Worst Luck Ever?! Fish Keep Dieing

Hello again! So I posted a few days ago about losing four bettas in two days. So far, so good, no more losses.......of bettas. HOWEVER. My hubby bought me five neon tetras and a new betta for a different tank for my bday. The tank had just finished cycling and all was fine for three days until the neons came down with ich. Treated the tank, lost some neons and my cycle. (Ich absolutely came from the pet store. We went in for angels and looked at the neons to see if they had it at the store and they were covered. The 'fish specialist ' had no idea. Also couldn't tell the difference between male and female bettas. Grrr...) We bought three small angels and one rainbow shark for a different aquarium that day after being assured that the tanks were all on different filtration systems. Two days later, angel one died. Next day, angel two died and shark was fine. No marks or spots of any kind on the angels. Zero tranfer of ANY equipment from my tanks. Took everybody back today because maybe angels are just too...finicky?? 20 gal, 0 amm and nitrites, 10 nitrates, 80*f, ph 7.6. I use apI master kit. They used strips at the store today and told me my water is perfect. Head smack. Duh. Came home with another betta and 5 emerald cories. One hour after acclimating, I have an upside down cory breathing heavily. Even did a 50% wc before I brought the new fish home. What the WHAT is going on?!?! Have I been unlucky enough to get bad fish?? There are no breeders around me. Is it me? I can keep bettas and cichlids and oscars alive for years, but everything lately is dying?!?! Sorry for the novel, I'm just at my wits end and about to be done! Can you really have a run of bad luck with fish purchases????

 

Are the tanks at the store on separate filtration systems or are they all connected at the back? What are the store's parameters? How long has it been since the fish were shipped to the store? I would start by asking the store these questions.

 

They use strip tests. I'm soooo angry right now! It was a petco. I walk in and know more than they do and they treat me like dog poo!!!!! I know it's hit or miss with big box stores, but come on!!! How do I ask them these questions without them flipping out? I really wish someone in my area knew a little more! My lfs in town is all connected for sure. They at least work with me. (Over $100 worth of cichlids came down with ich from the store. Ug! They gave me meds and would'v worked with me if any died after the warranty period. ) The place today is over 30 minutes away and won't work with me. They were trying to sell me mollies and platys to go with my betta. Some of the platys were 'drop offs.' I'm assuming there was an issue and they were put right back in the tanks. My neons (that had ich and were treated but I thought I saw a spot again this morning) that survived and were returned were immediately put back in the tank. I almost cried!!!! How do I handle this?

 

Ask to speak to the manager and if that doesn't work call head office. Be calm. Be firm. Be polite. And don't back down

 

Thank you!!! I used to work in an office dealing with people. When we had our fourth child and daycare was more expensive than the mortgage, I resigned. For the past 7 years, I've been a work from home mom who talks to her birds, dogs, and fish. Lol!! I'm pretty upset over the last few days!!! I'm not a newbie at fish and am baffled by the lack of knowledge and where to go next! The best place around is about an hour and a half away. Should I call to see what they have to offer? I love my bettas, but shouldn't have such an issue with other fish species !

 

Oh yeah, it was the manager that dumped the ichy neons back in the tank and tried to sell me mollies to go with the betta!!! Aaaarg! And the cory just died. Should I even attempt to take him back???

 

Edit to title... *DYING. dumb phone.

 

The solution is to stop buying fish from Petco. They are all sick, because all Petcos get their fish from the same place, and the source fish are sick. I know this because I've purchased direct from the wholesalers where they get their fish and they all came with an assortment of diseases.

Empty your tanks. Sterilize them. And find a new fish store.

 

And for the record, bettas should generally not be in community tanks, and they really shouldn't be in community tanks with neons.

 

Where is a good place to purchase fish? I've always kept my bettas alone until hubby brought the neons home...on the advice of the sales person. Mr. Betta is alone again. Dividing tanks for bettas apparently isn't a good idea either. If this latest group doesn't make it, yeah, I'm finished. Seems like a lot of wasted time, money, and effort for something that should be rewarding! My other established tanks are doing great, but anxiety over cross contamination of equipment or something is too high.

 

A small tip is to generally not listen to salespeople. Their job is to sell you things, not to make sure you have a good experience. Most of them know very little about fish, as you've seen yourself.

Find an aquarium store that sells only fish, or fish and reptiles. Anything is better than a petco/petsmart, really. Their tanks are not well-kept and like I mentioned, the fish are often diseased.

You need to do research before you bring home fish. There is a wealth of knowledge on the internet, and even more in books. If you want to keep angelfish long-term, you're going to need something significantly larger than a 20 gallon. Neons need much cooler temps than bettas, and are also not generally the healthiest fish due to inbreeding.

 

The plan was to put angels in the cycled 20gal in our son's room while our 55 was cycling. Nope. Not now. They told me today that they had a hard time keeping angels alive in the tanks at the store. (Is this reeeally something they should tell people?!?!?!) I'm not doing angels and I'm not setting up a bigger tank, and will probably be taking the cories back tomorrow. I've had bettas for years and have just never had problems until just this past week. Really wish there was a reputable place close to us!!!

 

Check to see if there are any clubs in your area, they can be a great source of firsthand face to face knowledge and also a good way to find some well cared for heathy stock.

 

look for smaller local businesses, that are fish stores.
my lfs is great. They quarantine all their fish before selling and are rarely sick. And if there is something wrong they tell you straight up.
when you buy fish look for different clues in the store. Do they quarantine. Do they clean their tanks. Do they even care for the fish. The condition of the fish. Knowledge of employees. you gotta just be aware of things. places like Petco and imo PetSmart are awful places to buy fish or really any animal. Employees just don't seem to have any clue what they're doing. they're big box stores. And just want your money. find a local small business and buy your fish there. It will be beneficial to you and the fish.

 

Thank you everyone! I'll ask around and see what's out there that's not big box. My options are limited, but it's been an awful week watching these guys die and nobody (in person anyways) can help!! This group here has been wonderful!