Fish dead?

Question

I came home to two dead fish (both Hora loaches), several plants uprooted and my sunken pirates ship floating at the top of the tank. The Loaches had been in the tank for almost 2 months with no problems (I have 1 Jordans Catfish, 1 Upside Down Catfish, and 1 Betta (male)). I have a 12 gal Marineland in the hood filter and live plants. I feed (Tropical flakes, Betta pellets, Catfish sinking pellets) 2 times a day and Bloodworms every other day. Both the Betta and the Catfish readily take food from my hands and they seem to pal around together (they also are terrified of the upside down fish). All three are doing great. What caused the Loaches death? I'm assume somebody killed them, due to the carnage. I want to add some schooling fish, any sugestions? My Betta is a marble, with long fins.
I'm working on getting a 55 or 120 gallon tank as I know my Jordans Catfish will get too large for my 12 gal (when I get that could I have 6 Angel Fish in with him)? Any suggestions for this tank?

Answer 1

First, you are already over crowded in my opinion and have fish that really shouldn't be together. The Jordan's catfish will not only out grow your 12 gallon, but will outgrow a 55 and probably the 120 gallon. Further, it will require brackish water about the time it gets 4-5" long and will as it ages need more and more salt until at maturity it is in a fully marine aquarium. Given that, you will not be able to keep angels with it. Beside, an adult Jordan's would probably eat adult angels.

The Jordans s the most likely suspect in the death of your loaches. He's probably the only fish large enough to have done the damage you saw and since he eat's other fish, anything in the tank will quickly become a target.

At 4", the upside down catfish will also out grow the tank before too long, but would be good in a 55 with angels, so you can easily tank them together.

Personally, I would suggest you wait until those two fish are out of the 12 gallon to add any schooling fish. When you do, stick to smaller species, such as neons, cardinals, checkerboard barbs, penguin tetras and the like. Then add a few corys for the bottom and it will be a really nice peaceful tank.

MM

Answer 2

Here's my 2 cents. I think the fish died from hydrogen sulfide poisoning. The clue is the up rooted plants. Hydrogen sulfide is the waste product of bacteria that do not thrive in high oxygen. They do the same thing as the other bacteria that handle the fish waste except their bi-product is deadly. The bacteria form in 'dead spots' in the substrate. If you haven't vacuumed the rocks often enough and the tank is low on oxygen or proper ciculation dead spots happen. You may have too much or too fine of a substrate. Needless to say you most likely need to vacuume and change water a little more. It just takes one gill full of hydrogen sulfide to kill a fish. Likely the loaches uprooted the plant and hit a plume of it and died suddenly. Add airstones if you have none or an additional one if you already are running them. Keep the filter going all the time full blast to help circulate water. Remove some substrate from the bottom. You only need one layer of rocks on the bottom not 2 to 3 inches worth. That would be a half an inch to an inch of substrate max. Remove a little at a time, when you do a water change, don't take out a lot all at once, it could disrupt the system.

Answer 3

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile63.html
I suggest you do some research on these fish. Their size is not what you need to be worrying about. They are brackish as adults and won't be able to live with angels. Take a look at the Mono sebaes and Mono argentus. They look kind of like angles and should fit right in with the cats.

Answer 4

betta fish are killers they will attack other fish.. they tend to go after ones that have a fancy tails ...sometimes amonia plays has a big part if it is to high it will kill off week fish quicker so watch that...also u dont have to feed them twice a day.. the left over food will up ur amonia level..plus make more water changes..also put i teaspoon of salt to 10 gal of water this helps the fish..fight off disease and adds electalites to the water

Answer 5

too many questions..you need to go to a pet store and ask someone there...you are probally crowding the tank..the betta should be alone...complete water change is necessary

Answer 6

Reasons:
-maybe they fighted
-maybe alot of food
-maybe less food
-maybe No foodd
-maybe hated food
-dirty water....

Answer 7

Sounds like a crime scene..