Hillbillyfish
Aquarium Advice Newbie
Hello to all!!
I am such a "rookie" when it comes to fish! I had a couple of goldfish as a kid (carnival fish). They didn't last long so I just kind of gave up on them. My youngest son's grandmother got him a goldfish last year. We had him in a 1g tank. We also added two more goldfish in with him, unfortunately the new additions did not survive long. About a month ago I upgraded to a Aqua Culture 10g. I got small gravel for the bottom and bought some plastic plants for decor. I also added a really cool plastic helicopter (for aquariums) that we placed in the middle. Everything seemed fine so I went and got two more goldfish. Both were small sized black moore fancy tails (1-2" each). After about a month we noticed the water was becoming cloudy so we changed it. I did not know until after we changed the water and the smaller two fish died that I took out too much water...lesson learned. We did not know that taking out too much water was possible until we went to the local fish store (thats been around for almost 25yrs) and we told them what had happened. So we bought two more goldfish, one just a simple goldfish and the other a black moore fancy tail, both were 1-2" in size. We brought them home, let the bags float, added some of our tank water to them and then put them in. Meanwhile the larger goldfish seemed to be ok. About 3-4 days later the smaller new fish both died. I called the fish store and they asked me to bring in some of the water so they could test it. Come to find out my Nitrite level was 5.0. Again I'm sorry I'm learning this as I go, who knew fish were so much work? They told us to do a 50% water change, and also sold me a gravel vac along with a complete Freshwater Master Test Kit so that I could make sure all my parameters were in line. About a week went by and everything seemed to be ok so I went back and bout a med size black moore fancy tail (i think they look really neat). Two days later our original goldfish got some black spots on him. My wife said she read online that it was brusing from being moved and he would be ok. Well, he died and now my black moore has contracted a white fungus all over his body. I went back to the fish store told them what was going on, even showed pics. They gave me an antibiotic called Maracyn by Mardel. They told me to treat him for 5 days then do a 50% water change on the sixth day. Well today is the fifth day and he still looks awful. He doesn't really move, he just lays on the bottom.
At this point I'm not sure what the heck to do. I do know that through lots of research and the posts on this site I am learning alot!! My question to the community is this: With having this 10g tank and a half dead goldfish on my hands, should I find another hobby or is there easier fish to care for? I drive a truck for a living and am only home a couple days a week but my wife and kids are here. So if I can learn what to do, I can teach them what to do while I'm gone. Neither my wife or myself are as knowledgeable about fish as some of you are. I am up for any and all advice. As sad as this may sound I have spent quite a bit of money in the last month on new fish and meds to just give up now.
Thank you all for your time and support!!!
I am such a "rookie" when it comes to fish! I had a couple of goldfish as a kid (carnival fish). They didn't last long so I just kind of gave up on them. My youngest son's grandmother got him a goldfish last year. We had him in a 1g tank. We also added two more goldfish in with him, unfortunately the new additions did not survive long. About a month ago I upgraded to a Aqua Culture 10g. I got small gravel for the bottom and bought some plastic plants for decor. I also added a really cool plastic helicopter (for aquariums) that we placed in the middle. Everything seemed fine so I went and got two more goldfish. Both were small sized black moore fancy tails (1-2" each). After about a month we noticed the water was becoming cloudy so we changed it. I did not know until after we changed the water and the smaller two fish died that I took out too much water...lesson learned. We did not know that taking out too much water was possible until we went to the local fish store (thats been around for almost 25yrs) and we told them what had happened. So we bought two more goldfish, one just a simple goldfish and the other a black moore fancy tail, both were 1-2" in size. We brought them home, let the bags float, added some of our tank water to them and then put them in. Meanwhile the larger goldfish seemed to be ok. About 3-4 days later the smaller new fish both died. I called the fish store and they asked me to bring in some of the water so they could test it. Come to find out my Nitrite level was 5.0. Again I'm sorry I'm learning this as I go, who knew fish were so much work? They told us to do a 50% water change, and also sold me a gravel vac along with a complete Freshwater Master Test Kit so that I could make sure all my parameters were in line. About a week went by and everything seemed to be ok so I went back and bout a med size black moore fancy tail (i think they look really neat). Two days later our original goldfish got some black spots on him. My wife said she read online that it was brusing from being moved and he would be ok. Well, he died and now my black moore has contracted a white fungus all over his body. I went back to the fish store told them what was going on, even showed pics. They gave me an antibiotic called Maracyn by Mardel. They told me to treat him for 5 days then do a 50% water change on the sixth day. Well today is the fifth day and he still looks awful. He doesn't really move, he just lays on the bottom.
At this point I'm not sure what the heck to do. I do know that through lots of research and the posts on this site I am learning alot!! My question to the community is this: With having this 10g tank and a half dead goldfish on my hands, should I find another hobby or is there easier fish to care for? I drive a truck for a living and am only home a couple days a week but my wife and kids are here. So if I can learn what to do, I can teach them what to do while I'm gone. Neither my wife or myself are as knowledgeable about fish as some of you are. I am up for any and all advice. As sad as this may sound I have spent quite a bit of money in the last month on new fish and meds to just give up now.
Thank you all for your time and support!!!
