? Maybe you should introduce two of the samekind that way it's not so strange.