Dead Fish - An Arguement With A Friend

[ALEXF]

Ok so after dabbling in the hobby for about 5 months a friend of mine stopped by and saw my tanks. They were really excited and was telling my how they had a 12yr old goldfish (in a bowl) and after it had passed they decided not to get more.... well after seeing mine, they felt inspired and seeing hows i was new on here and not complete clueless i told them i would teach them everything I know to help them succeed. Well We got the tank (a kit) he set it up (without me there) on a cardboard box half filled with water in which i told them was dumb for the possible seal problems not to mention the box giving way, so they took out the water and got something good to put it on. Well I went out with them a few times talking about all the equipment they would need, chemicals, etc. (none of which they bought) but they picked out decorations and w/e. I had told them about fishless cycling as well and told them i would print them some articles.... well they were like ok. So about a week went by and i called them and we were talking about my tanks and they told me they had gotten 3 serpae tetras and 2 guppies. I was like did you listen to anything i said feeling as if i had wasted my time.... We fought about it a bit and i was like w/e if you wanna be a fish killer thats on you (which they didnt seem to mind to much) but i told them good luck with their tank but that their fish were probably going to die. Well i talked with them today.... and guess what, "after a few days the guppies turned black and hardened and die, they were infected with something".... or maybe is it that your tank hadnt been cycled??? plus all the other coutless things that would be going wrong. not declorinating the water, overfeeding, etc. so i fiured i would come on here and ask what people think? i dont claim to know all but i do know a bit. Guppies experts come hither and speak on this mystery guppy diesease. If anyone knows what this blackening and hardening would have been please let me know so i can try to pass the info along. Sorry its so long....

Thank You

 

[5teady_2012]

Dont know the actual disease, but the high nitrites and bad water quality and high ammonia etc would be the route cause of it.

 

[bboorreedd11]

Dont know the actual disease, but the high nitrites and bad water quality and high ammonia etc would be the route cause of it.

agreed...plus they did not dechlroniate it...did they have a filter?

 

[ShoC]

When a fish turns black It can be a sign of ammonia burns... I.e from not cycling

My g/f's Goldfish turned black on its back half about 5 months now its starting to go back to normal

 

[aquanovice]

Yep, They should have listened to you

 

[rabbut]

Two issues are imediately obvious to me.

Uncycled tank

Innapropriate mixing of fish.

Ammonia burns can caruse blackening, as per already pointed out, and nitrite poisoning can lead to loss of colour, death and stiffness also.

The guppies are likely to be ripped by the serpes, and guess what, bullying also leads to the above symptoms in many cases..Also, sepae tetras are sholers and need to be in groups of 6+. I think you can safely say that you told them so Never mind, you tried, it's more than alot of people would do

I'd get them to return the guppies, the sepaes or both. If they return both, get them fishless cycling. If they keep one, get them to dechlorinate the water, then donate them some of your filter media to give the remaining fish a good chance of survival. Once things have settled, and their tank is cycled, get the numbers of the sepae's up if they keep them, to the number of 6.

I'd be rather un-sympathetic towards them in doing this though, and point out that you did warn them. This may make them listen to you next time

Best of luck getting this sorted
Rabbut

Edit to add; I belive that chlorine/chloramine poisoning can also lead to the symptoms they are seeing

 

[ALEXF]

im sorry im just now getting back to this subject. I want to thank everyone for their replies, Hopefully when i show them this information they will listen up this time.... doubt it thou. Thanks Everyone.