Parent Problems

I recently got a 10 gallon. After giving it to me, my parents immediately got me a common place, zebra danio, and 3 shrimp. After a few days the shrimp and the place all died (probably because I have no way of testing water quality and my parents say "its not necessary.") what can I do in this situation??

 

Are you familiar with the nitrogen cycle?

 

I recently got a 10 gallon. After giving it to me, my parents immediately got me a common place, zebra danio, and 3 shrimp. After a few days the shrimp and the place all died (probably because I have no way of testing water quality and my parents say "its not necessary.") what can I do in this situation??

Try and convince them to get a water testing kit or buy one yourself? Having a testing kit will eliminate a lot of guesswork when trying to find out what's responsible for any fish death. Its cheaper to fork out money once for one kit than to spend it on multiple replacement fish (money angle always works with my parents)

 

Maybe show them an article or video about the nitrogen cycle? If nothing else let them know most pet stores will test water for free.

I know they may say "we always just threw fish in a tank and they lived for X amount of years", I hear it all the time. People think just because they've done something longer than you that their way is the right way. I've talked to many seasoned fishkeepers who had no idea what cycling was, people who had been fishkeeping for 20, 30, maybe 40 years.

Of course, be courteous and respectful, they are still your parents. I got flak from my folks for doing heavily planted tanks and for doing weekly water changes because "that's not how they did it".

 

Okay, here's the thing. You really don't NEED a test kit. What you DO need is water changes. Like 50% daily for a few days. Then maybe 50% every few days for a few weeks, then 50% once a week while the tank is up and running. Truth be told, having a test kit is not 100% necessary if you're willing to just do water changes and NOT overstock your tank.

Which brings me to your next issue: Dont put a pleco in the tank again. A 100 gallon tank isn't big enough for a common pleco, let alone a 10 gallon. They get 2 FEET long and have a HUGE bioload. Even while its a baby, its dumping (no pun intended) TONS of ammonia into the tank. It and the shrimp probably died from ammonia poisoning.

What you probably do need to do is get Prime, treat your water and start doing water changes. Doing water changes is the best way to keep your fish healthy. Next thing, don't overstock it with inappropriate fish. Lots of options for a 10 gallon, a common pleco isn't one of them.

 

Back when I started out in this hobby there where no test kits available, we learned thru trail and error. The town I lived in didn't even have a LFS, we got everything from KMart back then.

 

I agree with duane as long as you keep up your water changes and watch your stocking you don't need a test kit. Theres a few threads about stocking a 10 gallon have a read and then think about what you want to get don't add any fish until you decide what you want to get.

 

10 gal for a common pleco? No way! Way way way way tooooo smalllll. You got the point.

 

Okay, here's the thing. You really don't NEED a test kit. What you DO need is water changes. Like 50% daily for a few days. Then maybe 50% every few days for a few weeks, then 50% once a week while the tank is up and running. Truth be told, having a test kit is not 100% necessary if you're willing to just do water changes and NOT overstock your tank.

Which brings me to your next issue: Dont put a pleco in the tank again. A 100 gallon tank isn't big enough for a common pleco, let alone a 10 gallon. They get 2 FEET long and have a HUGE bioload. Even while its a baby, its dumping (no pun intended) TONS of ammonia into the tank. It and the shrimp probably died from ammonia poisoning.

What you probably do need to do is get Prime, treat your water and start doing water changes. Doing water changes is the best way to keep your fish healthy. Next thing, don't overstock it with inappropriate fish. Lots of options for a 10 gallon, a common pleco isn't one of them.

1st the pleco died with the shrimp + it was never my intention to get any of these fish. 2nd school just started and I have barely anytime

 

I'd explain to your parents that it is a lot to deal with, and you'll need more resources (i.e. to sort out the nitrogen cycle) if you actually want the fish to survive. As others have said, explain the nitrogen cycle to them, show them a video or something. It'll help them understand that in fact it is necessary if you want your fish to actually do well.

Fish don't actually need that much attention, besides feeding and a weekly water change + clean once the tank is set up. The majority of the work is when you first get your tank. Hopefully if you get it sorted, it shouldn't be too much of a stress on you or your parents.

 

1st the pleco died with the shrimp + it was never my intention to get any of these fish. 2nd school just started and I have barely anytime

I understand the pleco died with the shrimp, that's why I said it and the shrimp probably died from ammonia poisoning. If you didnt want the fish and don't have the time, let your parents know. Talk to them. The pet shop will take the danios you still have if you don't want them. No pet shop wants the animals they sell to be mistreated and die. That's what you do in this situation.

 

The ONLY exception for why a common pleco is in a 10 gallon is if you need a place to put it because the tank it was in cracked and the water was leaking out. I had that happen to me once and I put my 14" common pleco in a 10 gallon for a few hours. I did get a new and bigger tank for which my pleco is growing bigger and is very happy.