I have a 5 gallon tank with two goldfish in it. Or I used to. I have a filter in the tank and change the water often. I use well water so there isn't any chlorine in the water. I am very new to the whole fish thing and I don't know how to know how much ammonia is in the water or how it gets there. All I know is that my fish were acting fine until I fed them and then they got too weak to swim away from the filter. One died and the other is slowly dying I fear. The one that is still alive swims some and eats some too. What is making my poor fish so sick? I want to be a good fish mommy but I don't know how!
help my poor fishes...
- Thread starter lubfitchets
- Start date
In order to know how much ammonia you have you should buy a test kit. You should also be testing for nitrite, nitrate and PH at the very least. In the meantime take a water sample from your tank to the LFS and have them test it for you. When you have some results make sure you post them so people can maybe be better able to help you. BTW a 5g is not big enough to house one goldfish let alone 2.
goldfish are very problematic, especially in such a small tank- remember that they are REALLY mutated carp! try selling back the goldfish and getting a group of 3 to 5 neons to take care of for a while, or maybe scratch the neons and get a betta + something else small (like 3 neons or 3 cories)
I'm sorry for your loss. Hopefully we can save the surviving fish.
You will need to upgrade to a larger tank if you want to keep the goldfish. Depending on the kind of goldfish and who you ask, they need 10-20 gallons each.
I second the suggestion that you get test kits for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH.
You will need to upgrade to a larger tank if you want to keep the goldfish. Depending on the kind of goldfish and who you ask, they need 10-20 gallons each.
I second the suggestion that you get test kits for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH.
Goldfish can be kept in small tanks and thats a fact. I have two healthy ones in a 7 gallon tank. Keeping them healthy is, however, hard work with such a small tank. I have a huge (for the size of the tank) sponge filter that handles all the waste the goldfish produce with ease. Once cycled I have never had detectable levels of either ammonia nor nitrite. These are the good parts. The bad part is that in order to keep nitrates below 30 ppm, I have to change 60 per cent of the water every single day. Soon I will have to change almost all the water a couple of times per day. Madness.
Mikael said:
No. Goldfish can grow up to 1' and that size tank will not let them. I have to disagree.
You really need to return the goldfish, and read up on cycling. Also get a master test kit. I like this one: http://www.bigalsonline.ca/catalog/product.xml?product_id=19383;category_id=3233;pcid1=;pcid2=
I would stock a 5g with 1 betta, and 1 ADF. IMO they are the best fish for that size of tank.
Goldfish can live for a short period of time in a small tank but if you want them to live longer than a couple of months they need at least 15 gallons per fish. They are the dirtiest fish, the heaviest bioload, and only if they are taken care of properly, they can grow to be 2 feet long and 15 years old. I have 8 goldfish in a 75 gallon tank and even that is overstocked.
I agree with what most of you say as well! Goldfish do not belong in bowls! Yes it's true you can keep them in one, but they're not going to be happy or live a comfortable life at all. Their growth is going to be stunted along the way thus making them more susceptable to disease and not live as long as they should.
Think of it as you having to live in your closet or something equivalent. Not something I would like to try out let alone subject an animal to that.
Lubfitchets - do take some of your tank water to your lfs and have it tested. They should do it for free, otherwise buy your test kit...there are master test kits that come with all you need to test for, ammonia, pH, nitrate, nitrite etc. It might be easier owning your own kit that way you can test the water in case of an emergency and not have to worry if the lfs is going to be open or not etc.
How long have you had these goldfish for? How many times a day do you feed them etc. Try and give us as much info as possible that way we will be able to help you out a lot better :dance2:
Think of it as you having to live in your closet or something equivalent. Not something I would like to try out let alone subject an animal to that.
Lubfitchets - do take some of your tank water to your lfs and have it tested. They should do it for free, otherwise buy your test kit...there are master test kits that come with all you need to test for, ammonia, pH, nitrate, nitrite etc. It might be easier owning your own kit that way you can test the water in case of an emergency and not have to worry if the lfs is going to be open or not etc.
How long have you had these goldfish for? How many times a day do you feed them etc. Try and give us as much info as possible that way we will be able to help you out a lot better :dance2:
People, you're getting into debates with each other and using abbreviations like LFS, when Lubfitchets said that she's brand new and doesn't know much about the hobby.
