I have a fish tank with platties, betta, and ghost shrimp. All shrimp and platties died yesterday.?

Question

I have a 5 gallon tank with 4 small platties, a female and male betta, a barb and two ghost shrimp. They all got along great until yesterday when I noticed three of four platties dead on the bottom of the tank ( I had been gone all day and they seemed fine in the morning when I left). The shrimp were dead too.
Anyway, the fourth was dead this morning. The two bettas seem fine.
I did notice that the platties all looked quite fat lately and it even looked like they had white poop hanging out of their anuses all of the time. The female betta looks like this now, but her behavior isn't strange.
I'm thinking they may have some sort of parasite (nematodes?). What should I do to protect the remaining bettas and barb?

I clean the tank all the time!

I do the regular vacuum of the gravel and water changes of 25%. The tank has been operational for approximately 2 months with no problems. Where do I procure the medications mentioned?

Answer 1

It's possible you have a nematode infestation, but doubtful. Usually when this is the case the deaths would be spread out and you would see other symptoms along the way. Other than the white in thier poop that is. I would suggest it's a bacterial infection, specifically Hexamita. That fits with both stringy white poop and the bloated appearance.

Flagyl (Metronidazole) or Furanace (Nifurpirinol) are both good treatments for Hexamita. Personally, I would suggest Flagyl as a first choice. Either way, you need to get the medication into the fish by making medicated food.

To make medicated food first dissolve about 1 gram (1000 mg) of the medication in a 1/4 cup of water. It won't be easy to get it all to dissolve but hang in there. Slightly water water will help. Then soak a dry food like pellets or freeze dried food in the solution and feed it to the fish. You can use a spoon to soak a small amount of food in a small amount of the solution at one time so you can keep using the same solution over and over. This keeps from polluting the solution with food and keeps you from having to make a new batch each feeding. Just keep the solution in a cool dark place and well covered.

Feed the fish 2-3 times a day with the medicated food. Really, the more often the better. It may take several times for them to eat it, but keep trying until they do.

Also treat the tank as directed on the label of the medicine as some will be absorbed though the fishes gills.

Best of luck and if I can help any more please feel free to email me.

MM

Answer 2

I currently have 7 Bettas and have ghost shrimp in all of them. My tanks range from 5-10 gallons with heaters, filters, and live plalnts. I personally love the shrimp (only 1-2 in each tank) and find that they really make a difference. I've had mystery snails, ottos, and plecos (in the past) and I really didn't like them. They seemed to produce more waste and slime. My Bettas don't really pay attention to the gross shrimp--except for my Plakat male who chases it sometimes. But he has never harmed it. None of my fish could eat the shrimp in they tried. Everyone has a different opinion on what they like, but shrimp are my favorite. Good luck with you're new Betta!

Answer 3

First of all,too many fish in too small a tank.
Secondly,the platies like guppies can carry internal parasites which weaken the fish and spread to the rest. The weaker fish died first. The platies are bigger and need more oxygen than the others. Get a larger tank,feed them less and use some aquarium (or kosher) salt,
Any pet store that sells fish sells medication.They are a little costly, so only buy the right ones. Salt can be purchased in a grocery for about $ 2,50 a box (not table salt).
Fish supply catalogs mail order or on line are good places to buy,if you can't get to a store. You'll need to go anyway to a pet store and get a decent size tank and healthy new fish.
Don't get a barb or more barbs in a small tank. They nip at the fins of the other fish and pick on sick and weak ones.

Answer 4

Firtst how long has your tank been set up. You definitely have an ammonia problem. The Bettas should be seperated unless you are going to breed them and that can't be done in a community tank. What kind of filter do you have on your tank. Undergravel, power filter, or box filter. You should do a 25% water change every month.

Answer 5

First of all, your tank is waaaaay overstocked. The nitrite and ammonia is probably killing them. If you have 5 1-inch fish left, then you should leave yuour tank like that.

To protect them, I would advise getting a test kit and testing for ammonia and nitrite every 2 days until it's not detected.

Answer 6

I found this definition online-

Very thin stringy white poop - usually a sign of an internal bacterial infection. Double check for other signs tho if a white or pale food is being fed to the fish.

Good luck!

Answer 7

water poisening , the 5 gallon tank is good for maby 2 fish with a good filter, your tank was over stocked, and the ammonia, and nitrates built up killing them off. i am willing to bet your ammonia is sky high , test your water, and email me , i would like to find out what the test shows nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia wise.. take a sample of water to the pet store most do test for free


how do you clean the tank all the time . please explain how you clean it , what exactly do you do , you may be resetting the baterial bed needed to keep the water clean , read up on the fish tank cycle, and how to prevent it ..

Answer 8

do you have the cleaner? Maybe the fish all got disease take the Betta's right now to a doctor they just are better of keeping germs away not for long. Go to a doctor. Don't let them die!

Answer 9

oh my gosh sepperate the live ones in seperate container DO NOT use the tank water use sink water use gloves might be tuberculosis buy Life Guard by Jungle aqurium supplies act fast

Answer 10

TOO MANY FISH! My god, fish need AT LEAST a gallon of water for every inch they have in length.