Inxa

It's been 4 months I think I last visited. Sorry to be away for a long time.

We are living in a humid region of Mumbai, India. It's rainy season now. I had tank which contained,

a molly 6 months old 2 times delivered and going good.
a guppy again 6 months old
2 guppies a different variety(don't know the details) which were bought 2 months back if am not wrong

Now, this is what is very strange and shocking. Couple of weeks back I got sucker to clean the tank. With that I also got a Angel. After a day or two I found the angel wasn't eating and next day it was dead. The next two I found my old guppy dead. I felt it must have been the sucker so we removed it to the other thank. Later I got a spotted white molly, a white molly, a yellow male molly and a yellow female.

In the last couple of days the everd 2 days each fish started to die.

spotted molly, male yellow molly, white female, yellow female, my old molly died yesterday night. It's very shocking. And very saddening as well.

There are a couple of things which I felt as water, or the worms that we give. But then our neighbour also does the same, then why doesn't his fish die. I don't change the water often in rains and when I do I put the necessary liquids.

Our neighbour says it might be that they are shocked :/ I wonder what shock. I have noticed a pattern. They don't eat. They go to a corner and stay there forever or on the rim of the tank, and in couple of hours to come they die. Then it happens to the next fish. Also, the tank is kept near the window, I have a fighter in the other tank kept besides the main tank and 2 small guppies which only remain.

Could someone please help me. I will be getting new fish very soon. Please help me on this.

clinton1621

Well, several things could be wrong, your water temp... your pH... disease... stress. you mentioned the tank was by a window, is it possibly overheating the water??

Inxa

No, it's rains here. Very cloudy out here. Pretty cool water.

Should I get back to my routine of changing 50% water everyday.

Presently I removed all the gravel and plants, as I felt there was a lot of green algae which start to come up. In recent time since rains I see a lot of green algae in the tank. Why does this occur and what should be done to solve this.

One of the saddest news was in May my old molly gave birth to 33 babies and eventually all of them died. I saw all the babies had their lower belly in white color something like a infection. But at least that's not happening any more.

One thing, my old molly didn't give birth after that last 33 died. But her tummy was like reaaaaaaaaaal big.

I keep the worms always in the tank hung in a basket. Is it correct.


I know these are 1,000 questions at a one. Sorry, but I really need the answers so I get the tank clean and get more fish and breed some mollies.

I inquired with our aquarium guy, but he doesn't have any kit or anything. Most of the people here don't have a proper solution. They a basic chlorine removal and a blue color medication.

By the way I have power filter in a small tank. And a oxygen pipe.

clinton1621

Hmm... you really need a test kit for at least ammonia and nitrite levels in the tank, also make sure when you add new fish that you acclimate them for around 15 to 20 minutes and only add one or two new fish at a time so that your tank has time to adjust and cycle the new waste. You also said you dont do water changes very often?? This can lead to toxic levels of waste and nitrates in the tank as well as the algae you mentioned, you should probably change around 10 to 20% every other week as general maintenance, or more often if needed for excessive waste. Two other questions.... what size tank do you have .... what kind of worms are you leaving in the water?? the worms are probably not best kept in there, they could die and rot causing your water to get polluted

Inxa

I have a I would not be certain to calculate it in gallons but, it's a 1 1/2 feet tank in width and around 1 feet in height. I know it's stupid to say that one doesn't know, but it's true. The aquariums here don't have much knowledge. Unless you go town side which would be 2 hours traveling in rush packed trains.

Yes, recently I couldn't get time to change the water often, I know it's very harsh and irresponsible. But I am getting back to that. Yes I used to either change entire water in the tank or atleast 50% every 5 days.

Worms, don't have the details as no one knows it. But they are like 2 cms long very thin, sort of brown transparent. I hate it here, no one knows anything lol. Can you image I searched around 4 shops no one has a proper gravel cleaner.

But my surprise is how people keep their fish alive like our neighbour who recently breaded flowerhorns. He doesn't have gravel or sand or plants. Keeps the water for 4 days and changes the entire amount of water. Surpising :/

I keep the worms say 4 days in the basket which hangs over the tank. Earlier I used to give them some amount of worms every 4 hours a day. Is it correct.

