Hi guys, I'm new to rearing fishes and need some advice.
My daughter went to a fish farm on a school trip and brought home 5 mollies. At about 7pm yesterday, I transferred them out of the plastic bag and put them in a bucket of fresh tap water as I was afraid that they were in the bag for too long. At 9pm, I bought a small fish tank, filled it with fresh tap water again and transferred the fishes in. I also fed them some flakes bought from the shop. The shop guy said that air pump and filter were not necessary so I didn't get them.
This morning I checked the fishes and they were all swimming near the water surface, as if trying to breathe air. Does that mean that I need an air pump? Also, the water is very murky, probably due to unfinished food. Is it too soon to change the water, given that I already "changed" it twice yesterday?
Lastly, read online that I should only change water partially, and not the whole tankful. Does that mean I need to buy a siphon? Any advice on how to do a partial water change? Do I use the net to get the fishes out first before changing the water? Will that stress them?
Hi bro,
I suggest you read more on the fish care and water maintenance before buying any fishes. This will really help you. You can visit here for more information http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/ebook.html . Every fish need oxygen. The reason why your mollies breathing for air is due to depicted in oxygen in the tank. Frequent water change or air pump will help. Do read more.
I didnt' buy the fishes. They were given to my girl when her school visited a fish farm in Pasir Ris. We never intended to rear fish, but now no choice got to crash course.
since you had done a WC without any water conditioner at the first time, should be ok to do WC now either 100% or partially.
for your case, do not need an air-pump to provide oxygen, if possible keep it in a larger tank. no need to waste $$ for this investment if you got no confident to keep long.
always feed less but can feed frequently per day, is good to siphon out un-eaten food as will rot in tank and reduce oxygen.
CHeers..
did you even put in water conditioner ?
like anti chlorine /chloromines ?
nowadays our tap water is super toxic with all the crap they giving us to drink
Hi redryder,Originally Posted by redryder
can understand your concerns & being a parent too, guess it's quite painful to see your child feeling sad should their pet (in this case the mollies) die... (No doubt the livestocks may be very cheap ones...)...
Anyway, guess as many had suggested, try to get a dechlorinator (I recommend Seachem Prime) to add to your tap water for future water change. Since it's a filterless/pumpless tank, you may want to consider getting some easy-to-care/ slow growing plants (like java moss, Annubias Nana/ Java Ferns etc) to place in your tank to provide the mollies with the required oxygen (produced during photosynthesis by the plants - however, this may render it necessary for you to get a light for the tank, or to place it in a place with access to some light...).
To prevent the water from getting too murky, do not overfeed the fish - only give them what they can finish. Any uneaten food will turn moldy & affect the water parameters since you have no 'cleanup' crews... As for water change, you can change about 20 to 40% each time, once or twice a week - up to you or you may even involve your girl to instill responsibilty & love for animals [actually it depends on the condition of the tank, if you find most of the fishes like breathless, then better to do a water change soon...]. Lastly, to siphon out the water/uneaten food, you can just get those air tubings (available from most LFSs) to do the job....
Hope the above helps & your girl will enjoy this hobby with you...
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