yikes! my 1st fish death

[Mary]

I woke up this morning to find one of the two gold gouramis laying on the
bottom of the tank, dead. Now the other one is laying on the bottom,
gasping.

I don't have a test kit but plan to take a water sample to the LFS tomorrow.

I have (had) 2 gold gouramis, 2 neon tetras, 1 cory and three african dwarf
frogs.

Out of this bunch, would the gouramis be the first to die if tank conditions
are off -or do you think it's something else? The other fish/frogs seem to
be completely normal although the frogs are *much* more active than usual.

Any ideas? Nothing new in the tank lately, regular water/filter cartridge
changes, too. Steady temp. Just don't know more w/o a water test kit for
tonight.

Thanks (sad to lose a fish for the first time!)

Mary

[Dinky]

"Mary" > wrote in message
...
|
| I don't have a test kit but plan to take a water sample to the LFS
tomorrow.
|
| Thanks (sad to lose a fish for the first time!)
|


Not trying to be rude, but if you don't invest in test kits, then
this likely will not be your last fish loss.
That said, I myself would have expected the neons to go first if
there is something wrong with the water. They're smaller and a bit
more fragile than gourami IME.

billy

[Dick]

On Sat, 24 Apr 2004 20:57:46 -0400, "Mary"
> wrote:

>I woke up this morning to find one of the two gold gouramis laying on the
>bottom of the tank, dead. Now the other one is laying on the bottom,
>gasping.
>
>I don't have a test kit but plan to take a water sample to the LFS tomorrow.
>
>I have (had) 2 gold gouramis, 2 neon tetras, 1 cory and three african dwarf
>frogs.
>
>Out of this bunch, would the gouramis be the first to die if tank conditions
>are off -or do you think it's something else? The other fish/frogs seem to
>be completely normal although the frogs are *much* more active than usual.
>
>Any ideas? Nothing new in the tank lately, regular water/filter cartridge
>changes, too. Steady temp. Just don't know more w/o a water test kit for
>tonight.
>
>Thanks (sad to lose a fish for the first time!)
>
>Mary
>

It is real sad to lose fish. Sorry Mary. (-:
They will die.

Did you check the temperature? Heater controls fail. Cool water
would be on the bottom and warm water has less oxygen. However, I
would expect all the fish to be up top getting air from the surface.

I have 3 large Blue Gouramis. They do stay on the bottom at times,
but upright and I haven't noticed gasping ever. You didn't mention
how long you have had the Golds.

Did you try changing 20% or so of your water? If the Gold is better
after several partial changes it would point to the water conditions.
Then again, some local water changes might be culprit. I am my own
worst enemy with chemicals. I trust the local water conditions more
than my handling of the nasty chemicals. Until you get to the LFS,
try water changes. Several can be made in one day.

[Mary]

"Dick" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 24 Apr 2004 20:57:46 -0400, "Mary"
> > wrote:
>
> >I woke up this morning to find one of the two gold gouramis laying on the
> >bottom of the tank, dead. Now the other one is laying on the bottom,
> >gasping.
> >
> >I don't have a test kit but plan to take a water sample to the LFS
tomorrow.
> >
> >I have (had) 2 gold gouramis, 2 neon tetras, 1 cory and three african
dwarf
> >frogs.
> >
> >Out of this bunch, would the gouramis be the first to die if tank
conditions
> >are off -or do you think it's something else? The other fish/frogs seem
to
> >be completely normal although the frogs are *much* more active than
usual.
> >
> >Any ideas? Nothing new in the tank lately, regular water/filter cartridge
> >changes, too. Steady temp. Just don't know more w/o a water test kit for
> >tonight.
> >
> >Thanks (sad to lose a fish for the first time!)
> >
> >Mary
> >
>
> It is real sad to lose fish. Sorry Mary. (-:
> They will die.
>
> Did you check the temperature? Heater controls fail. Cool water
> would be on the bottom and warm water has less oxygen. However, I
> would expect all the fish to be up top getting air from the surface.
>
> I have 3 large Blue Gouramis. They do stay on the bottom at times,
> but upright and I haven't noticed gasping ever. You didn't mention
> how long you have had the Golds.
>
> Did you try changing 20% or so of your water? If the Gold is better
> after several partial changes it would point to the water conditions.
> Then again, some local water changes might be culprit. I am my own
> worst enemy with chemicals. I trust the local water conditions more
> than my handling of the nasty chemicals. Until you get to the LFS,
> try water changes. Several can be made in one day.
>

Thanks - I did one last night but this 2nd one is gone this morning. I've
only had them since February. This is a new tank but seemed perfect up until
now. The other fish still seem fine and the thermometer is steady 79.

Well, thanks for the reply. We'll see what the water test says later...

