Science Stinks

[Brattina88]

Science has always been my favorite subject, but this year science is bugging me. Its not the students, or even the teacher [well, somewhat]. Its the fish tank. My teacher recently moved me closer to the front of the room because she saw that I was interested in her fish, so now I sit right next to it. The problem is, now that I see it everyday I am noticing that her tank has some problems. The most apparent thing is that some of her plants have died and are laying on the bottom... I haven't seen it for four days because of thanksgiving break -- white stuff is growing on them now. I think its over crowded too...?
Its a ten gallon tank with 3 Zebra danios (used to be 6 & one of them looks pregnant) 5 other fish - I am not sure what they are, but there about the size of her little zebra dudes, mostly clear with a single dark stripe down the sides (there used to be six of them too). There's a male betta, who looks just awful. The zebra dudes have nipped at him so much he hardly has any tail left at all! He rests on the bottom most of the time, looking pathetic. There's a pleco, looks to be about 4in, that always stays around the same place, two snails that had about 20 little snails covering the tank last 9wks (there gone now, I don't know what happened to them), and a little frog. There was a crawdad that was constantly digging around and messing up the gravel. She doesn't know what happened to him, but the teacher hypothesizes that he is under the gravel, hibernating??? There's no heater, no air stones or anything like that, just an older looking filter that some of the kids like to unplug for fun. There's a smell coming from the tank, too, and I know its normal at all. I need to stop complaining about it and do something to help ... any suggestions?

 

[White Whale]

Speak up! Offer to take care of the tank, maybe even as extra credit or something. Couldn't hurt.

 

[Brattina88]

i wish i wasn't so shy and quiet sometimes, but i got to say something! maybe she'll let me come in for lunch to do something... what should i do? water changes... clean out the plants and stuff?
I forgot to put that the snails have stuff growing on them...
in your opinion do you think that the betta should be taken out of the tank?

 

[White Whale]

Do what you think is best for the tank community to the best of your knowledge. Doing something is much better than letting them suffer in neglect. Maybe a 75% water change and get all the dead stuff out of that tank. And separate in individual containers anything that has "growth" on it. Put all those snails in one cup or something. Then you can put all the clean fish back in. Then start to see which ones are suffering and seek medical attention for them.

Yes, get the betta out of there and put him in his own bowl with absolutely no frills - at least 1/4 gallon. If you have BettaFix, start the medication process right away and keep his water clean.

I'm sure there are others on here that could think up more/better ways on how to go about this. But I hope this would give you a start.

The only hope those fishes have is YOU....

 

[Braddah]

That tank is seriously overstocked and sounds like everything is headed towards the big pond in the sky....Do something, Itty Bitty Betta is right get all that dead stuff out of there and buy a heater for the tank (dont forget a thermometer also)... Think about asking a LFS for a donation from one of there tanks tell them its for a school project and see if they can help you with water testing and meds if the need arises.....BTW who fed these fish over the break and what happens to them during winter, spring, and summer break One more thought its science class right??? So why not put some water under a microscope and check out the conditions now and then do one after you get the tank cleaned and do a project on it? Wow that sounds cool I wish I could do a science project on fish! BTW bad smells from fish tanks are not good...a healty tank smells like soil....also if there is not a flouesent light , there shouldnt be plants in there (not enough watts to facilitate photosynthesis and then plants die....no bueno! keep us posted!

 

[Moe]

I would think that the teacher thought it would be a good leaning experience to have a fish tank. She may clueless like most of us when we first started. I'm sure she would want to do something about this. Most teachers don't want to teach kids how to torture animals but she may not know how to fix the problems. You could try downloading some info and printing it out for the teacher. Stuff like the proper care of tropical fish and info on all the specific fish you have. That way it does not look like you're just complaining or making things up. You may want to make an appointment with her during lunch to discuss this or get some other kids in the class involved and see her as a group. If the teacher won't pay for the stuff you need could you have a bake sale or something to raise funds. Get the math teacher in on it. See how much all the supplies you need will cost, figure out how many cupcakes you will need to sell etc. Also most local fish stores will test water for free. I'd find a mom and pop store in your area they may be more willing to donate stuff. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Eelzor]

They have about 12 tanks at our school in my biology rooms ranging from about 20 gallons to 50 gallons. They are only used for practises only though, plants, crayfish and i think octopus next year! Anyway regarding your problem like the others said, It is best to do something about it because your the only person there that can help. If you are worried sometimes, I believe that this was an extremely helpful saying - "Tackle your fears head on" It so works for anyone I know.

 

[FanOFish]

Teachers love interested students. Ask if you can make a project out of cleaning the tank, moving some fish and use your knowledge to bring the tank back livable for the fish. If you are up for it, you can then do a presentation to the class explaining all you did and why.......sounds like an A to me!

