When you find a dead fish in your tank...

[Ponch]

How big of a water change should you do - 50%... 100%?

Does it depend on how long you think the dead fish has been in there (ie longer dead in the tank bigger the PWC)?

Does a dead fish secrete ammonia? If so shouldnt the bio filter take care of that? (ie is the PWC even necessary )

Thanks.

 

[Niki]

I do 50% pwc two days in a row, unless I see it necessary to continue longer...I think it would also depend on cause of death...

 

[Convict2161]

If it died due to an attack or stress for other fish and just got weak I just do a 50% I also test water. Like the other poster stated I I think it was a sickness I'll do more.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

It really depends what it died of. A water change is always a good idea 'just in case'. Doing a test to check your parameters is a good idea to rule out high levels. Check the fish for signs of disease and checking your other fish as well. Sometimes they just die for no obvious reason.

 

[jetajockey]

I agree, it depends on what caused the death. A dead fish in the tank will put off some ammonia as it breaks down but it's probably not enough to crash a tank or anything unless it's a big fish or a small volume of water.

 

[Ponch]

So depending on cause of death it may make sense to do more

In my case today i found a neon wedged between my angels plus sponge and the side of my tank. That sponge is practically glued to side of tank with the in/outside magnets. Think be ran in there after being startled and just could not get out and I found him too late. Now the neon school only has 5 the really crazy thing is that I found 2 more wedged In there as well today... But I freed them within a few seconds. The filter is now sitting in the center of the tank needless to say as these neons are proving to frighten very easily.

 

[bruinsbro1997]

What is your levels of ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates? How big is the tank? Neons have small bioloads, they won't make much of a dent in the ammonia.

If everything checks out, I suspect the angels have hit puberty. They're starting to show their adult aggressiveness and are herding neons, stressing them out and killing them.

 

[Ponch]

What is your levels of ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates? How big is the tank? Neons have small bioloads, they won't make much of a dent in the ammonia.

If everything checks out, I suspect the angels have hit puberty. They're starting to show their adult aggressiveness and are herding neons, stressing them out and killing them.

Woops let me clarify.... I don't have angel fish, but rather an angelsPlus sponge filter...and the neons got stuck in between it and the tank wall. Sucks to lose one but issue solved now as I put the sponge filter in the middle of the tank with no magnet - its a bit unsightly but at least it can't hurt anyone .

Current tank is 5 gallons but just bought a 26g today which I'm now setting up for a fish xfer after it cycles.