First Fish Casulaty

[big_fresh]

Yesterday I bought 6 Neon Tetras from my LFS.

After acclimatising them to my 20 gallon tank, (curious guppy fry checking out the bag)...I added a cup full of aquarium water then waited 20 minutes before putting them into the aquarium.

The neon's seemed to shoal except for one which I knew spelt trouble. After noticing my guppy fry chasing the neons.. .I decided to put them back in my 10 gallon since one of the neons didn't seem healthy already. It was not shoaling and was gasping.

Today I woke up and found the tetra dead I returned to my LFS and they tested my pH (7.3), Ammonia (0) and Nitrie (0).....

I know that neons prefer acidic water and also that they are not the most durable fish...but if anyone could throw some suggestions my way i'd really appreciate it.

 

[Doggfather]

could it have been sick from when you got it at the shop? or did it only gasp when it got let out of the bag?

 

[big_fresh]

To be honest, I am not sure....the poor fish appeared to be healthy when I picked it out of the shop. I noticed it in the tank when it didn't shoal with the other fish.

At the shop there were no signs of diseased fish in the tank. But the nice people at my LFS gave me store credit to replace the fish

 

[Doggfather]

At the shop there were no signs of diseased fish in the tank. But the nice people at my LFS gave me store credit to replace the fish

thats good to hear, sounds like you have a good lfs!

it was probably the fish...

 

[big_fresh]

Came home from work today.... another two neons have now gone to fish heaven.....

can someone give me any suggestions to keeping my neons healthy.

 

[tstenback]

big_fresh sorry to hear about the loss How long has your tank been up and running. Neons and cardinals generally do better if you add them to a mature tank. I usually wait about 8 weeks or longer after the cycle before adding them and i have pretty good results. These fish hate to be disturbed and these days the transport from the lfs usually takes its toll on about half of the neons in any one purchase. They dont all die but they get really stressed and that can lead to death or disease. Also they love plants and subdued lightiing areas specially when they get to their new home. HTH

 

[Artuk]

I added three neon tetras to a small tank where I previously just had Zebra Danios for cycling and two died over the course of the first week. I put them in because of the desire of my gf to see some fish she had as a girl. I think I just put too much load into a new tank which hadnt really finished cycling.

One tetra is left.. so far so good. I have pretty much stated no more tetras, or any other fish for that matter, until I am positive the tank is done cycling. I was getting that "But the fish never died on me before why worry" so, while I am sad to lose the fish, it did go to prove my point about being careful how many and how quickly fish were added.

So, your experience mirrors my limited fish experience, if it is any comfort. I think tstenback was right about not adding tetras to a new tank. I am going to wait at least another month before we restock. Besides, the one survivor seems content to shoal with the Danios.

Regards,

Artuk

 

[big_fresh]

Thanks to everyone for their replies....

to answer tstenback my tank completed cycling approximately 3 weeks ago...maybe this is the reason.... wasn't so sure about the correct point in time to add these funky fish.

However, I did some research about a neon's prefered environment and made sure that the tank was set to make their transition a little less stressful. I've added plants, dim lighting and a dark substrate. (my only worry was that my pH was too alkaline - but the lfs guy said they should be fine)

Artuk and tstenback, thanks for the comments, I will wait another month before I get some more companions for the three remaining tetras....just checked on them and the three of them are shoaling so it looks as though they've acclimatised.