Minnows Suddenly Dying

I bought four minnows. they looked healthy in the tank, there were very few dead in a tank of at least 50. one had a broken spine and died shortly after I got home. the lady handled them roughly so I think the injury was from that. another one was hyperventilating and floating at the top. I expected that one to die. the other two seemed just fine, they were swimming around and even looking for and nibbling on a pond fish pellet. I cleaned the container thoroughly, it had nothing in it but water from their bag and about a third of it room temp from the tap. the same water my snails do just fine in. I was getting them used to the water in that. I left the room for barely a half hour. came back in and all of them were dead. not three hours after I brought them home. and the container was new, it was one of those plastic ones you keep them in for temporary/travel. is there anything I could have done differently? could it have been stress or injury?

 

It could've been a silent killer, maybe severe ich and the colour blended into the ich? If she handled them roughly then there's your answer.

 

shame, they were the cutest little things thanks though, I'll just see if I have better luck with minnows from somewhere else, if I can find any

 

Ok I’m confused.

When you say “very few dead..” do you mean to say you bought fish from a tank with dead fish in it?

When you say handled them roughly, how do you mean?

What container did you use? What was in it before?

Did you use water conditioner?

For future reference minnows like to be in groups six or more, just having four to start with would have been stressful for them but going down to two would have been VERY stressful for them. I’ve heard of fish instantly dying from stress.

But in reality if you’re buying fish from a place with dead fish in their tanks you can’t expect the fish to be healthy and non effected by the huge ammonia spikes dead bodies in tanks give off.

Can you not get them from somewhere else?

 

Ok I’m confused.

When you say “very few dead..” do you mean to say you bought fish from a tank with dead fish in it?

When you say handled them roughly, how do you mean?

What container did you use? What was in it before?

Did you use water conditioner?

For future reference minnows like to be in groups six or more, just having four to start with would have been stressful for them but going down to two would have been VERY stressful for them. I’ve heard of fish instantly dying from stress.

But in reality if you’re buying fish from a place with dead fish in their tanks you can’t expect the fish to be healthy and non effected by the huge ammonia spikes dead bodies in tanks give off.

Can you not get them from somewhere else?

I thought minnows were super hardy lol. Also make sure there is enough O2 in the water

 

Just because they’re “hardy” doesn’t mean we should abuse them.

 

Just because they’re “hardy” doesn’t mean we should abuse them.

I’m still confused. Did snailyfriends use water conditioner? I’ve bought fish from Petco because they had a problem and fish were dying. I bought all the living ones they had on that one filter system. Ten cents ea. Lost over half. But at least saved many. Only buy sick fish if you know you’re going to try to help them. Yeah. I’m still confused.

 

I’m still confused. Did snailyfriends use water conditioner? I’ve bought fish from Petco because they had a problem and fish were dying. I bought all the living ones they had on that one filter system. Ten cents ea. Lost over half. But at least saved many. Only buy sick fish if you know you’re going to try to help them. Yeah. I’m still confused.

Yeah I’m confused too.

I personally wouldn’t buy any fish where I saw others dead in the tank/s. Obviously something is killing them and it’s highly likely that whatever it is the live fish are suffering from it too. Or at least suffering the ill effects of decomposition in the water.

 

Yeah I’m confused too.

I personally wouldn’t buy any fish where I saw others dead in the tank/s. Obviously something is killing them and it’s highly likely that whatever it is the live fish are suffering from it too. Or at least suffering the ill effects of decomposition in the water.

Exactly. I just couldn’t leave knowing they would all die horribly. Columnaris. And never pick out a favorite cause that’s going to be a dead one. I’ve still got the ones I saved except Big Momma guppy. She was old when I got her. Had her for over eighteen months I think.

Why aren’t we getting responses too? Hmmm.

 

Exactly. I just couldn’t leave knowing they would all die horribly. Columnaris. And never pick out a favorite cause that’s going to be a dead one. I’ve still got the ones I saved except Big Momma guppy. She was old when I got her. Had her for over eighteen months I think.

Why aren’t we getting responses too? Hmmm.

It’s bothering me if the OP used water conditioner or not. That added to all the stress and maybe weakness due to bad conditions at the shop could have killed them maybe? Plus we don’t know what was in the container before hand.

 

It’s bothering me if the OP used water conditioner or not. That added to all the stress and maybe weakness due to bad conditions at the shop could have killed them maybe? Plus we don’t know what was in the container before hand.

And looks like we may not find out. Maybe it’s hard to respond from somewhere. At least we’re on the same page.

 

And looks like we may not find out. Maybe it’s hard to respond from somewhere. At least we’re on the same page.

Poor minnows though. I love minnows. They’re so underrated in my opinion don’t you think?

 

Poor minnows though. I love minnows. They’re so underrated in my opinion don’t you think?

Oh my yes! I have five of the nine I rescued from Petco. Gold WCMM. I love them. I’m getting my forty long ready so I can move them and get a few buddies. They’re awesome vibrant fish. I couldn’t do without them!

