Here's the background:
I recently bought my first tank after an introduction to goldfish that went very well when I was younger, given that my own goldfish outgrew the tank and was granted the freedom of an aunt's pond.
A 45 litre tank seemed like a sensible option for the table I had, and as it came with it's own coldwater setuo I only needed to find a suitable heater to help create a tropical environment.
I cycled this tank for two weeks with treated tapwater, gravel and moss balls, and then went to the local pet shop to ask about introducing shrimp and snails prior to fish. Naturally I went home with three female cherry barbs because the staff convinced me I was an idiot for waiting so long.
The first three days went surprisingly well and then my hang on filter was accidentally turned off for maybe twenty minutes before I noticed all three fish gasping for air at the top of the tank.
I turned the filter on, cleaned it, did a fifty percent water change with treated tap water, and removed the lone fish who'd rolled over and unortunately not recovered but the other two looked to have settled.
The next morning, the remaining two barbs were again gasping for air, although they seemed to find some felief near the marimo balls. I did another tap water water change, and when one of the two laid down on the gravel I made for the pet shop with some water for testing. Apparently, it was all good on the nitrates and pH front. I returned home with live pondweed having planned to plant some eelgrass that's still not been delivered a week after expected. And another thermometer to check the accuracy of the heater.
With the survivor still heaving for breath and with crimson gills, I tried another change with rainwater, thinking maybe it was the chlorine treatment. I dropped the water level to minimum to increase the disturbance the filter made. pH is still 7.4. Temperature consistent at 25 degrees celcius, although I tried a stint at 24 to see if it helped.
I've got an air pump and a stronger filter in the post to try and up the oxygen.
Two days after that lark, and the one poor barb left is somehow still alive. She's breathing more than I would like but moving around a lot more, and her gills look maybe a little less inflamed. She likes the weeds atleast. Problem is, she hasn't eaten flakes for three days, and she isn't interested. I think she's eating the moss balls.
How do I get her to eat? When can I even get a few shrimp or snails to deal with the flakes that she isn't eating? Can I get her a few other cherry barbs for company anytime soon?
So much frustration. Does anyone have any more concrete ideas about what was wrong, and how I can prevent it?
Thanks
I recently bought my first tank after an introduction to goldfish that went very well when I was younger, given that my own goldfish outgrew the tank and was granted the freedom of an aunt's pond.
A 45 litre tank seemed like a sensible option for the table I had, and as it came with it's own coldwater setuo I only needed to find a suitable heater to help create a tropical environment.
I cycled this tank for two weeks with treated tapwater, gravel and moss balls, and then went to the local pet shop to ask about introducing shrimp and snails prior to fish. Naturally I went home with three female cherry barbs because the staff convinced me I was an idiot for waiting so long.
The first three days went surprisingly well and then my hang on filter was accidentally turned off for maybe twenty minutes before I noticed all three fish gasping for air at the top of the tank.
I turned the filter on, cleaned it, did a fifty percent water change with treated tap water, and removed the lone fish who'd rolled over and unortunately not recovered but the other two looked to have settled.
The next morning, the remaining two barbs were again gasping for air, although they seemed to find some felief near the marimo balls. I did another tap water water change, and when one of the two laid down on the gravel I made for the pet shop with some water for testing. Apparently, it was all good on the nitrates and pH front. I returned home with live pondweed having planned to plant some eelgrass that's still not been delivered a week after expected. And another thermometer to check the accuracy of the heater.
With the survivor still heaving for breath and with crimson gills, I tried another change with rainwater, thinking maybe it was the chlorine treatment. I dropped the water level to minimum to increase the disturbance the filter made. pH is still 7.4. Temperature consistent at 25 degrees celcius, although I tried a stint at 24 to see if it helped.
I've got an air pump and a stronger filter in the post to try and up the oxygen.
Two days after that lark, and the one poor barb left is somehow still alive. She's breathing more than I would like but moving around a lot more, and her gills look maybe a little less inflamed. She likes the weeds atleast. Problem is, she hasn't eaten flakes for three days, and she isn't interested. I think she's eating the moss balls.
How do I get her to eat? When can I even get a few shrimp or snails to deal with the flakes that she isn't eating? Can I get her a few other cherry barbs for company anytime soon?
So much frustration. Does anyone have any more concrete ideas about what was wrong, and how I can prevent it?
Thanks