Swordtails Dying

[iceband]

only put them in yesterday, the male was struggling as soon as we put him in, and died this morning, and now a female has just died, they seem to be ok, and then just sink to the bottom.
Any ideas

 

[Bloo]

Sorry to hear

How long has your tank been up and running ?
What are your other fish and how many ?
What size is your tank ?
Do you know your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH readings ?

Also: how long was the fish i the bag between the shop and your home ?
Did he look healthy in the shop ?
How did you acclimatise them ? (in other words, did you float the bag and then just put the fish straight in, or just put the fish straight in - or any other method ?)

How are your other fish doing now ?

 

[iceband]

Sorry to hear

How long has your tank been up and running ?
What are your other fish and how many ?
What size is your tank ?
Do you know your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH readings ?

Also: how long was the fish i the bag between the shop and your home ?
Did he look healthy in the shop ?
How did you acclimatise them ? (in other words, did you float the bag and then just put the fish straight in, or just put the fish straight in - or any other method ?)

How are your other fish doing now ?

tank has been up for about a month with 5 other fish in it

3 guppies, 4 mollies, another 2 swordtails

70ltrs

no

20 mins

yup

left them in the bag for 20 mins til the water equalled out and then let them out.

The other swordtails seem fine, we bought 4 at the same time

 

[Bloo]

If the others are fine - it might just be one of "those unexplained" things. The fish just didn't do well in transport and acclimatising - or it could have been weak and died from reasons below

So if you don't know what your ammonia and nitrite readings are, my guess is that your tank is still cycling (it's only a month old) and your fish are possibly suffering from ammonia/nitrite poisoning. I would suggest you get those test kits to find out. Failing that, carry out a 10-20% water change each day for the next month. Thereafter once a week.

Don't be tempted to add any more fish for at least 6 weeks till things stabilise

 

[iceband]

If the others are fine - it might just be one of "those unexplained" things. The fish just didn't do well in transport and acclimatising - or it could have been weak and died from reasons below

So if you don't know what your ammonia and nitrite readings are, my guess is that your tank is still cycling (it's only a month old) and your fish are possibly suffering from ammonia/nitrite poisoning. I would suggest you get those test kits to find out. Failing that, carry out a 10-20% water change each day for the next month. Thereafter once a week.

Don't be tempted to add any more fish for at least 6 weeks till things stabilise

ok, thanks.

Everything here is really busy, cos it's the day of a big event I'm organising for our local hospice, but if I get chance I'll get a kit later. I did a 20% water change yesterday