There is a five gallon fish tank in the lounge in Lakeland's science building, its been there since September. I see it everyday on the way to class. In this tank are a juvinile yellow lab, a convict cichlid, and a juvinile bolivian ram. I never see signs of the tank being maintained or the fish being fed, but they must at least be fed. The water is yellow and smells of ammonia. There must be high nitrites because brown algae is starting to form on the plants and airhose. The fish still look ok, they are naturally more reclusive I think since they are juvy cichlids. The convict is bold and doesn't hide when you put your hand by the glass. The tank top, where the air tube goes in, is covered in mineral deposits. I've had tanks on campus, using campus water, for three years and never saw signs of mineral deposits on any part of my tanks. I'm also concerned of a fire hazard as the pump is on the floor and its obvious that water comes up the tube, and the air pump is sitting next to the outlet, so if water comes down....
Anyway, I'm to a point where I'm thinking of liberating the fish and taking them. We have problems with equipment theft, but I work security so I know where the cameras are. I can't talk to the professor that owns the tank because I don't know any of the professors in science and when they are in their offices they have students meeting with them. So I'm thinking of leaving a note. I need opinions. Something like "To whom it may concern... the water parameters of this tank, nitrites ammonia and such, are at unhealthy levels for the fish occupants. I advise doing partial water changes to reduce harmful chemicals. It would be a shame to watch such fish die of asphyxiation or severe chemical burns. I am also concerned about the air pump being a fire hazard, it should be moved to a flat surface above the water level."
I can't think af anything else right now. And no I can't leave this alone. Even though they are just fish I can't watch them slowly die and do nothing. I'd feel responsible because I didn't at least try to educate the caretaker about keeping the fish alive.
Anyway, I'm to a point where I'm thinking of liberating the fish and taking them. We have problems with equipment theft, but I work security so I know where the cameras are. I can't talk to the professor that owns the tank because I don't know any of the professors in science and when they are in their offices they have students meeting with them. So I'm thinking of leaving a note. I need opinions. Something like "To whom it may concern... the water parameters of this tank, nitrites ammonia and such, are at unhealthy levels for the fish occupants. I advise doing partial water changes to reduce harmful chemicals. It would be a shame to watch such fish die of asphyxiation or severe chemical burns. I am also concerned about the air pump being a fire hazard, it should be moved to a flat surface above the water level."
I can't think af anything else right now. And no I can't leave this alone. Even though they are just fish I can't watch them slowly die and do nothing. I'd feel responsible because I didn't at least try to educate the caretaker about keeping the fish alive.