Cardinal Tetras

[SupraRacer]

I have a 20 gallon tank with about 50 Cardinal Tetras. A lot of them seem to keep dieing on me. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions?

 

[tkos]

That seems to be way too many fish in a 20 gallon tank. Cardinals seem to be quite sensitive fish so I might guess that there are ammonia or nitrite problems.

Is this tank cycled? Do you know the parameters of your water - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, GH, KH.

Is it a planted tank?

 

[littlelouie]

Parameters would be helpful, also what are the symptoms of the dieing fish.

How long have you had the tank and the cardinals for?

Louise

 

[SupraRacer]

My tank has been cycle, no plans, Ph 7.0, 0 Ammonia, 0 no2,0no3, Kh 7. The 50 cardinals are the only fish in my tank. I have had fish in the tank for more than a year. What are some guidelines for keeping cardinals?

 

[shawmutt]

That's over 100 inches of fish in a 20 gallon tank. I understand they are schooling fish, but that is way too many fish for that tank. If you bought them at the same price as my lfs, that's also over $175 of livestock!. If there are no symptoms of obvious sickness, they are most likely dying from constant stress. I have not lost any of my cardinals since they were established in my tank, but I only have 9 in a 30 gallon. Most cardinals are caught in the wild, and fare better in their natural habitat--soft, acid water, dark substrate and background, low lighting, very little current. They also appreciate a lot of dark hiding places.