how to stop my tropical fish from dieing?

Question

I have recently been given a tropical fish tank with fish. I have had it for a few days but the fish are starting to die, i am really worried.. i have kept the temp on 23 - 26 degree's and have given them the right food and the pump and heater are working.... but they look weak

at the moment it looks like they are fighting for air and are all at the top of the tank and it looks like they are trying to get oxegen from the normal air ???? i am not to sure what the problem is.. please help ??

Answer 1

It sounds like your tank isn't cycled. If it was up and running before you got it, the filter and gravel must have been washed or dried out before you got it set back up. The first thing to do as change 50% of the water to lower the ammonia and or nitrites that are causing the fish to gasp at the surface. Keep the temperature low for now 23-24C. This will help the ammonia be less toxic to the fish. You need to either test the tank or take a water sample to the pet store and have them test it for you. I have little doubt the ammonia will be high. Here's a link to a page that will explain what's going on in your tank, what to expect over the next few weeks and how best to deal with it.

http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php

Hope that helps.

MM

Answer 2

If they're trying to get oxygen, the water parameters are off. Have you been testing the water?
You need to test for ammonia (which should be at 0) and nitrites (which should be at 0) and nitrates (which should be under 30 ppm).
Don't touch the filter but do a large water change. You dindn't mention the size of the tank. Also you're having a huge change in temperature. Especially if it's a few days. 23 works out to 74.5 F and 26 is 78.8 F. That's more than 4 full degrees F in a few days. 74.5 is very low for tropical fish to begin with. You should keep the tank around 26 to 26.5.

Answer 3

The problem is your tank has not cycled. What that means is the bacteria that break down waste (ammonia) have not developed sufficiently yet.
For immediate relief, you need to do a 20% water change with a gravel vacuum. The bacteria mainly live in the gravel and filter. Don't over clean either. If you can, buy a test kit for at least ammonia, one that uses reagents (liquid) and test tubes like the one by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. They are more accurate.
Other things you can do are use products like Seachem's Prime. This dechlorinates water and removes heavy metals. It also improves the fishes' slime coat which protects them from ammonia and disease. They are very stressed now and their slime coat is not what it should be. They are many other products from Tetra and others that do this, but Prime does something else. It makes ammonia somewhat less harmful. If you use the dip stick test kits, they will no longer see the ammonia that is still there, just a less harmful state. The reagent test will get it right.
Prime can save fish. Another thing you want to do is speed up the cycle time, one product is widely available, Hagen Cycle. This contains millions of bacteria spores that will become active in your tank. They will shorten the cycle time a little. Another refrigerated product, Marineland BioSpira works even better, but isn't as common. There's lots of other bacteria supplements on the market, they all pretty much do the same as Hagen Cycle.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=4057&Ntt=prime&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&N=2004
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3983&Ntt=cycle&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&pc=1&N=0&Nty=1

Answer 4

How big is the tank and how many fish are there?
When you say pump, do you mean an air pump?
You do however NEED a filter. According to the size of the aquarium (how many gallons of water it holds), you can go to your local pet store and purchase a filter. I'm sure someone at the pet store will be able to help you.

Most tropical fish need to be kept in a tank heated to 75-79 degrees F. I don't know if you are using Celcius...

Answer 5

Check for nitrates and ammonia the water slowly gets more toxic if the filtering is inadequate. a temporary fix though not a good one is to change a third of the water. make sure the temperature of the water going in is the same as already in the tank. Most larger pet stores will test your water either for free or for a small charge. Also the warmer the water the less oxygen it can carry. BTW bubbles from an aerator don't put oxygen into the water it is the disturbance at the surface.

Answer 6

If the fish came with the tank it might be a case of old age. Also if the fish came with the tank it might be a matter of the fish didnt tolerate the move to well. Especially if the tank was torn down and set right back up. IF the fish are new then its a matter of the tank might not have been established properly before the fish were added.

Answer 7

Well first of all, do you have a filter for the tank? Also, some of the fish may be spreading illnesses. If a fish dies, be sure to take that fish out as soon as possible, I don't think it would be healthy for it to be in there for an extrended period. Good luck, I hope your fish become better.

Answer 8

I think it is a water quality problem,if you didn't cycle the tank your fish are suffering from ammonia poisoning.Do a 50% water change right away and get a test kit for ammonia.

Answer 9

Too much iron can also be a problem if they are looking short of oxygen. Does the tank have live plants?

Answer 10

its to cold they need to be in a warmer enviroment AND....you didnt include a filter fish need a filter