Rosy Barbs Dying Off One By One

[windtrancer]

i bought 4 rosy barbs on wednesday.

two died on thursday of unknown cause. one is dying as we speak.

before the barb started floating upside down and become incapable of regular movement, it was gasping at the surface.

i have 1 more barb left. please tell me what i should do!

ps. i tested for ammonia, which was a bit hi at 2.0ppm. i did a 20% water change and brought it down to 1.5ppm. i read it was risky to do anything larger than a 20% water change per day, so i stopped there. ph is at 7.2. the tank is 1.5 weeks new and 10 gallon.

 

[CroNiC]

Did you do a fishless cycle before you added the fish? And since you have a 10 gallon do u ahev any other fish?
O and 4 rosy barbs in a 10 gallon is overstocking it. It needs a minimum of 20 gallons. Maybe that was the reason.

 

[j.c]

Dunno?may have been caused by stress or disease.do you have quarantine tank?

 

[windtrancer]

no i did not do a fishless cycle before adding fish to the tank. the tank now has 1 rosy barb and two firemouth cichlids. i don't have a quarantine tank.

could they be dying off due to ammonia poisoning or lack of aeration?

i don't have an air pump because i read that you didn't need one if you had a power filter with bio-wheel. problem is if that only applies to established tanks when second-level bacteria are present.

 

[tttnjfttt]

a 10 gallon tank is too small for all of your fish. the firemouths and the barbs need a minimum of 20 gallons.

As for trying to get your fish to survive until you can get the larger tank, you need to bring the ammonia down. I generally say you can do a 25% water change every 3 hours. This gives them plenty of time to aclimate to the water in between. I'm betting the reason the fish are dieing is the ammonia.


Not the author of this
Ammonia Poisoning

Symptoms:

The fish will hang just under the surface with labored breathing. Its gills will appear to be lilac in color. Red streaking may be seen throughout the body and fins. Fishes with ammonia poisoning will become lethargic and eventually die, maintaining their full coloring. The ammonia will damage their skin, gills, nerves and internal organs. The red streaking is due to hemorrhages (internal and external bleeding). Its mucous membranes of the skin and intestine are also destroyed. Damage also occurs to the brain and central nervous system.


Cause:

Abnormally high levels of ammonia.


Treatment:

Test the water to confirm the disease. If ammonia levels are high, perform an immediate water change.