Why did my fish die?

[shawluvsbirds]

My 02 cents in there.... cycling the tank is essential.... I used to put in a sacrifical fish a molly or guppy to aid in that process. Water will turn cloudy then clear up... This is a microbial bloom and goes toward getting the filter started as well as adjusting the PH. Mollies are pretty tough and good for that job.

flakes in the gravel may be extra food... too much food will kill fish as well. Causing another bloom an anerobic bloom displaces oxygen not good.

Best to keep fish that have the same environmental requirements together.... Betas are brackish water fish so ar mollies platys guppies... The only consideration with betas is not to put in other betas even females. They nip fins of guppies or fish that have long fins.

Gold fish can handle a wide range of temperatures but do best in an un heated tank.

Remember For all fish the general rule of thumb is... an inch of fish per Gallon of tank. Has to do with Oxygen exchange.... If you add bubblers in you can increase that some but not a lot.

Ideal fish tank shape is as long as it is deep. surface area for oxygen exchange.

MY 110 gallon tank got a partial change of 25 percent about twice a year. I raised angel fish from quarter sized to the size of your palm and they were breeding. I did an undergravel filter along with a canister filter because the tank was deeper than normal. Along with a bubbler.

I also didnt feed but once every two days sometimes three.

Technology and husbandry has changed quite a bit since I started out but I had good instruction. Hung around an Ichthyologist at work Where we had two hundred aquariums fresh water on one side and salt on the other.

deb

Sacrificial Molly

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Thanks everyone!
I will get rid of the gravel. I have a feeling that was the problem. Cause it happened right after I put the gravel in there. I got the Betta at PetSmart. My tank is ten gallons. Also, we have another tank in the house, and have uSed all the same water, and there are a Betta, six rasboras, a snail, and a ghost shrimp. They have been doing great for a long time. I am thinking of getting some mollies and guppies.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Thanks everyone so much for the help!! I cleaned out all the gravel, and we have some that is not colored, I think. The brand is AQUA Culture. That was the same brand as the blue gravel. But they sell it at Walmart and PetSmart. It is also what is in our other fish tank. The brown kind. I haven't noticed any flakiness in the other tank, and all the fish are fine. Again, thanks so much for the help!!

 

[Kevin_87]

Consider the regional aspects of your fish selection. I saw one comment of a tank with goldfish and a beta. These fish have totally different needs. If you actually have aquired ghost shrimp the salinity and Ph would certainly kill the beta. Water quality and contaminated Walmart gravel are the most likely cause. Cycling a tank is an art that requires skill and patience. You can now buy the cultures at the pet store to shorten the process. Please research your fish choices and select specimens that have very similar water chemistry and environmental needs. This will increase your success. You and your fish will like the results.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Consider the regional aspects of your fish selection. I saw one comment of a tank with goldfish and a beta. These fish have totally different needs. If you actually have aquired ghost shrimp the salinity and Ph would certainly kill the beta. Water quality and contaminated Walmart gravel are the most likely cause. Cycling a tank is an art that requires skill and patience. You can now buy the cultures at the pet store to shorten the process. Please research your fish choices and select specimens that have very similar water chemistry and environmental needs. This will increase your success. You and your fish will like the results.

Thank you for your reply. I have Guppies now. Good kind of gravel, and everyone is going good!