Question:Alright so I bought 10 goldfish off of someone in April and they had had them for about 1.5 years. I cycled the tank and they were stressed at first but after a few weeks they seemed fine. I was doing partial water changes every week or so, but I didn't have a gravel siphon at the time. I went on vacation for a week around a month ago and when I came back one of them was dead. Over the next week or so, about 3 more died (one by committing suicide). I realized the ammonia content was too high, and started doing 15-20% partial water changes w/ the siphon every half week, and I treated the water with ammo-chips and ammonia neutralizing solution. After that, I checked the ammonia levels and they were back to normal, and the fish seemed fine. However a couple days ago, one more died, and just last night two more died. The ammonia levels should be fine now, so I don't know what the hell is wrong. They get finrot, start sitting at the bottom...and I'm sure 2 more are going to die 2nite, HELP!
Answers:
Ammonia should only be an issue for the first couple of weeks in a cycling tank. You are not testing for nitrite or nitrate are you? You should be. You should also reduce the quantity of food being fed. When you use the siphon, make sure to get all down in the gravel and under decorations.
arnet goldfish like 10 cents?
has to be some toxin in the water ?
Oh well and quite frankly YOU are lucky to be alive. I'd start going to church and thank the good lord for your existence. Maybe you could start a support group for the family members of other people who weren't quite as lucky as you were
Stop buying fish.
Committing suicide ?
WTF!
HOW DID THAT HAPPEN ?
I suggest you stop buying goldfish.
I would talk to the vet. Usually you can just call and see if they know what may be happening. Good Luck and I am sorry to hear about your goldfish!!
Its a damn fish. 10 cents come on. Just buy a new one. There not even that amusing
maybe its from the person you bought them off from..O_O
When they start dying its hard to turn it around first use water that is boiled when it starts this way all the in purities are out add salt and keep salt in they have salt flakes/pellets and go with more of a fifty %change each time you change.Gold fish are strange birds they can live in filthy muddy nasty ponds but put them in a bowl ??? When you're done changing or adjusting water put air in the bowl if you don't have a pump going most gold fish bowls don't this puts more air in the water and just keep the ammonia down. And they may have been upset because you left them for a while Feelings even fish have them
how big is your tank and how old are the gold fish if they keep dying then it could be from age or your tank isn't big enough try doing a complete water change and really rinsing out the gravel very well it could help but don't do full water changes very often
you need a soultion you can buy from a fish shop called tap safe pour a bit in when you change the water but for your fish to survive and be happy they need a pump and filter and maybe a heater too plus you need to do a separate nitrate test coz it's different to the amonia level. i hope this helps.
ps if you get a filter you shouldnt need to do so many water changes maybe once a fortnight just make sure you clean the filter once a week.
Problem number one, get rid of the heaters. Goldfish are cold water fish which require water temperatures to be less than 70 degrees although they can survive in warmer water it won't be for long. Secondly adding 10 fish to any aquarium isn't a good thing. This causes ammonia and nitrite spikes.
Get rid of the chemicals like the ammo chips. It masks the ammonia. It isn't needed. A water change using your gravel filter and removing 25% of your water weekly is fine for your fish. Also, goldfish require lots of dissolved oxygen. Lower your tank level 1/2 inch. This will allow your filter to pour water intot he tank adding much needed dissolved oxygen.
New water should be treated with a good water conditioner / dechlor. you need to get a test kit and a gravel vac.
As far as feeding goldfish need fed 2-3 times per day. They do not have stomachs and do not digest foods the same as other fish. Don't take it for granted that the ammonia and nitrite levels are always safe since the tank is cycled. It still needs to be tested once a week. Many things can happen in a tank to change the water quickly. Knowing what your levels are is your best defense.
Feel free to email with questions.
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