Lost Two Of My Fish And Can't Find Them In The Tank.

[vti-chris]

Hi guys.My 35g tank is on it's 4th week now and i already have(had)
4 rosy tetras
4 silvertip tetras
2 flame tetras
2 corys
2 orange algae eaters
5 neon tetras
5 guppies

from day one the first 3 fish groups that entered the tank went fine.
A week ago i added the rest.From that day i'm loosing fish(dying).
First 2 of my guppies, then 2 neon tetras.I then noticed white spots on one of my guppies and added sera bactopur in the tank to save my fish.It's the third day today from the day i added the bactopur and the 2 fish that died yesterday i couldn't find them anywhere?WHO ATE THEM???
And also one of my silvertips has a white spot on the mouth eventhough i added the "medicine".It didn't have the spot yesterday.
I need help...!!!

 

[bunjiweb]

Well, your other fish probably ate them, it wouldnt surprise me at all. particularly if you have "orange algae eaters" in the tank (gold sucking loaches).

The problem you are having is that you are stocking your tank far too quickly! Get a grip, research and stop adding any more bloody fish or pointless chemicals.

In the first month you shouldnt have more than a quarter of the final tank stocking, and yet you seem to have at least half the final tank stocking in there already, if not two thirds.

Slow down, keep asking questions and keep researching.

Ben

 

[mark7616]

Did you really need to phrase that like that mate he was on here asking for some help not a lot of verbal abuse from someone who obviously knows more than he does! Everybody has to start somewhere so if someone does make a mistake its not for you to judge and speak like that to someone if you are not going to offer the man any advise dont say anything at all so maybe you should get a grip of yourself.

 

[Phillip.M]

what are your water stats? And how big is your algae eaters? Also did you try lifting up your decor?

 

[dwarfgourami]

The fish you lost probably died from problems related to the water quality (stocking too quickly in a new tank). Once small fish are dead, their bodies dissolve really quickly, and most fish will also munch on dead bodies (which is a reason to whip them out as quick as you can, to prevent the spread of infection).

What you need to do now is to buy a test kit, if you haven't already got one, and test daily for ammonia and nitrites. Every time either of these go over 0.5 ppm, do a partial water change of 20-25%- though if it's really high, make the first water change bigger, say 40-50%. Don't forget to dechlorinate the new water.

You will also want to read the pinned topics about cycling a tank on this forum, so you understand what is happening in your tank atm. Basically, when you add fish they excrete ammonia- which unfortunately is toxic to them. Eventually, beneficial bacteria (which exist naturally in the water) will multiply to the extent where they are able to deal with the fish's waste, and turn it into nitrites (unfortunately also toxic), then other beneficial bacteria will start multiplying until there's enough of them to turn all the nitrites into (relatively harmless) nitrates. When both ammonia-eating and nitrite-eating bacteria colonies have grown so large that they can deal with your fish's waste almost instantaneously, the tank is said to be cycled. Then, and only then, you can slowly and gradually add more fish. Unfortunately, the first few weeks before this has happened mean a rough ride for the fish, who are basically swimming in toxins. This is why you should build up your stock very slowly and carefully, and starting with a few hardy fish. Even better, there is now a method known as fishless cycling where you can trick the bacteria into growing by adding ammonia from a bottle- so the fish don't have to go in until the bacteria are already there. Still, you've got the fish and need to look after them. So- keep checking the water stats. If you need to medicate, try to get the water reasonably clean first, and if need be you may have to top up a little on the medicine to replace water changes (but make sure you do your maths- overdosing can be fatal!).

Hope things go well.

 

[vti-chris]

Lost my silvertip...it had the white spot last night on the mouth and now it's morning and i couldn't find it anywhere.And i did search everywhere in there...!!!
Maybe you are right i did add the fish very soon...

I'll do a water change although i did 5 days ago...

 

[cane76]

dont worry m8 we all learn from our mistakes

 

[vti-chris]

Found two of my missing fish when i changed the water yesterday...
Anyway my other fish are looking OK for now.
I will do 20% water changes every other day and i think i need to get my self a test kit...