Fish Dyin?

[Fish-Noobie]

ok here it is 2 of my 3 fish are loosing their color and thats how my fourth one died help what is happening?!?!?!?!

 

[Lithril]

Need more info please, what fish, how bigs the tank, your current setup, ammonia, nitrite & nitrate levels (actual values please not just that they're ok). Any meds recently been fed, have you got any type of surface movement or air pump/bubbler in the tank?

 

[Fish-Noobie]

green spotted puffers , about 20g might get 200g , hmm liek whats in the tank? theres peices of drift wood and some fake plants and a sea shell, not sure , i dunno what a med is but im pretty sure not, no i got a filter and a powerhead

 

[GP]

Are they laying down when you see them without color? Most puffers will become dull in coloration when at rest. When they start to move their color comes back immediatly.

 

[Fish-Noobie]

no their moving and i see their loosing color

 

[GP]

then it may be an internal parasite.. Also, what is your salt level?

 

[Fish-Noobie]

1.008

 

[Lithril]

med = medication, you also missed out the most important part: what are your ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels? Was the tank cycled before you put the fish in there?

 

[Fish-Noobie]

yes its cycled as in filter and stuff right? and im going to buy a test kit when i goto my lps

 

[Lithril]

Yeah cycled means that the there is filter and its been colonised by beneficial bacteria.

You'll defiantely need to get test kits for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates as puffers are sensitive to these toxins, you should have a reasonable understanding of the water chemistry, what affects and how to react to it, you should be monitoring these levels regularly until you're certain that the tank is cycling and that your fish are in no danger. This is the reason that puffers are not recommended for beginners.

For more information read the pinned topics in the beginners section on 'new tank syndrome'

 

[Fish-Noobie]

hmm i did everything the fish guy told me to do like get bateria anti chlorine ect its got a power head and a 30g filter

 

[Lithril]

Thing is on a new tank putting bacteria in will give will give your tank a start but it takes time for the bacteria to colonise the filter to levels where its going to be effective, if you're cycling the fishless way then this is about 10-20 days if you're cycling with fish it'll take up to 3 months - if its with fish you have to test the water regularly to make sure the toxins aren't building up, sometimes you'll be doing daily water changes to keep it under control.