I have read a lot on this site, but most of it is either unavailable here or at least not in my area.

I need to get the tank in shape soon.

Can this be a reason that, the older molly had become real nice and plump. Whenever new fish came she used to drive them like goose chase until they rushed to the top of the tank or bottom. You can say she acted like a tough guy in the tank.

clinton1621

Sounds like your tank is between 10 to 15 gallons, you probably want to limit your total amount of fish (mollies) to maybe about 5 at the most for this amount of water. Also you should probably cut down feeding to either 1 or 2 times max per day especially with live foods as they cause excess protein waste in the water. I would not recommend changing all the water as this causes your tank to cycle constantly and reduces your beneficial bacteria levels

Inxa

Thanks Clifton.

I will be cleaning the tank entirely today, need to clean it entirely, need to.
I will keep in mind the points mentioned.

Inxa

One Question.

I read about ammonia and nitrate poisoning which could be a main reason.

But then how are the 2 guppies doing excellent. Ofcourse it's good am not complaining.

clinton1621

Some fish are more tolerant than others, or may just not really show any obvious signs of exposure

ShaynaB

Hi Inxa,

It sounds like ammonia poisoning to me. Mollies poo a lot and if you don't do regular water changes the ammonia will build up to eventually toxic levels.

Also, adding new fish to the tank throws off the bio load and it takes a bit to catch up. I'd stick with only buying a few fish at a time if I was you and also sticking to the 1 inch of fish per gallon of water rule. If you could measure the tank then you could figure out the exact gallons!

Also, with the size you say it is, I wouldn't put another angel in the tank. They get too large for your size tank!

Only put the worms in at feeding time, that way they won't die and foul up the water!

How many fish are left in the tank now?

Allie

It could be ammonia poisoning, but it also could be you add a new fish without quarantining them. Fish should be in a QT for 3 weeks to a month in case they are sick and pass stuff to the fish already in the tank.

Lucy

All good info everyone.
May I also suggest you get a test kit, not the strips, they're inaccurate. The API liquid kit is the one I use, it's very reliable.
If you can't get one there, consider ordering it on line.

Good luck with your tank and welcome to Fish Lore

Inxa

Hello,

Shayna - I haven't got any more fish in the tank other than 2 guppies.
The other smaller tank has fighter, but right now it looks to be dull as well.
And about to go. I am afraid another fish will pass away.


Now I am really worried.

I again checked some shops but no one has a tester / nothing to check the conditions.

My neighbour changes water in 5-6 days, entirely.

What can it beeeeeeee

One more thing I want to add. All the fish that were to die, lost their color, they became pale. As well today the fighter is looking pale. Some color change has happened. :S Even it's tummy is looks white and a bit blown.

The worms are kept in the basket. which I remove every 3 days, even when there are lot of worms alive. I get new ones and feed them.

I am very unhappy today.

Lucy

I'm really sorry about your fish.

Could you order one online? It would be really helpful to know what your readings are for ammonia nitrites and nitrates. Can your neighbor test your water?

Keeping food in the tank like this can cause water problems. Also excess food may cause them to over eat.
Just add what they can consume in a couple of minutes.

What temperature is your water?

Good luck, I hope you can get this straightened out.

ShaynaB

I agree with Lucy. Try and order your stuff online if nobody has it around. That seems like your best way of getting stuff at this point.

Inxa

Hi,

Lucy - The temperatures now have cooled down. Should be 22 C - 25 C. I will work on with the online purchase soon.

The fighter looks to be good in the other tank. I hope he survives.

I would like to add a point that the water here has a bit high on chlorine levels. Specially in the rains it really goes on higher levels. Can that be a reason.

I always do put in de cholriantor liquid a few drops in a bucket full of water, before adding it to the tank.

Thanks everyone for their replies. Let's hope the problem is solved soon.

ShaynaB

I'd get a couple of heaters to put into your tanks to keep the water temp stable as well as the other things you're going to order online.

If you put in enough water conditioner it should get rid of the chlorine in the water.