Hi. This is a rather desperate plea for help. I have had a 20 gal tank for several years now. Fish have come and gone, and I didn’t look after it the way I should have. Recently I decided to make a serious go of looking after my tank. I have had 6 cardinals that have been with me for most of those 2 years, through good, bad, and a move. However, they have always remained hidden among the plastic plants, only ever coming out to feed.
I spoke to many people at different pet shops, and did some research on-line to try and determine what I needed to do to get the cardinals to come out. I had given the cardinals plenty of hiding spaces in the hopes that they would feel secure enough to come out into the open. That didn’t work.
I then converted to live plants hoping that would make them feel more comfortable. Still they hid. I then moved out all other fish (some white-tip tetras) and put in a few more cardinals. That did nothing, and the new cardinals died about a week later. Then it was suggested to me that the cardinals needed to see other friendly fish out in the open in order to feel that it was safe to come out. I put in 3 columbian tetras, 3 black phantom tetras, and 2 pygmy gouramis. The cardinals began to venture out for a few days, but then resumed their hiding habits.
About a week after I added the last of the fish (the black phantoms), fish started dying. Within two days I had lost all the black phantoms, and 4 of my 6 cardinals. I put in some medicine to fight a bacterial infection, and thankfully lost no more fish.
Recently the male gourami has become aggressive towards the female, and is always chasing her around the tank. The cardinals are still hiding, and now the colubians are spending much of their time in seclusion as well. The Ph of my water is at 6.9, the water hardness is medium, and the temperature is about 80F.
I feel like I have tried everything, but to no avail. I just want to be able to have my fish swimming out and about like you see in any other tank. I’m about ready to give up. Please help!!!
I spoke to many people at different pet shops, and did some research on-line to try and determine what I needed to do to get the cardinals to come out. I had given the cardinals plenty of hiding spaces in the hopes that they would feel secure enough to come out into the open. That didn’t work.
I then converted to live plants hoping that would make them feel more comfortable. Still they hid. I then moved out all other fish (some white-tip tetras) and put in a few more cardinals. That did nothing, and the new cardinals died about a week later. Then it was suggested to me that the cardinals needed to see other friendly fish out in the open in order to feel that it was safe to come out. I put in 3 columbian tetras, 3 black phantom tetras, and 2 pygmy gouramis. The cardinals began to venture out for a few days, but then resumed their hiding habits.
About a week after I added the last of the fish (the black phantoms), fish started dying. Within two days I had lost all the black phantoms, and 4 of my 6 cardinals. I put in some medicine to fight a bacterial infection, and thankfully lost no more fish.
Recently the male gourami has become aggressive towards the female, and is always chasing her around the tank. The cardinals are still hiding, and now the colubians are spending much of their time in seclusion as well. The Ph of my water is at 6.9, the water hardness is medium, and the temperature is about 80F.
I feel like I have tried everything, but to no avail. I just want to be able to have my fish swimming out and about like you see in any other tank. I’m about ready to give up. Please help!!!