is my fish dying?

Question

I have a hex5 gallon aquarium with filter and bio wheel. I bought it about 4 days ago. I added 2 small goldfish to it the day after and they seemed to do fine. Yesterday i added one more little fish that is a neon one. Since then today i noticed that one of my goldfish is laying a the bottom alot not moving as much and its top fin is all down and not up like the others. It still is eating when i feed them and swims around a little bit but not as much as it used to. When it does swim it acts like it is dizzy or something and swims into the plants i have in the tank. I didnt know if it was dying or not or how you can tell if it is sick or if it is stressed out that there is a new fish in the tank. I am just worried that it might be dying.
Thanks!

I was wrong i did not add a neon fish the fish i added yesterday is called a GloFish here is a picture of what it looks like i got the two mixed up http://www.hagen.com/pdf/aquatic/bag.pdf

Answer 1

You are seeing the effects of high ammonia. The tank is not yet cycled and has a pretty significant fish load already. The best thing to do for it is a 50% water change. You will probably need to continue these water changes every day for the next 2 weeks or so. Here's a link to a site that will explain what is going on in your tank and how to deal with it untill it cycles.

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

Hope that helps!

MM

Answer 2

The goldfish may make it through the cycling process but the neon won't. They are very delicate and need an established tank. Neon tetras also need a heater in the tank as they can't handle the colder water that the goldfish prefer.

If you don't already have them, get a good liquid master test kit as soon as possible so you can start testing for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. Start doing water changes of about 20% twice a day so you can get the ammonia and nitrite levels under .5 ppm.

Besides that, a single goldfish needs at least a 20 gallon tank. They are massive waste producers and grow to be over a foot long. Keeping them in that size tank will stunt their growth and severely shorten their lives, which can be well over 20 to 30 years in a proper set up.

Answer 3

You may want to think about adding an airstone to the tank because the tanks with the hex shape do have a lot of surface area which is needed in order for oxygen to get into the water. You may want to take the sick goldfish out of the tank and keep it separate so it does not spread to other fish if it is a virus. You probably shouldn't add anything else to the tank for at least a couple days, let things work themselves out. Maybe a slight water change too, add some water conditoner. Good luck!

P.S. Fish are very hard to keep in a small tank, so don't get discouraged if it doesn't work out for a while! Keep trying!

Answer 4

MM had good advice, i just want to add that a neon and goldfish are not compatable. neons need warm water (78 degrees F) gold fish like cold water. Also, gold fish get too big for a five gallon. A betta would do well in that tank, though you'd need to get a heater. It sounds like you are trying to do a good job for your fish. Keep it up and do a lot of reading. You'll get the hang of it. Google "Nitrogen Cycle" it should answer your question

Answer 5

They are experiencing ammonia poisoning. 2 gold fish need about 30 gallons and your tank has not cycled, meaning there's no bacteria present to break down waste. You need to do a 20% water change with a gravel vac right away. Then you need to learn about fish keeping, as it isn't as simple as "just add water".


http://www.hagen.com/pdf/aquatic/bag.pdf
http://www2.tetra.de/tet_internet_import/import_data/The%20fascination%20of%20aquariums_GB_2006_T062048.pdf
Here two good free books.

Answer 6

You are seeing the effects of high ammonia. The tank is not yet cycled and has a pretty significant fish load already. The best thing to do for it is a 50% water change. You will probably need to continue these water changes every day for the next 2 weeks or so. Here's a link to a site that will explain what is going on in your tank and how to deal with it untill it cycles.

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

Hope that helps!

Answer 7

you have to buy your fish 2-4 weeks after you buy your tank so the tank ca cycle and that's why they are dying. or maybe your goldfish is pregnant,see if i has a big stomach like he is about to blow up.you can tell if its sick if it does swim to much and swims on 1 side or swims upside down.also you can tell if its sick because it has stuff on its body that's not suppose to be there.i recommend buying a stress coat and no more fish because goldfish get big and are dirty fish so the more fish the more work.
also make sure you have a filter to make your job easier and a gravel cleaner which cleans your gravel(rocks)
good luck :)

Answer 8

GET A FISH DOCTOTR!!!! I just got a 30 gallon tank and a bio wheel 350 and i now have 2 gold fish in it. You might have the rong stuff in it try calling a pet store and asking them fish can need more attention then other animals!!!!!!!!