I have a 20 gallon high tank.Last week, I HAD 2 small mollies, 3 small swordtails, 6 neons, 2 small danios, and about 10 guppies. I also have a 4 inch long pleco. I have had this fish tank for 7 years. I recently had just a pair of convicts in it with the pleco. The big male died one day (about 3 weeks ago)- his stomach was very swollen and it seemed to happen overnight. the female had a few scratches on her side. I gave the female convict away and restocked my tank with all of the above fish (5 days ago).
In the last five days, here's what happened. Overnight, the male swordtail died. he was never active from the beginning- he just sat on the gravel. Then, two guppies died that day. Over the next few days, the fish were active and healthy. I even had lots of tiny baby guppies swimming around. After the 3 fish died, I had my water tested at the pet store- No ammonia, no nitrates, neutral ph, high levels of good bacteria.
i did a 2 1/2 gallon water change one day and another 2 1/2 gallons the next day. i changed the carbon in the filter(and rinsed it first), and i rinsed the foam sponge part in a bucket of fish tank water (to preserve good bacteria). I am using an Aquaclear 200 for filtration. i also added freshwater aquarium salt as directed on the package (it said guppies thrive on it) and i used "Stress Coat" to dechlorinate the water. The water i added was 78 degrees, just like the water in the tank. i also added some sodium phosphate to lower the ph and a tiny bit of sodium bicarbonate to raise it to a perfect neutral. Today, i found a dead guppy (one of the new ones) and a dead female swordtail. Also, one of my neons is gone. He must have died too, and gotten eaten or sucked up by the filter. i don't see any babies in there anymore. the remaining fish are swimming around normally, eating normally, etc. they look 100% healthy.
I have NEVER had a problem like this in 7 years. these fish that are dying look and act 100% healthy and normal until all of a sudden, they're dead. They don't have any bite wounds or scratches. They aren't bloated...no ick... I have not added any decorations to the tank.
I have not used any cleaning solutions around the tank, and i don't stick my hands in the water unless i know they are free of lotion, etc. My algae eater has been in this tank for 6 months and he's fine. Some of the guppies in this tank have been in there for 3 months-they were feeders that the convicts never ate. Thay are fine too. What's going on?
Do algae eaters kill fish?
Is the disease or affliction that killed my male convict killing these fish- and if so, why would all of these guppies and pleco be fine, and why would they be breeding?
Did i just buy a bunch of sick fish?
please give me some insight!
In the last five days, here's what happened. Overnight, the male swordtail died. he was never active from the beginning- he just sat on the gravel. Then, two guppies died that day. Over the next few days, the fish were active and healthy. I even had lots of tiny baby guppies swimming around. After the 3 fish died, I had my water tested at the pet store- No ammonia, no nitrates, neutral ph, high levels of good bacteria.
i did a 2 1/2 gallon water change one day and another 2 1/2 gallons the next day. i changed the carbon in the filter(and rinsed it first), and i rinsed the foam sponge part in a bucket of fish tank water (to preserve good bacteria). I am using an Aquaclear 200 for filtration. i also added freshwater aquarium salt as directed on the package (it said guppies thrive on it) and i used "Stress Coat" to dechlorinate the water. The water i added was 78 degrees, just like the water in the tank. i also added some sodium phosphate to lower the ph and a tiny bit of sodium bicarbonate to raise it to a perfect neutral. Today, i found a dead guppy (one of the new ones) and a dead female swordtail. Also, one of my neons is gone. He must have died too, and gotten eaten or sucked up by the filter. i don't see any babies in there anymore. the remaining fish are swimming around normally, eating normally, etc. they look 100% healthy.
I have NEVER had a problem like this in 7 years. these fish that are dying look and act 100% healthy and normal until all of a sudden, they're dead. They don't have any bite wounds or scratches. They aren't bloated...no ick... I have not added any decorations to the tank.
I have not used any cleaning solutions around the tank, and i don't stick my hands in the water unless i know they are free of lotion, etc. My algae eater has been in this tank for 6 months and he's fine. Some of the guppies in this tank have been in there for 3 months-they were feeders that the convicts never ate. Thay are fine too. What's going on?
Do algae eaters kill fish?
Is the disease or affliction that killed my male convict killing these fish- and if so, why would all of these guppies and pleco be fine, and why would they be breeding?
Did i just buy a bunch of sick fish?
please give me some insight!