Rate of expiry of tropical fish.

[So]

My son had around 26 fish. Guppies, Pearl Gouramis (sp) and diamond neons.

In the last month or so we’ve lost two Gouramis and a neon. All fish less than a year old.

After the first two mortalities we took a water sample to Maidenhead aquatics, who said the water was fine. Last filter wash (in tank water) two weeks ago.

Here is a snap of the latest casualty.



But how regularly do tropical fish pop off? Is it a once every couple of weeks thing or should it be more uncommon.

[Boosted LS1]

How big is the tank, could they be over crowded? Numbers tend to sort themselves out. I'm surprised an air breather's a casualty though.

Have you good filtration and do you leave the water alone apart from minimal partial changes? Temperature?

[paintman]

Assuming no tank issues - conditions or bullying by other fish - or disease then different fish have different life expectancies (says Captain Obvious!)

Do you know how old the fish were when you bought them as they will be adult or very close to it. If they were all from the same spawning then likely they may die closer together.

Quick google give Pearl Gouramis as 3 to 4 years & up to 5.
Neon tetras up to 10 but more usually 5. (I have cardinals & they have lasted longer than neons, some are well over 5)
Guppies 1 to 3 but more usually 2. (I have Endler's guppies & the females often give birth & then pop off)

[So]

Boosted LS1 said:

How big is the tank, could they be over crowded? Numbers tend to sort themselves out. I'm surprised an air breather's a casualty though.

Have you good filtration and do you leave the water alone apart from minimal partial changes? Temperature?

It's 110 litres I believe, and when we bought it we were told we could have about 45 small fish.

To be honest, I've had a look this morning and there are several fish looking a bit unhappy. A neon and a guppy are looking very skinny.

As I said, we did a filter wash 10 days ago. I am concerned that something went wrong.

[So]

paintman said:

Assuming no tank issues - conditions or bullying by other fish - or disease then different fish have different life expectancies (says Captain Obvious!)

Do you know how old the fish were when you bought them as they will be adult or very close to it. If they were all from the same spawning then likely they may die closer together.

Quick google give Pearl Gouramis as 3 to 4 years & up to 5.
Neon tetras up to 10 but more usually 5. (I have cardinals & they have lasted longer than neons, some are well over 5)
Guppies 1 to 3 but more usually 2. (I have Endler's guppies & the females often give birth & then pop off)

Disease occurs to me.

I am going to take a water sample to the shop again.

[So]

The water tested fine.

It looks like we've lost a couple of guppies and two more are skinny; but the pleco is becoming huge..

We're increasing feeding to every day and I've cranked the water temperature up 2 degrees.

[eybic]

You should really test the water yourself, NT Labs is considered one of the better liquid test kits.

[So]

eybic said:

You should really test the water yourself, NT Labs is considered one of the better liquid test kits.

We have test strips, but why would we note use the shop that supplied us, when seeking their advice? Serious question.

[eybic]

So said:

eybic said:

You should really test the water yourself, NT Labs is considered one of the better liquid test kits.

We have test strips, but why would we note use the shop that supplied us, when seeking their advice? Serious question.

I thought the same when I kept fish but it is recommended that you test your own water and there are a lot of stories of people being told their water is ok when it's not, do you know what they tested for? Them saying OK could mean that they aren't particularly high but some should be zero so it's good to know for yourself. The main ones to keep an eye on, kind of in order of importance are Ammonia, Nitrite then Nitrate, the first 2 should be zero and ideally Nitrate should be below 40. Test strips aren't very accurate unfortunately.

[So]

eybic said:

So said:

eybic said:

You should really test the water yourself, NT Labs is considered one of the better liquid test kits.

We have test strips, but why would we note use the shop that supplied us, when seeking their advice? Serious question.

I thought the same when I kept fish but it is recommended that you test your own water and there are a lot of stories of people being told their water is ok when it's not, do you know what they tested for? Them saying OK could mean that they aren't particularly high but some should be zero so it's good to know for yourself. The main ones to keep an eye on, kind of in order of importance are Ammonia, Nitrite then Nitrate, the first 2 should be zero and ideally Nitrate should be below 40. Test strips aren't very accurate unfortunately.

Yes the first two were zero and the last was within acceptable limits.

[Turn7]

Do you use tap water for water changes ?
Do you use a dechlorinator if so ?

Do you try to temperature match the water change water to tank?

If tapwater ,check your water suppliers website to see if they’ve been doing anhy work lately .

Check temp is stable as ‘stats can
Stick and boil the fish

Is the filter flowing the usual amount of water ?

Do you know exact stock numbers ,so
You can check if a fish has died out of sight ?

[paintman]

So said:

The water tested fine.

It looks like we've lost a couple of guppies and two more are skinny;but the pleco is becoming huge..

We're increasing feeding to every day and I've cranked the water temperature up 2 degrees.

I feed once daily. Mix of floating flake ground up small with my fingers & small sinking pellets.
I do wonder if you're underfeeding for the quantity of fish particularly in view of your remarks that they look skinny.

Common plecos do. They also produce huge amounts of poo.
Not really suitable for small tanks as they can grow to 50cm.

What temperature is your tank?

Edited by paintman on Wednesday 12th February 15:27

[budgie smuggler]

That gourami looks a bit skinny to me too. Did you worm the fish at any point? Might be worth doing that if you haven't.

Kusuri Wormer Plus will do it.

[LordGrover]

May be worth a course of a broad spectrum bactericide - a general catchall for many maladies.

[Turn7]

Gourami is deffo under weight, shouldnt have that sunken belly look.

[Narcisus]

So said:

The water tested fine.

It looks like we've lost a couple of guppies and two more are skinny; but the pleco is becoming huge..

We're increasing feeding to every day and I've cranked the water temperature up 2 degrees.

Get rid of the Plec or it will end up the only fish in your tank ! Unless you have another Plec ..

[So]

Turn7 said:

Do you use tap water for water changes ?
Do you use a dechlorinator if so ?

YES AND YES

Do you try to temperature match the water change water to tank?

YES

If tapwater ,check your water suppliers website to see if they’ve been doing anhy work lately .

OK

Check temp is stable as ‘stats can
Stick and boil the fish

IF ANYTHING IT WAS A SMIDGE LOW. I'VE INCREASED TO 27
Is the filter flowing the usual amount of water ?

YES
Do you know exact stock numbers ,so
You can check if a fish has died out of sight ?

YES

ANSWERS ABOVE IN CAPS.

[So]

budgie smuggler said:

That gourami looks a bit skinny to me too. Did you worm the fish at any point? Might be worth doing that if you haven't.

Kusuri Wormer Plus will do it.

NOT DONE THAT.

[So]

Narcisus said:

Get rid of the Plec or it will end up the only fish in your tank ! Unless you have another Plec ..

HE LOOKS LIKE HE HAS BEEN DOWN THE GYM, BUT HE IS GOOD AT KEEPING THE TANK CLEAN.

[So]

LordGrover said:

May be worth a course of a broad spectrum bactericide - a general catchall for many maladies.

Interesting. The shop didn't suggest that and they are usually keen to sell us something.