New Single Fish Mommy. Somewhat Overwhelmed. Worried About My Fishbro

[voldemort]

Hey guys, fish-bro needs your help. 
 
A friend with an established 5 gallon tank told me he had this problem with some of his tiny tetras just disappearing. He said hee bought this fish from a pet store, had no idea what it was (we will call him fish bro) and thought maybe he/she was killing his fish. He took fish-bro and put him in a plastic bag (with holes) in the back of the tank, and tada, no more fish disappearances. Fish-bro used to be a nice pink/turquoise he said, but then a few weeks later went gray. I asked if he thought maybe it was a betta fish, he said he had no idea.
 
Fast forward a few more weeks and im carrying fish-bro home in a tupperware on the subway. I'm a bleeding heart like that, cant stand fish suffering. Get him into a new 2.5 gallon aqueon betta tank i picked up on my way home, set up his little filter, threw in some water conditioner, let the lil dude adjust to the temperature/conditions for a half hour. Fish dude was pretty chill, swam out when it was time and had a pretty good first day home. Hed perk up every time i got up from my desk, swim around. He started changing to this pinky/orange color pretty quickly, seemed to be enjoying himself.
 
Fast forward 2 days. I come home from work to find fish bro floating around, pretty lethargic looking. I open the tank, he does his usual swim for food and eats. I decide its time for a water change, do about 75%. Fish bro is still super lethargic, and keeps playing dead. Sometimes he will spaz out, swim around like crazy, but then ends up picking a spot and just sitting there, back to playing dead.
 
The tank is pretty small and has been fluctuating temperature wise (between 75 and 79 throughout the day). I've ordered a heater but it hasn't arrived yet. Ive also ordered a water testing kit. 
 
So I've got a few questions! Does anyone have any idea what kind of fish fishbro is? Is there something wrong with him? is it even a him? Im worried about the dude but I have no idea where to start right now =(
 
 
 
This is fishbro in his tupperware:

 
 
This is fishbro on his first day home:

 
 
And this is fishbro today. Not sure whats up with his tail. Could the filter have gotten him? Its off for now. No one messes with fishbro.
 

 
 
 
 
In all seriousness, I would really appreciate some help. Im surprisingly attached to this little guy and want him at his best. Any advice you can throw my way would be appreciated!
 
 

 

[daizeUK]

Someone else will help you soon but first things first - turn his filter back on!!!

 

[fluttermoth]

I think your little guy is a paradise fish.
 
The problem is that your tank isn't 'cycled'; that means it doesn't have a colony of good bacteria living in the filter that eat the ammonia produced by the fish and turn it into less toxic substances; first nitrite, which is also toxic, and then nitrate, which is only toxic at very high levels, and which, in a cycled tank, we keep low with water changes.
 
What you need to do is a large water change, every day; at least 50%, but the bigger the better. I'm afraid you're going to have to keep on doing that until you have those good bacteria growing.
 
Unfortunately, there's no way of telling when your tank is cycled without being able to test the water, so you could really do with getting some test kits for ammonia and nitrite.
 
You need to keep your filter on all the time, and don't worry too much about the temperature; paradise fish can easily live in unheated tanks.
 
I feel I ought to warn you that he doesn't look too good, and you might still lose him, but lots of good clean water is the best medicine for him right now.

 

[voldemort]

Is there any value in getting an ammonia neutralizer or nitrifying bacteria (something like: http/www.drtimsaquatics.com/treat-aquarium-nitrite-ammonia-levels)? 
 
Ive got an ammonia kit that should be here in a day or two. 

 

[fluttermoth]

I wouldn't use an ammonia neutraliser; it totally strips the water of ammonia, so your bacteria won't have any food to grow. Better off keeping the ammonia low with water changes
 
Certainly give the bacteria a try; many of those kinds of products are pretty useless, but we have at least one member here who swears by Dr Tim's, so it's definitely worth a go.
 
Keep up the big water changes until you can get your ammonia test; and try and get one for nitrite as well.
 
Best of luck; I do applaud you for taking the little guy on; he wouldn't have lasted much longer stuck in a bag 

 
Oh; I forgot to say to the forum!

 

[daizeUK]

Dr Tim's should get your tank cycled in 1-2 weeks and will drastically reduce the amount of time your fish is stuck without bacteria. 
 
BUT you will not be able to do large water changes while using it, in order for the bacteria to establish effectively.  This means the ammonia and nitrite will build up initially until the cycle completes.  However they shouldn't reach lethally high levels if you are using Dr Tim's... but if your fish is already weakened, I don't know if it would cope


Could you get a piece of filter sponge or some gravel from your mate with the established tank?  That might help introduce some bacteria and you would still be able to do big water changes to keep your fishbro's water clean.

 

[CoryLover95]

So sorry about fishbro, sounds like he's getting the best help from daizeUK and fluttermoth.  Best of luck to you & fishbro!

 

[damejames112]

paradise fish are excuse my french but bastards for eating little fish i had to actually go to my fish shop an go sooo what fish will go with a paradise fish and he would laugh at me every time! and mine would do that but he was always fine

 

[fluttermoth]

Yes, they are very aggressive!
 
They are interesting though; they were the first tropical fish ever brought to England and were mentioned by Samuel Pepys, in his diary. I suppose, being labyrinth fish they could survive the journey better than most, and I suspect that the water in those days was chock-a-block with nitrifying bacteria, which would have helped a lot
 
Unfortunately, people at the time also though they lived on air, so they wouldn't have had a very happy existence

 

[damejames112]

used to love it when mine would spread herself an show her full glory which i got a pic of her she was bigger than i thought mind lol 3 years of killing small fish in my tank x)