help! my fish are swimming around the top of the tank. is that normal. 1 angelfish and 4 neon tetras?

Question

got the aquarium 2 days ago. everything seemed fine.this morning i got up and they wrer all swimming around the top of the tank.i am a first time fish keeper and would like some advice.also, the water seems to be getting cloudy.checked out the filter, it seems to be ok. 5 gallon tank

Answer 1

If you just filled the water in the aquarium it is normal that the water turns cloudy. I usually fill the tank and let the water have one week to stabilize it self. 3 days of white cloud its normal.
Be sure and use drinking water free of chlorine. No ammonia should be present as long as you don't have gold fish. Be sure the charcoal in your whisper skimmer its in and fresh. A friction of air bubbles and water it is required to add oxygen to your water. Put in an ornament with bubbles. in the mean time if you don't have one, change 50% of the water to add oxygen while you go get a compressor and a bubble wand.
One more thing on your fresh water tank. For each 1 inch of fish (from nose to the tail) you need 1 gallon of water. Example your angel fish will grow 4 to 5 inch maximum. Your neon tetras will not exceed 1 inch each. So really all you need its 10 gallons for the amount of fish in it. They are both aggressive fish so they will leave each other alone. If you have more questions send me an email I will be glad to help with the little swimmers. [e-mail]

Answer 2

Do you have an air stone in the tank? Sounds like they are looking for oxogen. You really need to get a bigger tank or return the angel. They get at least 6'' top to bottom in size and that is cruel in that small of a tank. Make sure it is a tiny angel now or your neons will become a special treat. The neons are fine, if you want another pretty fish add ONE male betta with the neons but that would be your max.

As others have said make sure you check your water perameters. Test ammonia and nitrite (should be at zero) and nitrate (20-40ppm is OK).

Eep didn't realize the tank is only 2 days old!!! That is WAY too many fish. Read up on here several questions about setting up a new tank. Your fish are suffereing from new tank syndrom which will happen when a tank is not properly set up. I just cycled my 120 gallon tank using fishless cycling. Look up 'fishless cycle' on yahoo for more info on how to do that. This process allows a network of bacteria to build up that change the toxic ammonia produced intro nitrite (which is also toxic and another bacteria forms to turn that into nitrate) Some nitrate is ok and will feed your plants if you have live plants. If nitrate levels go above 40 that could become harmful to your fish so it is recommended to do a 20% water change every week.. NO MORE.

So I would return your little fishies now before they die (which is a near certainty) and go with fishless cycle if you don't want to kill any. If you want to risk it then keep 2 neons (I would suggest getting a more hardy fish like zebra danio) until the bacteria form or the fish die and you have to try again. To me that is excessively cruel and highly recommend fishless cycle where I know it tanks tons more patience but you will feel good about it and the fish will thank you. Fishless cycle allows you to learn about your tank water without playing with lives.

Good luck!! Save your fishies!!!

Answer 3

i would suggest turn the temp down to 26 remove plants they only produce oxygen for 12 hours a day carbon dioxide for the other twelve put in an air pump at the end of the day some fish dont get on with others believe it or not i had an oscar that used to go mad when i went near the tank but not with anybody else maybe because i feed it

Answer 4

The aquarium's bio filtration hasn't cycled, you are seeing the effects of ammonia poisoning. Bring all the fish back before they die, the tank is 4 times too small for an angel, and neons are sensitive fish that need a mature tank. Either do a fishless cycle with ammonia, or get one hardy fish like a zebra danio for cycling.

Get some ammonia, a test kit, and google for fishless cycling. Cloudiness is to be expected in a cycling tank.

Answer 5

immediately remove about 2 gallons of water, refill with water the SAME temperature as the water in the tank...add dechlor to the water you add. Your fish are sufficating. You have too many fish in the tank.

Answer 6

it is probably ammonia poisoning keeping them at the top. don't worry about the cloudy its bacteria having a party but relatively harmless -- gravel vacuum and change the water about 50% every couple of days. buy a beneficial bacteria like stress zyme or cycle.

starting a new tank is the hardest part. your water goes crazy until everything settles down. learn exactly how much your fish eat in a couple minutes and don't overfeed. i suggest switching to hikari pellets because they are easier to measure. good luck.

Answer 7

Test your water for ammonia and nitrites. Sounds liek the fish are suffering water toxicity. You also need a bigger tank. 55 gallons for a full grown angelfish. Neon tetras are the natural prey of angelfish, I'm sure it thanks you for the easy meal.

Answer 8

the fishes need clean water specially te neons aderwaise you wil louse them olso in water are nitrates from fishes waste end see if the air pomp its working for adert questions about fisehs ask mee on mesenger: ollyd13

Answer 9

umm i think they are probably dead...im sorry for your lose...get some more and take better care of the tank...you need to get a water testing kit at wal-mart to take care of the quality of your water..the cloudy stuff is called turbidity!!

Answer 10

They are seeking more oxygen.
Google 'Tetra Fish care'.I am only familiar with goldfish.