hello

[jeank]

hello just a few words to introduce myself. I am a young old age pensioner. I have just taken up tropical fish I have a 4ft tank with just a few fish (male black pot bellied molly, female orange one guppies tetras one large rubber nose sucker fish a tetra silver tip.) had a lot more but for some reason they just died. so I am hoping to get information from you guys when I need it thank you.

[tetrakid]

Fish dying is part and parcel of the learning process for hobbyists. Everyone experiences that.

Fish need clean water which is not contaminated with harmful chemicals, etc. The most toxic chemical is ammonia, which is caused by rotting fish poo and uneaten food bits. Ammonia needs to be controlled by cultivating a huge colony of good bacteria in the tank, usually inside the filter. Cultivating such bacteria takes weeks, but once done, they will serve you for a long time, but only if you take care not to destroy them unknowingly.

After the weeks of cultivating the good ammonia-eating bacteria, you will need to change about 30% of the tank water once a week with aged water. Then you must also not be tempted to overfeed your fish by giving them too much food which they cannot finish. Feed at fixed times every day and with the same amount.

[jeank]

thanks for reply, had the tank up and running water test done and everything was ok so put a crowd of fish in then as I say one but one they died. I started off with 6 guppies only 3 left and 6 neon's only 2 left 4 pot bellied molly's 2 left my 4 black molly's are ok sucker fish 2 now only one took water to be tested and it was ok but I haven't found the body's. the fish were swimming round quite happy then one by one gone so what I do now do a head count and take a water sample in every 2 weeks. yesterday I found what looked like was a shrimp thing about half inch long sent photo to a friend who didn't know what it was but advised to kill it so my son did so thanking you ps I found your site while I was looking for bugs in water but even your photo,s one wasn't there thanks again

[tetrakid]

If it is killer bugs, I would advise you to keep further close watch on every part of the tank, as there may be more than one of them. This is also a common problem among hobbyists. Have to be careful when adding new plants too, as these bugs usually hang on to plants. Bugs can be small and imperceptible but they grow in the fish tank. Tiny and invisible bugs and parasites are also extremely harmful to fish.

[jeank]

my son has found out what it was (now dead) he found it on internet it was a baby one, and there was a short film about it after watching the film I am constantly looking to see if I can see any more hope not but I cannot suspect that it is the only one it was a water tiger I do not know how it got in as I haven't had any plants or anything new in. Hubby kept saying something is killing the fish and we couldn't find any bodies just noticed today that we have babies tiny tots didn't know fish were pregnant don't even know what one had them got a lot of learning to do your site is very helpful and I should learn by it thanks

[tetrakid]

Yes, there's so much to learn in this hobby that it is an enjoyable journey in itself. Even the pros and shifus benefit from their own vast past experience.

My journey really started when I learned the role and importance of bacteria in the aquarium. Now I pay a lot of attention to ensure they survive as well as the fish in the tank. Believe me, the bacteria do need a lot of care too.

The other thing I have benefited in this forum is this is where I got to know my 'water sucker' is a turkey baster (you see, I hate cooking in the kitchen). Cheers.