[Ulrich Kinbote]

I had 6 zebrafish in my small aquarium. Yesterday, I changed the water and soonafter 4 of them started swimming funny—flopping around on their sides and upside-down—and finally died. They were my 2 year old daughter's best friends.



I used tap water, but it can be that. The first time I filled the aquarium was from the tap. It might have been the change in temperature.

Any tips?

[King Bob On The Cob]

Originally Posted by Ulrich Kinbote

I had 6 zebrafish in my small aquarium. Yesterday, I changed the water and soonafter 4 of them started swimming funny—flopping around on their sides and upside-down—and finally died. They were my 2 year old daughter's best friends.



I used tap water, but it can be that. The first time I filled the aquarium was from the tap. It might have been the change in temperature.

Any tips?

Lots of things could have gone wrong. The fish most likely died from shock.

Temp change can kill them.
Tap water will kill them (unless you let it settle for 24 hours or treat it).
Sudden pH change can kill them.

Overall, you're supposed to use room temp distilled water to change tank water, and next time, you should keep them in plastic bags over the water for about an hour to equalize the temperature slowly. At 15 minute intervals you should slowly introduce water from the tank into the bag to allow them to get used to the pH difference.

[Ω]

As pointed out, temp change = teh bad.

Me no expert, but my pappy has disposed of a few bodies in his time.

[JoshuaZ]

Maybe they were in some strange cult?

[buffalolee]

Is your tap water aerated? Maybe you killed your fish by using aerated tap water. You can take out the aerator (at the faucet port) before you fill your fish tank next time.

Originally Posted by Ulrich Kinbote

I had 6 zebrafish in my small aquarium. Yesterday, I changed the water and soonafter 4 of them started swimming funny—flopping around on their sides and upside-down—and finally died. They were my 2 year old daughter's best friends.



I used tap water, but it can be that. The first time I filled the aquarium was from the tap. It might have been the change in temperature.

Any tips?

[RAILhead]

The untreated tap water, probably. Add to that the potential temp change, and they didn't stand a chance.

[Millennium]

Fish, unfortunately, are notoriously fragile, and the worst part is that some are more fragile than others. My family managed to keep one of our fish alive for nine years (through an interstate move, in fact). But most of the time our fish never lasted for more than two years, and quite a few never even lasted one.

Another possibility: had you used soap on whatever you used to change the water? Soap residue can do nasty things to fish.

[Cody Dawg]

I'll tell you why - my husband has aquariums and some fancy fish.

Next time you change the water use an empty bucket, container, etc., and siphon out about half of the water into the bucket (clean) and save it.

That water in the tank has achieved a particular bacterial and pH content that was perfect for the fish. When you change it and all of the bacteria is/are gone and the pH is upset or alkaline then the fish go into shock and die.

So, the best way to do a water change or clean the tank is to preserve half of the water to make sure that those fish aren't shocked.

Also, use reverse osmosis water or purified water and not tap water which may have chlorine in it and/or flouride or other chemicals.



We just had to move two huge aquariums (100 and 120 gallons each) and we had to do the same thing with saving the water. Went to Home Depot and had to get a water pump to pump the water into huge trash cans to save it for the move.

Make sure you get some simple water test kits to check your water or bring the water to a local aquarium store to have them check and recommend some chemicals for alkalinity, etc.

Good luck!

[applenut1]

What a fool. Next time research a bit before killing your pets. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that you have to match the temp of the tank and treat the water before putting it in the tank.


(shakes head)

[RAILhead]

Originally Posted by applenut1

What a fool. Next time research a bit before killing your pets. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that you have to match the temp of the tank and treat the water before putting it in the tank.


(shakes head)

Already being jackass? Wake up with a shovel up your arse?

[ort888]

Geez dude, I know they are just fish, but I thought this stuff was common knowledge. This is like asking... why did my dog die when I left him in my car for 48 hours during a heatwave?

Go to your local pet store and buy a $10 book on aquarium and fish maintenance before getting more fish. That's your homework.

[Cody Dawg]

He's coming here to ask for help and jackasses are making fun of him and ridiculing him?

Hint?

GET A LIFE.

It's NOT "common knowledge." We've had fish for a long time and they STILL die. They are very fragile. Even the room cooling down suddenly can affect the water temperature and make fish sick. Fish can be sick for a long time (they get something called "ick" for example) and when they are stressed they die...when healthy fish wouldn't have.

Stop being mean because you can be.

[Gossamer]

Originally Posted by ort888

Geez dude, I know they are just fish, but I thought this stuff was common knowledge. This is like asking... why did my dog die when I left him in my car for 48 hours during a heatwave?

But humans can easily detect that danger. It's much harder for us to detect a 5 degree change in water temperature, or a change in pH. Your example doesn't fit. He's still mourning the loss of his fish, let him be.

[turtle777]

Dude, get a turtle. They are much cooler than fish.



I had red-eared sliders for the last 18 years, they just rule.

-t

[Ulrich Kinbote]

Thanks everyone! That's good advice.

I did actually do some research when I got the fish. There's quite a lot of info about zebrafish on the net because -- apparently -- they're the model organism for studying biological development because they breed everyday, have clear eggs that develop outside the body (which they usually eat) and are also "easy to look after."

Unfortunately, the "easy to look after" part made me think I didn't need to make any special preparations for cleaning the tank.

Well, I know what to do next time.


Now for my daughter's first mortality lesson

[nonhuman]

Don't forget to feed them, too!