Need Advice! Failed Heater!

[FishySarah]

I know this isn't the place for emergencies, but this isn't a disease problem, so I thought I'd post here.

I have a 29 gallon tank and two five gallon tanks. In one five gallon tank is a half-grown platy fry, two platy fry are in the other.

I just got home and discovered that the heater in my big tank has failed. The temperature in the tank is 66 degrees, and half of my fish are dead.

Remaining: 2 black tetras, 4 mollies, 2 platys, 2 gold barbs and an otto. Right now I have one of the five gallon heaters in the big tank trying desperately to get the temperature up, but I don't expect it to do much.

This couldn't have happened at a worse time. My car is in the shop, and I won't be able to get to the store for another heater for at least a week. This is bad, bad, bad.

What is the best thing I can do? Should I divide my surviving fish between the two small tanks? If I do a PWC every day, would that be for a little while? Or should I put both five gallon heaters in the big tank? What should I do?

If I move the remaining fish, how do I prevent them from going into shock from the temperature change, going from 66 to 82 degrees?

Please help. I will be grateful for any advice. I raised these mollies and platys from fry and the other fish I've had for over 2 years. I really want to save as many of them as I can.

 

[Tolak]

Slowly do a water change with warmer water to bring the tank up to the low 70'sF. This may take a bit of time, you don't want a sudden 7F increase in temperature. Next, get some empty pop bottles, milk jugs, anything you can fill with water & seal up. Fill a couple with hot water, not boiling, just reasonably hot tap water. Float these in the tank, it will be an ongoing project to keep these warm & the tank up to temperature.

Wrap the tank with a thick blanket to retain heat, and when you get a chance to get to the store, buy two heaters. You will then have a spare, as heaters do wear out, either dying, like yours did, or sticking wide open, overheating the tank.

 

[5teady_2012]

edited, guy posted before me, seems better advice.

Where abouts you live m8, anywhere in north yorkshire? i could maybe bring you a heater if your desperate.

I know saying this wont help now, but in future always keep a backup heater.