After being very lethargic for two days, one of my blue gouramis ended up dying today. Its body was probably in the tank for a good 10 hours while I was at work, and I was wondering if there are anything special I should do to the tank because of that. I did a gravel vac and 15% water change just cause I kicked up so much debris moving ornaments around to get to the dead fish. Is there anything else I should do. The water tested well on my strips and all other fish appear normal and our eating well.
Tank maintenance after a fish death
- Thread starter bdobosz
- Start date
That's about it--remove the carcass, do a small water change, and test to make sure there isn't a serious problem that might impact the other fish. I'd also follow up with a few more regualr water changes and close montoring--unexplained deaths concern me, since it indicates that something is wrong, just not something I can readily identify.
not to go against OrionGirl or anything, but couldnt fish die because maybe they were stress from another fish, but you just never saw it cuz the other fish never bothered the fish because they saw a huge thing looking at them and they pretty much just watched the huge thing (you/a person) incase they try to eat them, but when you go away, then they continue to stress and bother the other fish? theres no test for that situation, but im just guessing, and this is purely my immagination
I'm not sure how that goes against me in anyway? But, watching the tank more frequently for that exact kind of behavior--even if it's from a distance, is what I was advising. I am in front of most of my tanks frequently enough that only a few fish react to me--puffers begging, for example. But, if you don't spend much time with your tanks, observing them from a distance, while sitting still, will often reveal behavior not seen when you are there.
Hi, Oriongirl. I just started tank in November and have lost fish for no apparent reason at all. Tank was fully cycled--I do reg water changes and vacuums, and get water tested at lfs and home every week. Usually, its the smaller fish that I find floating, with no symptoms or disease signs. So, don't you think the stress of acclimation to new environment, in combination with their small size may be a cause of death?
And another question: what do you DO when you see fish stressing other fish? I watch my tank way too much and recently donated two danios to a small lfs that promised to take good care of them, because the danios stressed all my peaceful fish by constantly chasing them! Now, my red platy has taken over their role and nips and terrorizes the other platy (he's black and yellow). It's so bizarre! The timid platy spends more time inside a little waterfall decoration than outside. When it's feeding time, he comes out to eat and the red platy won't let him eat--it's horrible! He watches so nervously for the red platy and spends more time running away from the red one, he barely eats. I know this can't be good. Water readings are all perfect. I really appreciate any suggestions.
And another question: what do you DO when you see fish stressing other fish? I watch my tank way too much and recently donated two danios to a small lfs that promised to take good care of them, because the danios stressed all my peaceful fish by constantly chasing them! Now, my red platy has taken over their role and nips and terrorizes the other platy (he's black and yellow). It's so bizarre! The timid platy spends more time inside a little waterfall decoration than outside. When it's feeding time, he comes out to eat and the red platy won't let him eat--it's horrible! He watches so nervously for the red platy and spends more time running away from the red one, he barely eats. I know this can't be good. Water readings are all perfect. I really appreciate any suggestions.
Stress in acclimation can be a cause if there is a serious difference between your tank and the LFS. But, IMO, stress to the fish prior to your purchase is more likely the problem. Many stores make fish immediately avail;able for sale when they come in, which means that the fish could have been injured, or exposed to high levels of ammonia, large temperature swings--any one of a variety of stressors--and then into your tank, where it's just been pushed too far to survive. Unfortunately, many species of fish will look healthy and alert from stress--but it just pushes them too far to fully recover.
Depends on the aggression. Some fish just will not ever get along with others, and putting them in a species only tank, or removing the other fish, are the best options. I removed everything but the bottom dwellers from my 55 when I had my black paradise--he was brutal, and intolerant of anything that spent time in the upper water column. He completely ignored the cories, plecos, whiptails, and loach. Some fish just have to establish a ehirarchy, and letting them argue it out, as long as no wounds or injuries occur, is fine. Some fish just have a high level of activity--like danios--and while they aren't aggressive, they certainly stress peaceful fish. I don't have danios for this very reason--they don't fit in my tanks.
Depends on the aggression. Some fish just will not ever get along with others, and putting them in a species only tank, or removing the other fish, are the best options. I removed everything but the bottom dwellers from my 55 when I had my black paradise--he was brutal, and intolerant of anything that spent time in the upper water column. He completely ignored the cories, plecos, whiptails, and loach. Some fish just have to establish a ehirarchy, and letting them argue it out, as long as no wounds or injuries occur, is fine. Some fish just have a high level of activity--like danios--and while they aren't aggressive, they certainly stress peaceful fish. I don't have danios for this very reason--they don't fit in my tanks.