Return Home To Dead Fish

[DebraAustin]

Just returned home from being gone for four days and found one of my fish dead on the bottom of the tank. It had obviously been dead for several days. What do I need to do to protect my other fish. I had a heater go haywire last week and overheat the tank. I've replaced that and everyone seemed fine. Just before we left Robin didn't act quite his normal perky self and I was concerned, but do not yet have a hospital tank, so had to leave him. I did not see any disease on him at the time, but don't know for sure. I cannot get to an lfs until tomorrow morning. I will check my water stats immediately, but was wondering if there is anything that I can do right this minute to help ensure the health of my other fish. I have 1 cory (now), 2 platys and 2 white skirt tetras in a ten gallon tank. Water was changed two days before I left and tested fine then. I'll post my water stats in a few minutes as I need to test them (we only got home about ten minutes ago). Also, tomorrow when I can get to the lfs what should I buy (I'm in the US)?

Debra

 

[DebraAustin]

OK here are the stats

Water temp 80F
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 20 ppm which is normal since tomorrow is water changing day
pH 7.6 which is what it usually is

Debra

 

[tttnjfttt]

As long as your fish are acting normal, eating, and no signs of disease, I would not worry too much. The best thing you can do is to do a water change. This will remove anything that may be left and keeping the water sparkly clean will help stregnthen the fish's immune systems.

The temperature seems pretty high too, I would probably lower it (no more than 2 degrees per day) to 76-78. Also, i'm not sure if you are aware of this, but you have some schooling fish in very small groups, and that will be stressful to them.

 

[DebraAustin]

As long as your fish are acting normal, eating, and no signs of disease, I would not worry too much. The best thing you can do is to do a water change. This will remove anything that may be left and keeping the water sparkly clean will help stregnthen the fish's immune systems.

The temperature seems pretty high too, I would probably lower it (no more than 2 degrees per day) to 76-78. Also, i'm not sure if you are aware of this, but you have some schooling fish in very small groups, and that will be stressful to them.

So far everyone seems to be acting normally and I will be doing a water change today (it is their usual weekly water change day). The temp has always been at 80. I bought a new heater and am going to slowly work the temp down to the 76-78, but had some problems with the other heater and it finally went whacko and overheated the tank. I saw my fish swimming very lethargically and checked the temp and it had risen to 86F. I immediately checked with the forum and they said get the temp down, so I did with a water change, but could only get it down to 82. I bought a new heater the next day and have kept them at their usual 80 until I could be home to watch them. I know that the fish would rather be in bigger schools, but they have always been very happy, playing and swimming freely. I have a small tank. When I move up to a bigger one I will get schools for everyone. You learn as you go...

Debra