Why do my fish keep on dying?

Question

I have an 18 gallon tank with:
~ 2 algae eaters
~ 2 harlequin rasboras
~ 2 neon tetras
~ 3 glowlight tetras
~ 3 guppies, 2 female and 1 male
~ 2 sunset dwarf platies

My fish keep on dying though. So far 3 died. The sunset platy died because of its tail was bitten off then turned white, the neon tetra had a clear line in the middle and I think that was how it died probably I'm not sure, and I don't know how the rasbora died. I think it was one of the other fish, but I'm not sure which one though. It was pretty small when I found it dead.... Please help!

Answer 1

Well it sounds normal that a few died, sometimes you by fish that have caught diseases already from the pet store. Also some fish get so stressed out from the change of environment that they develop issues and sometimes die. When you establish a brand new tank the levels of the water are balancing out and it is natural that you may lose some of your fish. If you are really worried that you are going to lose the whole batch you can buy a chemical called stress relief, it raises their immune system and helps with their stress. Make sure that you have proper water temperature and p.h. balances. But it sounds like you have a wonderful tank, and you are not doing anything wrong at all, you are a great owner. :)

Answer 2

First of all I'm not sure what kind of algae eaters you have, but most grow way too large for sucha small tank. I suggest returning them to the pet store in exchange for some ghost shrimp.

Secondly neon tetras and glow light teras are schooler fish, they need at least 5-7 of their own kind to be happy. If they do not they will get rather freaked out and tend to die easily (also neons are overbred and are pretty fragile)

Also, do you have both female platys? because if you have one male and one female, or both males there will be aggression problems and one will torment the other to death. With guppies and platys there should be at least 2 females to every male.

If your platy had a ripped tail that then turned white, that indicates fin rot. Fin rot occurs in poor quality water. Make sure you have an adequate filter (I suggest the Aqua Clear 30), a heater set for 75° and not more then 1 inch of fish per 1 gallon of water. Also try taking a sample of your water into the pet store to get tested (most stores will do for free)


email me if you have more questions

As for the posts above me, depending on your algae eaters, they are all community fish, and therefore there shouldn't be aggression issues unless there are more males then females,

Answer 3

became the tank cycled. once you're saying the water is nice what did you degree (nitrite, nitrate, ammonia) Nitrite and ammonia might desire to be 0 jointly as nitrate might desire to be around 30 or much less. To cycle the tank initiate with some hearty fish like danios that could take the cruel adjustments of the water because it undergoes the technique. you have not provided info as to salt or freshwater, how long you had tank, water parameters and temp to accurately provide suggestion yet i'm assuming it became not cycled precise

Answer 4

I am going to agree with the previous one that said water quality. I bet you've got too much Nitrate or Nitrite and the fish died from stress. My Mollies and platies all died eventually from water quality stress. I recommend a couple of Cory Catfish. They are some of the strongest fish I know of and they help in keeping your tank clean too.

Answer 5

Its probably water quality - are you following the instructions, using cholrine removers etc? The fish with the white tail got an infection when its tail was bitten off, so that's why it died. It doesnt sound like they are overcrowded, so its probably not that. By a water testing kit to check water quality.

Answer 6

Did you cycle your tank and add dechlorinator? Most of your fish should be in groups of 5-8, like neons.

Answer 7

Your tank is overstocked. also you need to check for ammonia poisoning. From so many fish in such a small place. Like ally alex said, you should return your algea eaters. They get really big in their adulthood.

Answer 8

Check the temperature, etc. I think it might be because some of the fish are solitary fishies. They may not like company and can get aggressive or depressed.

Answer 9

ask the people that work there cause some fish can't be 2gether like the Betta Bio Gold i had three but the water tank was separated with a plastic thing and they survived like 4 three years more than what they r suppose to live.

Answer 10

i think some of the fish don't like others. some guppies are very territorial. or you might want to check the aquarium. do they have enough food, enviorment etc.