Lubfitchets -- If you're still reading this thread, in answer to your question, we can't tell for sure what is making your fish sick. There are too many possibilities. But there is a good chance that the fish is being poisoned by toxins in the water, probably ammonia or nitrites, which are the natural result of keeping fish in an enclosed container. You can and should know how much of these toxins are in your water. The ideal level is zero. Even a little ammonia or nitrites will kill a fish over time, sometimes quickly, sometimes a little longer, but both are deadly. Testing the water is the only way to know how much is in there. Buying your own test kit is a good idea, as some have suggested -- that makes it easier for you to test regularly. Your local fish stores (LFS) will probably sell test kits, and many will test your water for free if you bring them a sample. As was mentioned, it's also good to know the level of nitrates and the pH of your tank water, although these are less likely to be the problem in your case at the moment.
The ammonia and nitrites will drop to zero when the tank is "cycled". There is a lot to learn about keeping fish alive and healthy, but it's not too hard to do once you learn the ropes initially. A good place to look for info is this post:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12297
It is also true that it's not a good idea to keep a goldfish in a tank that small. A male betta would be a nice choice. Once you have stable and good water quality, if you get a tank divider, you could consider adding a second male betta. As long as they can see each other but not actually touch each other, they would be inclined to "flare" at each other, and you would have a colorful display. Two bettas is about the max you could keep in five gallons, if you want them to stay healthy. Some may already say that is overstocked, and I've never kept bettas myself. But if you keep the tank well-maintained, and if you start with healthy fish, I think bettas would probably stay healthy and happy with 2.5 gallons per fish.
Finally, it's obviously important to start with healthy fish. Your current fish may be dying because it might have been sick already. When you buy new fish, try to buy them from a store where all, or at least most, of the fish look healthy. Check around at different stores. If you switch to bettas, try to avoid buying fish that already look half-dead and have ragged fins. Since bettas are often sold in little cups, you may have to look in several stores before finding some that look good.
Just my two cents. Welcome to the hobby, and welcome to Aquaria Central! :hi:
Lubfitchets -- If you're still reading this thread, in answer to your question, we can't tell for sure what is making your fish sick. There are too many possibilities. But there is a good chance that the fish is being poisoned by toxins in the water, probably ammonia or nitrites, which are the natural result of keeping fish in an enclosed container. You can and should know how much of these toxins are in your water. The ideal level is zero. Even a little ammonia or nitrites will kill a fish over time, sometimes quickly, sometimes a little longer, but both are deadly. Testing the water is the only way to know how much is in there. Buying your own test kit is a good idea, as some have suggested -- that makes it easier for you to test regularly. Your local fish stores (LFS) will probably sell test kits, and many will test your water for free if you bring them a sample. As was mentioned, it's also good to know the level of nitrates and the pH of your tank water, although these are less likely to be the problem in your case at the moment.
The ammonia and nitrites will drop to zero when the tank is "cycled". There is a lot to learn about keeping fish alive and healthy, but it's not too hard to do once you learn the ropes initially. A good place to look for info is this post:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12297
It is also true that it's not a good idea to keep a goldfish in a tank that small. A male betta would be a nice choice. Once you have stable and good water quality, if you get a tank divider, you could consider adding a second male betta. As long as they can see each other but not actually touch each other, they would be inclined to "flare" at each other, and you would have a colorful display. Two bettas is about the max you could keep in five gallons, if you want them to stay healthy. Some may already say that is overstocked, and I've never kept bettas myself. But if you keep the tank well-maintained, and if you start with healthy fish, I think bettas would probably stay healthy and happy with 2.5 gallons per fish.
Finally, it's obviously important to start with healthy fish. Your current fish may be dying because it might have been sick already. When you buy new fish, try to buy them from a store where all, or at least most, of the fish look healthy. Check around at different stores. If you switch to bettas, try to avoid buying fish that already look half-dead and have ragged fins. Since bettas are often sold in little cups, you may have to look in several stores before finding some that look good.
Just my two cents. Welcome to the hobby, and welcome to Aquaria Central! :hi:
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