My three year old pored hand sanitizer in my fish tank this morning! I did not realize what had transpired for at least 10 to 15 minutes I took the fish out but I don't know if there is any hope, should I clean the tank and put them back right away or should I wait a few days to use the same tank again?
2007-05-22 04:45:58 · 14 answers · asked by Dee M 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
If the ingredients in the sanitizer were just alcohol and an antibiotic agent, you should be able to use most everything again with a thorough cleaning. I'd get a new filter pad, though.
If there was any soap in the sanitizer, you'll need to do more rinsing to get out all traces of it.
In either case, any antibacterial agents probably messed up your biological filter, and you'll do this even further with the cleaning, so you'll have to cycle your tannk again. The fish may have some respiratory trouble for a while if any alcohol was present - this would dry and irritate the gills. So you might want to do water changes a little more frequently in the next few weeks. A little non-iodized salt added to the tank can help in the healing. Use a tablespoon for every 5 gallons, or a lttle less than 1/2 teaspoon per gallon if this is a small tank. Kosher, canning, pickling, rock, or aquarium salt will work.
And let your daughter know that the fish don't need to be "cleaned" - they're already in a "bath".
2007-05-22 05:03:31 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
You did the right thing by taking them out! Clean your tank very well, rinse your gravel a couple of times, also take your filter apart and clean it good, change all your filter media. Rinse any plants and deco you have refill and run for at least 8 hours, test water before putting your fish back in. Good luck! Kids are something else aren't they? Mt two year old put whole can of flakes in my 30 gal last year, it took me all day to clean! LOL!
2007-05-22 05:52:57 · answer #2 · answered by jra60411 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take the fish out and clean the tank with salt. Do NOT use soap or any kind of cleaner. When you put the fish back in, i would acclimate them to the water again or it could be a really big shock to them and they could die. Hope this helps!
2007-05-22 04:57:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make sure you clean the tank realy well, you soak it in hot water to get all the oils off the inside. Then fill it with clean water put the fish in and hope for the best. I think they will be fine : )
2007-05-22 05:00:02 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
how enormous is your tank? if its a handfull in a fifty 5 gallon tank i wouldnt be as demanding yet nevertheless do a 50% to 75% replace of water and vaccume the gravel as superb as you are able to. if the tank is any smaller than that i might reccomend getting a bucket of sparkling water (no longer from tank) and putting your fish in that with an aeraitor then wash your tank out thoroughly. in any different case this is going to kill your fish. superb of success.
2016-10-31 02:28:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
get them out immediately. put them in fresh water. clean the tank well. wait 24-48 hours before placing them back into the tank. pray your fish don't die. wait it out, only time will tell. you know those jungle fish bowl buddy things? my huband put one for a like huge tank in my little bettas' tiny bowl! thinking it was the ones i usually put into the bowl. (did he not notice the big size difference? lol)my baby was floating at the top dying already by the time i figured out what happened!!! i put him in clean, fesh water and waited. he got better!!! that was a couple months ago and my betta is still thriving! so, only time will tell. i hope your little buddies make it. needless to say, my husband doesn't touch my fish bowls or anything anymore... lol my silly love.
2007-05-22 07:24:34 · answer #6 · answered by Pellie M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep the fish in clean water. Clean their tank thoroughly before placing them back in and make sure you give any accessories in the tank a good cleaning too (stones, plastic plants etc.)
2007-05-22 04:50:25 · answer #7 · answered by bnagrrl 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, hand sanitizer usually has alcohol in it, so do not be surprised if the fish die. It depends on how much was poured in there. Poor fish.
2007-05-22 04:54:29 · answer #8 · answered by Mollyruby 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ewww I don't know if there's much hope DONT put them back in the water the water really needs to set a couple days to 1) the water get to room temp 2) the chlorine evaporates, and the water stabilizes it self! Did she put alot in there? I really don't know what it could do to them but I wouldn't think its good! Good luck keep us posted on what Happens!
2007-05-22 04:55:01 · answer #9 · answered by Confused and wating 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Get them out of the water quickly and hopefully with taking the right precautions, they will survive
I hope your fish don't die
2007-05-22 04:56:27 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