Help

Pstant

I was given a 10 gallon with 6 fish (1 black molly, 1 white molly, 2 skirt tetras, 1 Guppy, and 1 glowfish) for Christmas. One of the skirt tetras seemed to have dropsy when I first put her in the tank, the rest seemed fine except for the black molly. I then discovered that he had ich and so did a few of the others. So I started treatment for the ich using salt. But 1 by 1 my fish started dying. The black molly went about 2 days after he entered the tank, followed by the glowfish a couple of days later, and then the white molly, and then the Guppy. They had all seemed fine but then just started struggling to swim and then died. So I was left with the 2 skirt tetras. They were doing ok but have not been eating for about a week when I feed them. Well today the tetra who I thought had the dropsy died and one of her eyes were red like they were bloody. So I have no idea what is going on in my tank. All I have left is the one other tetra who seems to be ok other than not really eating.

Does anybody have any idea what could be going on in my tank? I really don't want to lose the last tetra and I want to add a couple more fish in there with him so he isn't all alone but don't dare add any more until I figure out what is going on. As of now I am still treating with salt for ich (half the dosage the box said = 1 tablespoon or 3 teaspoons). Not sure if there is bacteria or a parasite or something, the bloody eye made me very suspicious. ANY HELP will be much appreciated!

beaslbob

If this was setup from scratch it sure sounds like the tank hasn't "cycled"

I would do a planted tank to help everything. Basically you add fast growing plants liek Anacharis to condition the water and consume the fish wastes.

I also do not recommend mollies in freshwater systems. But that said people do have good success with them.

You might also try plattys.

But that's just me and my .02

djembekah

Hello!
I've got a few questions for you first. how often have you changed water? Are there any plants in the tank? Did you get a water testing kit with the tank? What numbers have come up when testing if you did?

The problem is probably all the fish added at once into a new tank. i'm assuming that since it was a Christmas gift, that it's not cycled. They probably produced more ammonia than you kept down with water changes. And if sick, it just helped them die faster.

jentralala

I'd also look into fish good for your tank. Sounds like a lot of fish for a small tank. I agree with Beaslbob, plant the tank with a lot of live aquatic plants (Anacharis, apogoneton, Wisteria, watersprite, etc).

You have to be careful with such a small tank. If something goes wrong, it's very hard to catch it in time. I also agree that the tank has not been cycled.
Do you have a testing kit for your tank, such as API Freshwater Master Test Kit?

Pstant

Yes I do have a testing kit and I was keeping the ammonia down to .5 and below while cycling. I know it was too many fish to add it was not how I wanted to do my tank but it was a gift so I kind of got stuck with it the way it was. And once the first few fish died the ammonia has been at 0 or just above for a while because the bio load was so small in the 10g.

djembekah

i do kind of think those fish are inappropriate for that tank too.

Byron

Agree, the fish were not compatible in a 10g, plus I certainly suspect ammonia or nitrite poisoning. You didn't mention live plants, so presumably there were none, so that meant the 6 initial fish were producing ammonia and the bacteria just couldn't keep up. It had to establish first, and this takes time. Ammonia harms the fish (even if they live through it, the internal damage is done), then the nitrite.

The sole tetra may or may not survive, but please don't add any more fish until this is all resolved, and you have thought through the fish you want (that will work). So I will now turn to that.

"Compatibility" is many-faceted. Some fish are shoaling and must have several in the group. Glofish are shoaling, as are tetra; no less than 6 of a species, more is always better. However, a 10g has insufficient space for a group of Black Widow Tetra [sometimes called Black Skirt, and there is also a "white" skirt, same species] so with the one you have you now have a problem. You haven't room for a group, and one alone is bound to be stressed and this usually brings on increased aggression, so it will turn nasty to other fish. If it doesn't survive it will actually be a blessing.

Second, fish have differing needs respecting space, water parameters, and the environment which includes water flow from filters, plants, wood, rock, decor, etc. Taking just water parameters, the molly must have medium hard or harder water with a basic pH. All livebearers (Platy, Guppy, molly, endler) need this, but the molly especially. Tetra are soft water, though the BWT can manage in medium hard water. The Glofish the same. Do you know the GH (general hardness) and pH of your tap water?

A 10g tank is very limited space. Depending upon the water parameters, we can consider possible fish that will live in this tank. BTW, you notice that the fish names above shaded, meaning you can click them to see that species' profile. That will give you data on their needs and issues.

Byron.