My fish are dieing!!!

I really hope someone can help me. My girlfriend and I have a 30 gallon freshwater aquarium. The tank has been running for a few months (it's through its cycle, a water test shows everything to be ok). We had a few each of zebra danios, rummy nose tetras, serpae tetras, white clouds, and these others, I forgot what they're called, but they look like neons only with an orange stripe, in the tank. About 2 weeks ago we added some neons, a couple more serpae tetras, two emperor tetras, a few more white clouds and a clown loach. All was fine. 2 days later, we added 3 pairs of guppies and a few ghost shrimp. Within 2 hours one guppy was already dead. The next day one of the emperor tetras was acting lethargic. Later on we noticed that one of its eyes looked cloudy and kind of puffed out. Still later it seemed as though its eye was gone and it was dead. The next morning the other emperor tetra was dead. This one appeared normal. We consulted the pet store and he said that another fish may be "picking on" other fish, stressing them causing them to die. This was 2 days ago.. Yesterday morning another guppy was dead. His tail was shredded and his eyes were missing. This morning a neon was dead. It looked normal, just slightly opaque and some of its color was missing. One of the Serpae tetras seemed to be a bit aggressive so we quarantined all the serpae tetras just to see what happens. Now, just a little while ago we noticed that a white cloud was dead. This one appears normal. What the heck is going on here?!?!?!?!?!?! The fish all seemed to act normal with the exception of the emperor tetras. Did we add too many fish too quick? Am I missing something??? Please help! Thanks in advance - Andy

 

you have put to many fish in the tank to quickly. You are supposed to put 1-2 in per week and it looks like you have went over that limit. If you get new fish make sure to put them in slowly so they can get use to eachother. also when u add fish make sure to leave them in the bag and let the bag sit over the water for at least 20 minutes. Well I hoped u like this advice ttyl

 

Seems like you may have ammonia poisoning. What are the actual readings for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates? Sounds like you have a lot of fish in that 30 of yours. How many of each type do you have? You do need to add fish slowly to a tank as too many at once will spike the ammonia levels and kill fish. Acclimating fish begins with leaving them in the closed bag, in the tank, for 20 minutes. Then adding no more than a cup of tank water every 20 minutes for at least an hour. Get us the info so we can help you out.

 

I agree with Dahly and Whatsafish7. Your tank is most likely overstocked and there's probably high nitrite or ammonia present. Even smallest amounts of ammonia and nitrite can kill your fish. Rises in ammonia or nitrite can be contributed to overstocking or not doing enough water changes. How often do you perform water changes and how much water do you change each time? Weekly water changes (at the rate of 10-25%) are necessary to keep the tank clean, combined with gravel vacs each time you change the water.

As you may have heard, there is a "general rule" of having 1 gallon of water for every 1 inch of fish, and even better is having 2 gallons of water per 1 inch of fish. However, that's all it is, a "general" rule. When buying fish, you have to take into account its adult size. Plus, not every fish is the same. For the tiny fish this rule may well apply, but not for larger and more massive fishes. The more massive the fish, the more they eat and the more waste they produce. All this also contributes to ammonia or nitrite spikes if the tank isn't cleaned regularly.

I would advise you to calculate whether or not your tank is overstocked. And if you can, post your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH levels. Do a water change with a gravel vac if you haven't done any lately.

As for the clown loach, I don't think a 30 gallon tank is large enough for it. Did you know that clown loaches grow up to 12 inches? (Although in captivity they probably don't grow as large.) I wonder what caused the guppy's tail to be shredded. Could it have been the loach? (I am actually asking if someone knows - because I have no experience with clown loaches.)

Lastly, as Whatsafish7 and Dahly said, it's important to slowly acclimate new fish to their new home. Otherwise, they may experience a temperature and a pH shock, which later may result in a disease or death. One thing to be added however. When floating the bag in your tank, turn the tank light off and take the the cover off. This is because the temperature near the tank's light is much higher and the bag may become overheated. Plus, the bright light in itself may be a shock to the fish.

 

yes everybody is right. Fish are delicate things. You should go out and buy the cycle so it can kill all the diseases in your tank and then all of your fish will be happy

 

Test the water give us the results. Give the types and amounts of fish. Don't add anything, chemicals, yet.

 

Good advice all around!!!
Don't think the clown loach shredded the guppys tail, but could it have caught it's tail on sharp decorations? Sometimes tetras are kind of nippy.
Post your parameters and lets go from there.
Carol

 

When adding fish to your tank do you net the fish out of the bag as not to put the aquarium store water in your water? You would hate to pick up an infection from the store water that can be avoided with this simple step. (Just thought of it because if your tests are normal and it all started with the guppy purchase). Good Luck.

 

You should go out and buy the cycle so it can kill all the diseases in your tank and then all of your fish will be happy

really not worth it, as I'm sure other members on here will agree...

Also, it doesn't kill any diseases at all...

 

the cycle kit is worth it. It helps a lot and that's what most members told me whem I was starting

 

Looks like we might be talking about 2 different products here...

 

Serpae Tetras are known to be mean, and no doubt they were the ones to shred up the Guppie's fins. The combo of adding too many fish at once and having incompatible fish (the Serpaes w/ the longer finned fish) was probably what did your fish in. Also, White Clouds need much cooler water than your other fish. Check all the remaining fish for signs of disease, such as: clamped fins, inactivity, white spots or tufts, fraying fins, bloated bellies, etc. Be sure to be doing frequent water changes. Posting Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate readings would help.

 

Bio-spira is the only cycling product that I know of that works. We still need those water parameters to be able to help you in any constructive way
Carol

 

the serpae tetras probaly did it mine nip at each other alll the time

 

if you added all of those fish without quarantining them its possible youve spread disease... maybe popeye or whatever its called considering one of your fishes eyes was bulging... I suggest raising the temperature if its at all possible and looking closely at there symptoms... also tell us your water parameters

 

I think he has left the building, lol

 

respond and show us your levels from your tank