 

My theory is they were suffering from ammonia poisoning which caused inflammation of the gills. Then, when she introduced them to unconditioned water, the chlorine caused further inflammation resulting in asphyxiation.

 

My theory is they were suffering from ammonia poisoning which caused inflammation of the gills. Then, when she introduced them to unconditioned water, the chlorine caused further inflammation resulting in asphyxiation.

Definitely sounds plausible.

 

every store here, pet centered or not, has dead fish in the tanks because no one here cares about fish I guess. that one had three in it. when the woman put them into the bag, she was very rough with the net. tapping the net on the glass hard with fish still inside and coming out. the container had nothing in it before. and for water conditioner: completely my fault, it escaped my mind to even get some, I was so focused on getting medicine. I'll remember to get some next time. I need snail safe. please be patient, i've had a busy day. thank you.

 

every store here, pet centered or not, has dead fish in the tanks because no one here cares about fish I guess. that one had three in it. when the woman put them into the bag, she was very rough with the net. tapping the net on the glass hard with fish still inside and coming out. the container had nothing in it before. and for water conditioner: completely my fault, it escaped my mind to even get some, I was so focused on getting medicine. I'll remember to get some next time. I need snail safe. please be patient, i've had a busy day. thank you.

We understand busy. Trust me, we know busy.
When you get the water conditioner please get Prime. When you washed the container did you use soap? If so it takes a lot of rinsing to remove ant trace of soap. You’re the customer purchasing live fish. If you don’t like how they’re handled, please speak up. Every critter under their care should be treated better than what you described.
Your tank will need a filter and heater. Depending on what your tap water is treated with decides how long your fish can survive in it. Like mine, I ran the water into a glass and the chlorine was so high my eyes watered. Always use a good water conditioner.
Now that we know how busy you are, we’ll just keep checking for your posts. Please forgive us if we sounded impatient. It was more wanting to help and feeling helpless because you were unable to respond. We’re here for you.

 

I don't use any human soap for pets or their things. it has a filter, the room gets hot so no tank heater, if it's always about 70-80f I don't know if I would really need one, but if I do just tell me. I know I will definitely need one when it gets colder though. anyway, the snails are fine without treatment but I'll start testing some of that prime without fish first to see how it does. and if I find that pet shop on a site I can rate it with then I'll tell them to treat their fish better. I didn't think it would make much of a difference since it's a chain shop. and sometimes I just have a busy day here and there. thank you soooooooooooo very much for this help, my eyes are watering from how happy I am!!!!!

 

I don't use any human soap for pets or their things. it has a filter, the room gets hot so no tank heater, if it's always about 70-80f I don't know if I would really need one, but if I do just tell me. I know I will definitely need one when it gets colder though. anyway, the snails are fine without treatment but I'll start testing some of that prime without fish first to see how it does. and if I find that pet shop on a site I can rate it with then I'll tell them to treat their fish better. I didn't think it would make much of a difference since it's a chain shop. and sometimes I just have a busy day here and there. thank you soooooooooooo very much for this help, my eyes are watering from how happy I am!!!!!

Snails produce a lot of ammonia through their waste so the prime will help there as well. With fish it’s best to keep their tank water as even as possible so a heater is needed. And there are fish that do better in cooler water and some that need warm water. Just keep that in mind when you pick your fish. And we’re always here. If you have questions, ask.

 

oh I know about the snail ammonia, maybe it will also save my back from having to gravel vacuum so much too. okay so, the next two things to get are a heater and some prime. got it. thank you again

 

oh I know about the snail ammonia, maybe it will also save my back from having to gravel vacuum so much too. okay so, the next two things to get are a heater and some prime. got it. thank you again

And a thermometer if you don’t have one. Can you post a pic of your tank? We love pics.

 

this is their tank

 

this is their tank

Hubby says it’s very cute. He says I’d love the style.

 

I also think that I will wait to try fish again after my sick snail heals. he's got me all stressed out, I think he's starting to get better though. when i'm stressed I get a little bit impulsive. I have a clear plan now. wait for him to heal, treat the water, then try fish. unfortunately all I can do about shops having dead fish is give them a review, which I did, I hope they see it. not just that shop but a few others in this area. thanks so much for your help, I really do appreciate it.

and thank you. I might get them another thing to climb on too. they don't use the cave very much anymore. I think they got bored with it

 

I also think that I will wait to try fish again after my sick snail heals. he's got me all stressed out, I think he's starting to get better though. when i'm stressed I get a little bit impulsive. I have a clear plan now. wait for him to heal, treat the water, then try fish. unfortunately all I can do about shops having dead fish is give them a review, which I did, I hope they see it. not just that shop but a few others in this area. thanks so much for your help, I really do appreciate it.

Anytime. Honest. And going slow is a good thing. If you have any questions just ask. Take care.

and thank you. I might get them another thing to climb on too. they don't use the cave very much anymore. I think they got bored with it

Makes me want to get a big snail!

 

what type of minnows where they?

 

their label didn't give an exact type, it just said minnows. they looked like rosy reds