Mary

[Mary]

"Dinky" > wrote in message
ink.net...
>
>
>
> "Mary" > wrote in message
> ...
> |
> | I don't have a test kit but plan to take a water sample to the LFS
> tomorrow.
> |
> | Thanks (sad to lose a fish for the first time!)
> |
>
>
> Not trying to be rude, but if you don't invest in test kits, then
> this likely will not be your last fish loss.
> That said, I myself would have expected the neons to go first if
> there is something wrong with the water. They're smaller and a bit
> more fragile than gourami IME.
>
> billy
>
>

Not being rude. It's just that I'm new to this & thought 'well, if I never
have a problem, why start?' Because I have heard quite a few people on here
say that they've had tanks for years, never had a problem & never used one.
I wanted to be like them;)

I hope you're right about who's more fragile. Maybe it was a 'gourami'
thing? Weird. We'll get tested later today (after I go to drawing class).

Thanks,
Mary

[Dick]

On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 07:36:01 -0400, "Mary"
> wrote:

>
>"Dick" > wrote in message
...
>> On Sat, 24 Apr 2004 20:57:46 -0400, "Mary"
>> > wrote:
>>
>> >I woke up this morning to find one of the two gold gouramis laying on the
>> >bottom of the tank, dead. Now the other one is laying on the bottom,
>> >gasping.
>> >
>> >I don't have a test kit but plan to take a water sample to the LFS
>tomorrow.
>> >
>> >I have (had) 2 gold gouramis, 2 neon tetras, 1 cory and three african
>dwarf
>> >frogs.
>> >
>> >Out of this bunch, would the gouramis be the first to die if tank
>conditions
>> >are off -or do you think it's something else? The other fish/frogs seem
>to
>> >be completely normal although the frogs are *much* more active than
>usual.
>> >
>> >Any ideas? Nothing new in the tank lately, regular water/filter cartridge
>> >changes, too. Steady temp. Just don't know more w/o a water test kit for
>> >tonight.
>> >
>> >Thanks (sad to lose a fish for the first time!)
>> >
>> >Mary
>> >
>>
>> It is real sad to lose fish. Sorry Mary. (-:
>> They will die.
>>
>> Did you check the temperature? Heater controls fail. Cool water
>> would be on the bottom and warm water has less oxygen. However, I
>> would expect all the fish to be up top getting air from the surface.
>>
>> I have 3 large Blue Gouramis. They do stay on the bottom at times,
>> but upright and I haven't noticed gasping ever. You didn't mention
>> how long you have had the Golds.
>>
>> Did you try changing 20% or so of your water? If the Gold is better
>> after several partial changes it would point to the water conditions.
>> Then again, some local water changes might be culprit. I am my own
>> worst enemy with chemicals. I trust the local water conditions more
>> than my handling of the nasty chemicals. Until you get to the LFS,
>> try water changes. Several can be made in one day.
>>
>
>Thanks - I did one last night but this 2nd one is gone this morning. I've
>only had them since February. This is a new tank but seemed perfect up until
>now. The other fish still seem fine and the thermometer is steady 79.
>
>Well, thanks for the reply. We'll see what the water test says later...
>
>Mary
>
You had the fish since February, long enough for fish store problems
to show up. I am puzzled by your comment about the "new tank."
Did you recently move the fish to a "new tank" or are you saying it
was new to you in February?

I lost two breeder Angelfish shortly after moving them to a different
tank. It was to be their own tank with no other fish sharing it.
They died shortly after moving them. So, if you do mean a "new tank"
then I wonder if something happened in moving them?

I hope the water tests tell you more. It is scarry to have fish die
with no way of knowing what was the cause. The fact that the other
fish are ok suggest you will find nothing in the water test. Perhaps
the LFS will have some ideas. Good luck.

[Vicki]

"Mary" > wrote in message >...
> "Dinky" > wrote in message
> ink.net...
> >
> >
> >
> > "Mary" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >
> >
> >
>
> Not being rude. It's just that I'm new to this & thought 'well, if I never
> have a problem, why start?' Because I have heard quite a few people on here
> say that they've had tanks for years, never had a problem & never used one.
> I wanted to be like them;)
>
> I hope you're right about who's more fragile. Maybe it was a 'gourami'
> thing? Weird. We'll get tested later today (after I go to drawing class).
>
> Thanks,
> Mary

Hey Mary,
I am one of them folks who do not use test kits, but when I first
started out (a long time ago in a galaxy far away) I used them all the
time. It will give you a bit of piece of mind knowing what is in your
water so a basic test for the big three (ammonia, nitrates, nitrites)
will do ya good. After a year or so of fish keeping you should have
more of a handle on things.

Vicki