babyangel

I have a 20 gallon tank with a pleco, a dwarf gourami, a pictus catfish (had 2 but 1 just died), 2 kissing gouramis, 2 angels and 4 platys. They all seem to get along pretty good. My black angel had 'ick' and I treated the tank 2 days ago. Tonight one of my pictus cats was dead, with most of his whiskers gone. The other pictus is still going strong but both his whiskers are pretty short. At first I thought the kissing gouramis might have done it, but the catfish are so fast and the whiskers are pretty much the same length on both sides. I used Quick Cure for the ick and I'm wondering if it effected the whiskers of the pictus cats and caused the one to die.
Thanks for any help and advice.
Lisa

CHoffman

Hi and Welcome to Fishlore. I'm so sorry your fish aren't doing well. I think Quick cure is one of those meds that's kills the bacteria in your tank, throwing it into a mini cycle.. That could be the cause of death too. I know some meds aren't suitable to use with catfish and plecos but not sure if Quick Cure is one of them. I'm sure another member will be along to help out soon.

Hope he pulls through for you.

Edit: Thought I should mention you can treat ICH without meds. Just raise the temp to 83-84 degrees F. and leave it there for two weeks. Gravel vac the gravel often to get all the ICH spores and you should be good to go.

Franklin

You have way too many large fish for your tank.The stress it causes was probably the reason for the ich out break.The platys and the gourami are all you have room for.Pictus get up to 6 inches long,and angles can get that long,plus that tall.You are really overstocked.I would get a bigger tank,or find new homes for your fish asap.

Redvelvetsword

Sorry to hear about your loss. I agree. The Pictus cats are suseptable to meds and water conditions. Also there are too many fish as fraklin said. The Pleco and Pictus need a 55g or bigger tank. The Platys and gouramis are fine for your 20g. I haven't kept angels but I think they need a high type of tank because of their shape. There are great members hear that will help you with your tank and fishes. Welcome.

agabr123

i agree, most fish are fairly sensitive to medications anyways and that's probably at least part of what happened to your pictus cat, and there's a good chance that you're in a mini-cycle and should start 50% daily water changes. do you have a test kit? if so, do you have a liquid tester or paper strips?

do you know whether you have a 20 tall or a 20 long? as redvelvetsowrd said, an angel is going to feel quite cramped in a 20 long because it won't have enough vertical room for them.

babyangel

I have 20 tall. All of my fish are rather small right now....I know they will grow and that I will have to get a bigger tank eventually. The kissing gouramis are the biggest fish in there and they are about 2 inches long. I did a 50% water change last night and my little pictus cat is still hanging on...he looks silly without his whiskers though. Thank you to everyone for the advice.

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore babyangel!!

for a 20 gal tall, and 2 pictus and a plec, there probably was a major war between them all.thats not much bottom space for that many bottom feeders...do you know the readings for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates? that is very important so no more of your fish die..otherwise you could be having even worse issues than some missing barbs....then we can help you if your readings are off..as others have said, even small fish need more room because their insides will grow but the outside wont... check out craigslist for some great spring sales ..everyone is selling huge tanks to clean out their house .....

babyangel

My one pictus catfish is still hanging in there. Will his 'whiskers' grow back?
I have since lost one of angelfish (the black one that the white 'ich' spots on her and my dwarf gourami. I have tested my water several times over the last few days and have done a couple of 25% water changes. pH is 7.0, ammonia is 0, nitrites is 1.0 and nitrates is roughly between 10 and 20. I tested the water last night and got these readings and I did a 25% water change early this morning and just tested again with same results. The 4 platys, 2 kissing gouramis, 1 pleco, 1 angel fish and pictus cat all seem to be doing ok. Is it possible that I am stressing my tank out with mixing active fish with more passive fish? Thanks for all your help.

Shawnie

you are still going through the cycle process...so DAILY 50% water changes are needed to keep them safe...see if you can find some prime water conditioner as it will detox the nitrites for 24 hours until your next change....the stressed fish are from too small of tank not from whose in there...they are compatable with proper space....their bioloads are too much for that size tank no matter what size the fish are....your pictus whiskers will grow back with prestine water and some stress coat...but the plec and him will still get into it and that might be why they are missing ...goodluck!

babyangel

Oh, and I never had any problems with 2 pictus and a pleco. My pleco stays along the back wall of the aquarium or hanging on one of the plants while the catfish pretty much scavenged along the gravel.

babyangel

Daily water for how long? What should my readings be at? I think the Ph is good and the ammonia is at 0, which is good...right? I know the nitrites should be 0....what should the nitrates be at? Thanks a lot Shawnie for all your help.

Shawnie

there isnt enough room for one plec let alone a pictus with it...and it wasnt fine as one pictus already died..whether that was from the tank not being cycled, or fighting for space in the tank, im not sure
the daily water changes are until you have ammonia @ 0 , nitrites @ 0 and nitrates under 20..no one can tell you how long that takes as every tank is different..but the ammonia and nitrites are killers so the daily changes with prime is a must ....

babyangel

Now that I am down to the 4 platys(about an inch long each), 2 kissing gouramis(about 2 inches long each), 1 angel fish(about the size of a 50 cent piece plus fins), 1 pleco(about 2 inches long) and 1 catfish(about 2 inches long).....am I still overcrowded? It's a 20 g tall tank.

Shawnie

yes...its not their size now but their adult size..the pleco alone, will produce enough waste to polute that 20 gal daily..you will need a few water changes a week to keep the nitrates under control....fish need space as juvies to grow or they will be stunted...which means their insides will continue to grow but their outer body wont....

jdhef

Yes, you are still overstocked.

The general rule of thumb for stocking is 1" of adult size fish per gallon of water. Unfortunatley, with you having a hex, that rule of thumb is a little too optimistic, since you don't have as much "footprint" or bottom area as you would with a rectangular tank of the same volume.

Additionally, common Plecos can get to be over one foot long and need a much larger tank than what you have.