why are my tetras keep dying? how should i stop it?

Question

i have 15 neons and 7 glowlights.
last month,i had 22 nad now...they are 18...i dont think i overfeed or make them hungry......i feed them twice a day,i just put plants for them to live in last sunday,i always check in feeding if everybody got a piece of a flake,the tank is clean but i just dont know why they die!.

used to have 12 neons and 8 glowlights,and are reduced to 11 and 5.
i just see the tetras swimming towards the surface,on the sides, and the next thing i see a white thing floating at the sides that has either a red stripe on it or an orange stripe on it.

please? what have i done wrong?i feed them right,keep the tank clean,looks to it that everyone eats,i just dont know what the hell is wrong!

if you have a suggestion on what the problem is,please also tell me how to stop my tetras from dying.
it just makes me feel bad seeing my fish die every week.

Answer 1

There are three itmes I would suggest trying. First, check your PH Level and ascertain that it is as close to neutral ( green or 7).
Second, try your ammonia level. Ascertain that it is at trace.
Third, verify your temperature remains around a constant 76* without fluctuation heavily.
If these items are in check, there is nobody easting the neons and glo-lites, there are no obvious white specs, cottony looking patches etc. Then I would have to have some additional information to assist you in solving the problem. Hope this helps Good Luck.

Answer 2

You should check your water parameters, such as pH and hardness - however, tetras as fairly adaptable and should be able to handle a pH ranging from 6.5 to 8 - but if it is considerably higher or lower, that may be causing the problem. Usually, though, tap water is fine for fish.

Are you using a dechlorinator?

You did not mention what size tank you have? 20 tetras would need a minimum of a 20gallon long tank; 30 gallons would be better. If your tank is a little on the small side, you have to make sure you are doing 30-40% water changes and gravel vacs EVERY WEEK to get rid of all the ammonia and nitrate build up. You should also test for ammonia, nitritres and nitrates in your tank. If your tank is big enough, then 25% water change every 7-10 days is fine.

Do you have a thermometer? Tetras like water that is a steady 77F. If your water is too hot or too cold, or fluctuating too much, that might be killing them.

Where did you get your fish from? Tetras are produced in large quantities and they are not always of the best quality. Places like petsmart are decent, but stores like Walmart and Petco are no good. Regardless of where you get them, if you get 10 neons, you can expect 1 or 2 to die. They are not particularly hardy fish when you first get them (once they are established, they're fine). So it may be the source.

Is it possible you have a sickness or disease in the tank? Symptoms to look for are: white spots on the fish, fuzzy stuff on the fish, clamped fins, frayed fins, open sores, etc.

Answer 3

For one, you are feeding them too much. Fish are kinda dumb when it comes to food. They will eat untill they explode. Feed only once daily. If I had to measure the amount of food for that many fish, I would say it should be about 1/4 teaspoon. Daily and that is it! No more! I learned all this the hard way by having alot of fish die too. Now that I know what I am doing, I have had the same fish for 2 years now. All grew and are now healthy and alive in clear water. I wouldn't bother with any more live plants either. You want to control how much they are going to eat. Other than that, make sure you have a filter on your tank. And have bubbles set up in there too. Let the water evaporate about 1/2 inch in your size tank and refill with fresh water. Get a snail or a sucker fish to help keep the inside of your tank clean. And by all means, do not ever put chemicals into your water. No matter what the pet stores tell you! I wasted at least 300 on chemicals trying to do what is supposedly right. I think that also helped to kill my fish before. I do not use any now and have beautiful clear water. Over feeding will make your tank dirty too. Also, if this is a new tank....get a couple of goldfish. They have something in their poop and pee that is great for fish water. (This works better than the chemical stuff they tell you to buy). This helps to make your water "old". But then, sadly, you really should get rid of the goldfish as they are extremely dirty fish. They make a tank really dirty! This is all I do and my tank is very clear and all fish have lived now for 2 years. They are even having babies. Hope this info helps you.

Answer 4

Is this a new tank?

If so did you let it cycle before adding fish?
OR are you letting it cycle the right way now with fish?

First thing I would do is a 25% water change.

Check your waters perimeters. If you don't have a test kit (get one) but take a sample of your water to a pet store and they can test it for free and tell you whats wrong.

Is your tank over crowded?

As a "just in case" measure I would treat for disease..something that covers several different things mostly fungus and bacteria.

Make sure your temp is steady at what your type of fish like.

Vacuum your gravel or sand....it gets really nasty down there and causes your water to go nuts!

Answer 5

Let me say it again, for the third time...YOU ARE OVERSTOCKED. and you're overfeeding. You have too many fish in too small of a tank and they are producing too much waste for the filtration to handle. Cut down the number of fish in your tank, and quit asking if you can add more. If you do, they'll just die as well. And by the way, even with 11 and 5, I would still consider your tank to be slightly overstocked.

Answer 6

I haven't had fish in years- but it is very important to keep the water at a constant temperature. I assume you have an aquarium heater? Also, don't introduce a large quantity of water straight out of the faucet into the tank without treating it or allowing it to slowly adjust to the temperature.

Answer 7

Hate to declare it, besides the undeniable fact that it might desire to be your fish. simply by each and all of the inbreeding and the marketplace's super call for for tetras, they don't look to be almost as hardy as they was. every time we get any affliction in our tank, the neons are commonly the 1st to head. Do you have any warning signs? Are they torpid? not eating? Any growths, lesions, or coloration changes? with out any warning signs, i in my opinion can't furnish you with any advice on a thank you to handle them... in case you have a separate tank, evaluate taking the ill neons out and including them to the separate tank. Then upload one tablespoon of aquarium salt in line with 5 gallons of water. this might or won't help. you will possibly desire to fairly evaluate getting a quarantinet tank. A small 5 or ten gallon with a heater and filtration. next time you get new fish, you will possibly desire to positioned them interior the quarantine tank for 4-6 weeks to ascertain they are actually not ill and don't contaminate something of your fish. That way, interior the form they do teach signs and warning signs of affliction, you could dose them with out stressful approximately medicating something of your fish that may not like it. sturdy success. i wish this works out for the extra effective for you.

Answer 8

You need to check your ammonia and ph something is really wrong also you may have over crowded your tank.

Answer 9

Try this web site It really helped me

www.aquahobby.com/
gallery/e_neon.php

I had to cut it half to make it all fit