Rtbs Gone Pale And Sitting On Plant

[vajazzled]

I have a 32L tank. I have mainly male guppies. My original fish included a rtbs Sunday I added 5 male guppies. Today I found an original guppy dead floating. Was ok this morning. Rtbs is now sitting on plant near top of tank, (usyally he hides in pot or squeezes behind heater and sits.) His tail was quite red but today is pale.he does go for a swim but then back to sit on plant. I have 19 fish and not adding anymore. Is he sick? Any suggestions?

 

[fluttermoth]

Almost certainly a water quality issue, as you are badly overstocked, I'm afraid.

Do some large (50 or 60%) water changes and, I'm sorry, but you'll have to take the shark back to the shop; they can grow to a good six inches in length and a 35l tank just isn't big enough.

How long has the tank been set up and was it cycled at all?

 

[vajazzled]

I'm sorry I'm new to all this. Started by reading books then bought tank etc and took advice from shop who said shark ok with male guppies/ size tank and no of fish. Tank set up then added 5 fish a week. How many fish per litre do you recommend then.? All small fish.

 

[fluttermoth]

There's no need to aplogise; we see people here all the time after being given bad advice in shops

In a 35l tank, I'd be looking at a stocking of 6 or 8, maybe a dozen, one inch (adult size) fish. You must always work on the eventual size of the fish, not what they are now, as they need room to grow if they're to be healthy,

 

[Fishy friend2]

1 inch per gallon for tropicLs if your filter is good and you are on top of weekly water changes

 

[vajazzled]

Ok so let's say 12 fish is optimum. What do I do with other 7 fish?

 

[fluttermoth]

Most shops will take them back (even if they don't give you money for them). Or there's a classified section here you could ask someone to take them off you; or there's a proper site called 'Aquarist Clasiified' where you can advertise them for free.

In the meantime, planty of large water changes (warm, dechlorinated water, of course) to keep everyone healthy.

 

[vajazzled]

Thank you so much for your help. I love my new fish and have become quite attached. I can see myself being a regular on here talking to folk who seem to know what they are talking about.THANKS

 

[fluttermoth]

You're very welcome

Best of luck finding new homes; of course, you could just buy yourself a larger tank

 

[vajazzled]

Boo hoo!! Got up this morning to a grizzly scene. My rtbs is dead and has his tail trapped in the filter cage. Do you think he died first or because he got caught( he does Luke squeezing into small spaces).

 

[fluttermoth]

It's very common for dead fish to get sucked into the filter; if you think about it, that's just what ought to happen if the filter is doing it's job.

Its incredibley rare for a healthy fish to get trapped; it does happen with fry and shrimps, but not normal fish.

Are you doing plenty of water changes?

 

[vajazzled]

I did a water change yesterday. Rest of fish seem happy. How soon should I do another one.?

 

[vajazzled]

Thank you to folk leaving me a personal message but I am unable to get access to these yet as I believe I need to post more before this is enabled on my account.

 

[fluttermoth]

ah well, you have ten posts now; that's how many you need

 

[colleen0309]

Well, you have 10 posts now so you should be able to access the pm. give it a try. Oh! Welcome to the forum and sorry about your rtbs