AboutBenty Expertise GOT A QUESTION ABOUT:
Basic needs for specific fish, illnesses, best tankmates, breeding, water chemistry, tricks to safely cut corners, and/or “stupid” questions? Maybe I can help! :)
I like to explain why you do things in aquariums (like why to use spring instead of distilled, or what pH numbers mean, ect.) so you understand why and not just taking someone’s word for it. I also like giving answers where you have two choices so you can choose which is best for the time and money you can commit to your fish. I understand how tight money can be and how expensive fish related things get.
I will NEVER leave you with an “I don’t know.” Ever. I hate that. That would waste your time and that's just mean. :)
Puedo contestar tus preguntas en español también.
Experience I have had tropical fish since 1999. I currently have: a 55gal, ten 10gal, 3 five gallons, three 2gal, and a bunch of jars and bowls. At the time I'm typing this, I have: 14 angels, 13 goldfish, 73 bettas, 12 barbs, 5 catfish, too many guppies, 4 gouramis, 2 plecos, 10 loaches, bunch of swordtails, and probably a few others, lol.
I love to rescue fish. I've had everything from mutant danios, to one eyed goldfish, to my newest adoptee, a 2 year old betta with a MASSIVE tumor problem. He was brought to a pet shop and left there because the lady didn't know what to do with him. He's pretty scary looking. One of the guys at the store there I know let me have him. :D YAY! Elephant Man lives in a gallon bowl with pretty stones in my bathroom.
Plus!!!
I sell: veil, delta, halfmoon, plakat, and crowntail bettas as well as halfblack and blonde tuxedo fancy guppies. Ask me about it sometime.
Question I HAVE HAD MY TEN GALLON TANK FOR A WEEK AND A HALF. MY FISH ARE DYING
OFF. I HAVE LIKE 6 SMALL GOLD FISH. 3 OF THEM ARE BLACK MOORS. I HAVE
DONE TWO 25 PERCENT CHANGES SINC EI HAVE HAD THAT TANK. I FEED THEM
ONCE AT NGIHT ONE IN THE MORNING.I ALSO HAVE AN ALGEA EATER- SUCKER FISH
IN THERE. THE LAST TWO DAYS I HAVE DROPPED ONE AMONIA FREE TABLETS IN
THERE PER DAY. I ALSO TOOK THE PLANTS OUT RINSED THEM OFF. I USE
CHLOR-OUT TO GET MY TAP WATER HEALTHY. TODAY ONE OF MY GOLDFISH HAVE DIED, AND
YESTERDAY ONE HAD TOO. THEY LOOK LIKE THEY ARE GETTING WHITE MOSS
GROWING ON THE BLACK MOORS. SOME DAYS THEY JUST LAY ON THE ROCKS ON THE
BOTTOM OF THE TANK. AND OTHER DAYS THEY WILL SWIM AROUND. I FEEL BAD FOR
THEM CAUSE I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THAT I KNOW TO DO. WHAT IS WRONG WITH
THEM? HOW CAN I HELP THEM?"
the tank temp is 75 degrees. i changed the water yesterday 25 percent. 10 gallons is the tank dontknow the ph level. http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i134/ashleymuhs/SANY0649.jpg
Answer Hey Ashley,
Well first, goldfish are messy fish that get big. I mean comet and common goldfish get up to 18 inches. That's over a foot! That's almost as long as your ten gallon itself. Moors get large too. You will have to upgrade to a bigger tank eventually.
Algae eaters are only needed for mature tanks. That means tanks that are months old and having algae grow on everything. Tons of algae eaters starve all the time in people's tanks because people don't understand that. They get one when they get a tank. That's what I did with my tank. Everyone does it because no one tells anyone that's not the smartest idea. There are algae wafers and stuff for algae eaters to eat at pet shops. You will have to get him something to eat or he'll starve. They aren't that expensive at all though. You just throw a wafer or whatever the food is in there for him. They like lettuce too but that gets kinda messy.
So about your fish dying, make sure they have no white dots on them. That's ick. The easiest to see it is on the tail. Goldfish are notorious for getting ick. If they don't have any dots then you're good on that end.
Now since it is a new tank, there is not a colony of "good" bacteria yet. This is called "new tank syndrome." This bacteria is called Nitrifying. What this bacteria does is take the deadly ammonia and turn it into nitrites. Nitrites are not as deadly as ammonia but can still kill fish. When the nitrite mixes with an oxygen molecule, it becomes a nitrate (with an A). Nitrates are ok for fish as long as they don't get way high but with water changes they won't.
Since you are changing your water a lot you're taking care of the ammonia to a degree. You should get a test kit to see what it is. Or at least take it into a pet shop and have them test it. That way you know if that is killing them.
Also, what kind of pump do you have on it? Is it on high? Goldfish need a lot of air. If they don't have a lot they kinda mope and can get sick very easily. Turn the filter on high if it isn't already and see how that works.
About the moors with the stuff on them. It sounds and looks like Columnaris. Columnaris is commonly mistaken for a fungal problem, it is NOT a fungus, it is caused by Flexibacter bacteria. It’s extremely contagious and deadly. Very common too. Columnaris is a gram-negative rod bacterium, and should be treated with an antibiotic that is effective against gram-negative bacteria or a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Kanacyn (Kanamycin sulfate), Spectrogram (Kanamycin sulfate and Nitrofurazone), Tetracycline, or Furan 2 (Nitrofurazone) are all good choices.
Cut back on feeding too. Feed once a day every other day only what they can eat in about 2 mintues completely until everything clears up. Fish can go a LONG time between meals so it’s ok. Overfeeding is a big cause of death because the water gets fouled by the excess poop. All the food you put in there will be come poop. Less you put in, the less poop you have to take out.
Do one more water change before you start the medicine. Change about 30-40% of the water. Get it tested after to see how your ammonia level is.