 

[Brattina88]

I walked into the class ready to say something. Having everyone tell me that I should do something boosted my confidence I'm thinking. The water was really cloudy today, even some other students (who couldn't care less about fish or school) pointed it out. So I started by saying that I was concerned about her fish... that I had tanks at home and was reading a lot about them. I explained that a water change and cleaning was over due, and that the betta needed to get out of there for starters. I could tell that she didn't know anything about this. At first she was being defensive, but she heard me out. I offered to clean it out and do it for her after school if she wanted me to and finally she took responsibility. The teacher said she appreciated my offer, but it was her fish and her responsibility to care for them, and that she would fix everything tomorrow (tomorrow the students have no school because of teacher meetings, so it will be a good time for her to do so). Then she told me that she felt really guilty so I told her that it was okay because she didn't know So suposedly her and another teacher (who's tank looks better at least ) are going to do it tomorrow. I told her to make sure she dechlorinate the water and stuff. I won't see the tank until Thursday, but I'm going to be super mad if she doesn't do anything because the way the tank looked today, they're not going to make it.

who fed these fish over the break and what happens to them during winter, spring, and summer break

Usually she has those weekend feeders/automatic feeders (im not sure what exactly you call them ) for the breaks, but my friend who has this class last period told me that the teacher poured a whole bunch of food into the tank before Thanksgiving break Not Good I'm going to print out some information and give it to her (good idea! thanks ) because it'll be easier to convince her she needs a heater, lid, and light that way.

I hope she does clean out the tank like she said

 

[Moe]

I'm so glad things are going in the right direction. You should be proud of yourself for speaking up. I know it is not easy sometimes but you did the right thing. Keep us posted!

 

[Brattina88]

I'm so glad things are going in the right direction. You should be proud of yourself for speaking up. I know it is not easy sometimes but you did the right thing. Keep us posted!

Thanks

Well, everything was great. I went into class, and she had took out all of the dead plants and other God knows what on the bottom. She changed the water and took about 90% of the plants out of the tank, and put in some really cool deco's. The fish seemed instantly better somehow The smell had went away too.
The flu is going around and everybody is getting sick. I was out of school for three days. Before I went out the teacher made a comment to me that technically the tank wasn't hers, it was another teachers. It totally contradicted what she had said the day I confronted her about, and left me a little confused. The tank was better, though, and that was all that mattered to me.
Now my teacher has been out for four days, and I noticed the tank is getting bad again. Its overfeeding is all it is, I'm sure. I walked into class today and there was plastic wrap covering the top of the tank! The whole room stinks, and that is the reason it was covered we were told. The sympathetic sub told me that I could sit elsewhere because I sit right next to it but I didn't move. I watched three fish die in my 45min long class period. The sub left a complaint, but I don't think its going to help.

 

[NEWBUTNOTDUMB69]

neglect is not good for those that are ignorant to the way of the fishies!

 

[White Whale]

Find out who is the actual owner of that aquarium and tell them that those fish are not being well cared for. Oh, sure, the teacher did one big change, but it isn't going to last forever. In a way, fish may be like cats and just eat their fill and leave the rest, but the food left in the water will begin to decompose in an hour or less and become inedible. Whoever is overfeeding the tank should know better by now.

You should keep speaking up --

"Since the fish depend on us for survival, it is up to us to ensure their needs are met. They cannot do it themselves. The fate of their lives rests in our hands. I mean, who would like to die a slow, miserable and painful death? Need an example? All you need to do is have the flu and have someone around you who has the capability of taking care of you in your weakened state neglect you as you asphyxiate in your own mucous and waste. Not a pretty site, is it?."

-- or something to that effect

We're all rootin' for ya!!!!

 

[Brattina88]

My teacher came back, finally, and she was not happy. After she lectured the class her eyes met mine and she took me out into the hallway and asked me what I thought should be done (while everyone was doing an experiment). I tried to speak knowledgeably and calmly as I could and she totally agreed. After checking on the class she took me downstairs and we hunted down the real owner of the tank. Now that I look back, it was kind of funny, but we were serious.
After school the teacher came in, so me, my teacher and the real owner started cleaning out the tank. The separated the fish in different jars and had me print stuff out from the computer while they did a water change and treated some of the fish. The owner of the tank was poking around in the gravel and even found the crawdad, who was still alive, and separated the snails. With the information I printed out I left them to finish because I had to go to work.
So far, so good. The owner of the tank got me out of geometry class today to show her how much food should be given. I felt like I was teaching a 6yr old how to take care of her fish and I missed some of the lesson but I'd rather have to tell her what to do than let her neglect the fish.
We now have a lid, heater (that we're slowly warming the water to let the fish get used to it) and a new filter in the class room. For some of the fish it was already too late, but for the remaining ones, I hope the rest is all good. The betta does not look good at all, and I'm afriad that he won't make it despite my efforts to save him
Thanks for all of your support ~ I think it'll be better here on out.
(because if it isn't she's gonna hear from me! lol)

 

[Lithril]

Yay, its always good to get someone to change the way they're doing something for the better, sounds like you made a real difference CONGRATS