Death

[bighugh12]

Hi am new here and basiclly just looking for some info!!

I have 2 fish in my little square tank with a little air filter!
But one of my fish is just sittin at the bottom of the tank and not even moving at all..
the other fish trys to move it and nudges it about but still no joy from it..
Is it dead or can anyone help me ??

 

[fluttermoth]

Watch the fish very closely and if it is alive you will see its gills moving.

If not, then I am afraid it's probably dead and you should remove it before it starts to decompose and spoil the water for your remaining fish.

I'm so sorry..

Can I ask; what size is your tank? What kind of fish are they? How long have you had the tank set up, and was it cycled?

We need to know, because the other fish may die too; if you can give us any more information, we may be able to help you save the other fish at least

 

[bighugh12]

Yea the gills still move and it mouth does aswell but its just sittin there!!
There cold fish one a gold fish and the other is a wee stripped fish..
Its been set up now a month an going and what do you mean cycled?
the tank is 9inchs high and 1ft long at 8 inchs wide!
it also has a little air filter that came with it

 

[fluttermoth]

Ok mate...

Cycling is getting the filter full of the bacteria that digest fish wastes so they don't poison the water; if you haven't done this, the poisons from the fish wee will have built up in the water and that will be what has made your fish ill.

We may not be able to save it, but we'll have a go!

Do you have any dechlorinator? If you have, start changing some water, right now, this minute.

If you don't (I really hope you do, because the chlorine in tap water will probably finish the fish off ) have you got a water butt or pond, or a neighbour's pond you can get some water from? we need to get that fish in some clean water, asap! Don't use water straight from the tap

Get back to me (I'll be online here a while) and let me know how things are going.

 

[bighugh12]

Well my fliter does catch all the dirt as when i clean it the dirt be's sticking to it

And for this dechlorinator i do not have a clue of what it is and no do not have pond and no neighbours do not have fish!!
If i amnot capable of saving this one then can you teach me how to save them in future!

 

[fluttermoth]

We most certainly can, mate...

Have you been changing any water since you have had the fish?

Dechlorinator is stuff you put in the tap water to make it safe for the fish. It might be called water conditioner or tap safe or something like that?

 

[bighugh12]

Yea i have changed the water a few times as the tank did get relly cloudy and dirty at the start and then it had stopped.. But you can see were the tank is dirty again and it needs cleaned!
Ahh rite do you just put it in the tank when you change the water!

 

[fluttermoth]

Yes; it removes the chlorine (which you can smell in the tap water as that sort of 'bleachy' smell); chlorine is very dangerous to fish; do you have any of that?

 

[bighugh12]

naw i dnt have any but if i got some tonite or tomorrow would that be ok?

 

[fluttermoth]

If you can get some now, it may help; tomorrow may be too late in all honesty...

 

[bighugh12]

Right well there is one shop open beside me now i will get some!

 

[fluttermoth]

I've got my fingers crossed

 

[Gilli]

Read up on this link and quick! You will also need a freshwater liquid test kit such as API to test your water stats or you wont know when you are cycled.

cycling a tank

 

[fluttermoth]

Thanks for posting the link for Hugh, Gilli

I was going to go search for it when I'd done the 'first aid' bit! (I'm new to this forum and don't as yet know where to find these links )

Hugh, we also need to tell you that your tank is totally unsuited to goldfish, so you musn't get another one...the other fish may be ok, we'll have to find out what kind it is before we can advise you on that

Gilli is right, you really need to get some test kits, as then we can help you through the cycling process.

But get some water changes done as a first emergency step!

 

[waterdrop]

Its a 4G/14L, sounds like. Be sure to explain the details of the water changing process and have him do them even if he doesn't have a gravel siphon yet. WD