My fish just died, some questions?

Question

My female swordtail just died, i think it was ich because it looked as if it's body was covered in some sort of white powder and it's fins were folded. I will clean the bottom of the tank and do a 50percent water change. I am going to change the substrate from rocks to something smaller. The rocks leave gaps for food and dirt to settle and make it harder to siphon out which probably is why my fish got ich from bad water conditions.

Do i replace all the substrate at the same time? will that be ok? i know some beneficial bacteria grows on the substrate so i don't know if i should replace it all at once or gradually over a week?

also, what do you suggest i replace it with? It's a 2.5gallon with some moss and i'm getting a bigger tank in three months when i move apartments. i was thinking some neon tetras or a single catfish or maybe even an oscar...

Answer 1

Personally, I prefer a fairly fine gravel over sand in tanks as the gravel is easier to clean . Assuming the tank is now empty, I would suggest replacing all of the substrate at once to help eliminate the ich from the tank. Either wash out the tank well or allow it to sit without fish for 2 weeks to be sure there is no ich in the tank before you add more fish. Ich is not caussed by poor water quality, it's a parasite that is in the tank and needs to die off before you add more fish.

MM

Answer 2

You may as well as replace it all at once - if your fish died of ich you'll want to sterilize the tank anyway - ich can lie dormant for a very long time if you don't. Wash the tank and accessories in very hot water, or boil those not plastic - no soap mind, and replace the gravel (smart move - finer gravel is always better).

If you plan on getting an Oscar then I imagine you are planning your next tank to be at least 55 gallons. If you go this route, you may not want to get anything and just hold off. In truth, a 2 gallon tank is a lousy home for pretty much any fish but a betta ghost shrimp, or perhaps a few guppies. When you get your big tank, that's when you should get the new fish you intend for it.

Answer 3

Since you have a 2.5 gallon tank, a betta is the only real choice you have until you get a bigger tank.

By the way, what is the next size tank you are going for?

Now to answer your substrate question.....
I would suggest boiling it in hot water to get rid of any diseases such as ich and anything else that could harm your next fish.

Have you heard of Ick Clear? This brand and others can others can be found at the link below. It is basically tabs that dissolves in water like Alka-Seltzer.

Answer 4

If you plan on getting new fish you need to COMPLETLY clean out your tank with hot hot hot water and a little soap the ich will continue to live unless you do this.

Then get some water conditioner and other water chemicals and let the water filter in the tank for a couple days

it will be safe again after that.


if it wasnt ich it could be the PH level try getting it tested once you do what i said

Answer 5

I wish I could help but I don't Know about fish!