Vet Q&A-Fish

I just got a new aquarium. I went step by step on how to set it all up. The tank has been set up since Saturday and now on Tuesday the water is cloudy. Did I do something wrong

I would recommend checking your water quality first to evaluate your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels. With new aquarium set ups, it is common to have issues with water quality as your bacterial populations are getting established. I am not sure if you have fish in your tank already or not, but if you do, please monitor them closely for signs of distress, as this can occur with elevated ammonia and nitrites. Signs to look for would be swimming very fast (hyperexcited state) and trying to jump out of the tank. I hope that gives you a place to start, and good luck!

We bought my son 5 cherry barbs earlier today along with a tank rocks and some items for the fish to hide in. About 9:30 tonight we checked on the fish and unfortunately they had all died. We followed YouTube videos and read articles about how to transfer the fish from bag to tank and thought we had the water temperature fairly close so I’m not sure where we could have gone wrong. Just looking for some advice for future reference.

I'm sorry for the loss of your fish. If the tank was a "new" tank, it likely was not sufficiently cycled. The fish may have died after being exposed to high levels of ammonia or nitrites. A fish tank should be cycled for 4-6 weeks before fish are added. This allows time for beneficial bacteria to populate the filter and substrate. These bacteria are responsible for breaking down wastes (fish waste, decaying plants, uneaten food) to prevent a buildup of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. A tank can be cycled with fish, however this requires close monitoring of water chemistry and frequent partial water changes to stabilize chemistry and maintain water quality. Cycling with fish increases the risk of fish loss.

Hi, i have recently (as in today) got a betta fish and was hoping to get another betta, i only have a simple half gallon bowl for the fish and was wondering if there was a way to easily find a surefire friend for him without them fighting or being aggressive to each other

If you put another male betta in with him they will try to kill each other and will succeed. You would need two female bettas to put in, however a half gallon tank is way too small for three fish, and even for one betta this is not big enough. I suggest you get a 10 gallon tank. Then you can put three bettas in the tank and they will be happy (1 male, two females).

There is an odd growth under his or her left eye. None of the other 7 fish have it. We treat the water with ick gaurd and it is the size of a puple it has been there for just about 2 weeks now. What is it

It may be a bacterial infection or trauma. Monitor for bullying since you have other fish. Most minor infections can be managed or resolved by maintaining pristine water quality. A bit of plain aquarium salt (NOT table or Epsom salt) can be used as a general tonic to aid in recovery, reduce stress and improve gill function. Dissolve 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of water in a cup or two of tank water and gently pour it into the tank. Treat for 10-14 days then reassess the condition. If the condition is unchanged, consider a broad spectrum antibiotic. You can find one in the aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated.

Sorry! In my last question regarding the hatching living with Oscar, Oscar is a turtle not a fish, that’s his name, although I do have a cichlids tank but that’s different:). So would a hatching be able to live with a 5 ish inch turtle red eared slider? Male, loves to eat live feeder goldfish (small) and snails. There are two basking docks. Should I get a yearling instead that could live with him? There are two basking areas. can all slider turtle breeds live together?

I wouldn't recommend keeping a smaller turtle with a larger turtle. Oscar would harass or try to eat the smaller turtle. Red eared sliders can be quite territorial and aggressive towards other sliders. If you have a huge tank, say over 100 gallons, it *may* work. If you are set on having another turtle, look for one that is similar in size. The problem with mixing species is that there may be care and environmental differences that you may not be able to overcome in order to provide adequate care to both species.

My baby beta fish has not been able to swim up lately, he stays at the very bottom of the tank and barely moves. He has trouble swimming and I found him almost floating vertically. Please help.

Check the water chemistry and temperature. Elevated ammonia or nitrites can be toxic and low temps can affect activity. Bettas do best between 78 F and 80 F. You can use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee. Perform partial water changes, if indicated, to stabilize chemistry and maintain or improve water quality. Aim for 0 ppm ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 40 ppm or less. If possible, turn don the filter flow so the little guy isn't pushed around by a strong current. Bettas prefer slow moving water. Lower the water level to make it easier for him to surface. Bettas are air breathers. Feed Micro Pellets or crush regular pellets so he can eat them. You can moisten pellets with a bit of garlic juice to stimulate his appetite.

My beta fish is lying on its side at the bottom of the tank, he hasn’t moved much or at all for a couple of days. He has short jolts of energy but ends up sinking. Water has been changed, and filtration is on. What might be the problem?

Check the water temperature. Bettas do best between 78 F and 80 F. You should also lower the water level to make it easier for him to reach the surface. Test the water or submit a water sample for testing to rule out elevated ammonia, nitrite or nitrate levels. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee. Perform partial water changes, no more than 30% daily, to stabilize chemistry if indicated. use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. Soaking pellets in garlic juice may stimulate his appetite and provide an immune system boost.

Is it suitable to make a 1 feet marine tank. What fish should i keep in it?

It is very difficult to get a good biotope in a just 1 foot long tank unless it is a few feet high. You will not be able to keep fish in it, only invertebrates, maybe a few shrimp or sea anemones. It is much harder to keep the water healthy in a small tank,and the appliances needed for running a salt water aquarium cost pretty much the same (if available) as appliances for a larger tank. I suggest you join a club of salt water aquarists who will be able to start you off perfectly. Your local fish/pet shop should be able to point you to a club.

Hi I'm really scared because I went to my boyfriends parents house and I left my sister to look after my 7 Fish and she sent me a photo and I saw (HEAPS) of food layers on the to and I had to cut my holiday short my 11 days and I get back to sad babies (My Fish) and their usually happy swimmers and I put one Flake of Fish food that's all and they didn't eat it or look at it I did a water change clean filters nothing in sitting here choking cause I'm crying. Sorry if I'm being dramatic

Check the water chemistry to rule out elevated ammonia or nitrite levels. You can do this using a home test kit or by submitting a water sample for testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee. Perform partial water changes (no more than 30% total volume at a time) to stabilize chemistry and/or to improve water quality. use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. If all 7 fish are goldfish, a large tank is strongly recommended. The general rule is 20 gallons for the first fish and 10 additional gallons per extra fish. This is due to the goldfish producing a larger than average bio load (wastes) which can quickly overwhelm a small tank. Check the water temperature as well. Goldfish are cold water fish and do best between 65 F (18.3 C) and 72 F (22.2 C). The use of antibiotics or other medications would not be recommended in the absence of symptoms of illness or infection. Plain aquarium salt (NOT table or Epsom salt) can be used as a general tonic to improve gill function, reduce stress and aid in any recovery. Dissolve 1 tablespoon of aquarium salt per 5 gallons (19 liters) of water in a cup or two of tank water and gently pour it into the tank. Treat for 10-14 days then reassess their condition. Perform partial water changes afterwards to decrease salinity.