We just adopted our sweet girl Poppy last night from PetSmart. This morning we found her dead, and I don’t know what we did wrong.
Tank parameters:
– ph 7.6
– ammonia 0 ppm
– nitrite 0 ppm
– nitrate 10-20 ppm
– temp 78-79 degrees F
– properly functioning sponge filter + air stone
– live plants
– 6 gallons
– Indian almond leaves for tannins
– driftwood for tannins
– smooth rocks
The tank was cycled for several weeks. It passed the 24-hour ammonia test. See photos for for water chemistry (drop AND strip) a few hours before getting the fish. I also did a water change before getting the fish. I used API conditioner on the new water and used Tetra strips to confirm no chlorine before adding it to the tank.
We followed guidance on acclimation. She sat in the cup in the tank for ~ an hour and I added small amounts of tank water to the cup every so often.
She did behave oddly upon introduction to the tank. She mostly stayed in a corner at the surface, unmoving.
Two weird observations:
– We left her alone for a bit and then couldn’t find her. She had wedged herself (or was just hiding?) between the side of the tank and the hideout cave. We moved the cave and she swam away
– We witnessed her swim to the top of the tank, stop moving, and just sort of sink/drift downward for 15-20 seconds before resuming swimming.
We couldn’t immediately find her this morning. When we found her body it was either behind or under (??) a large smooth rock. No physical damage to her body.
What could I have done to prevent this?? If she got stuck under the rock somehow I don’t understand because people use hard scape with betas all the time… should I remove all hard scape before getting another fish??
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1q6dzbi
Posted by working_on_it_jeez
2 Comments
There is ammonia present. That color should be yellow and it’s green. I always keep API quick start on hand when adding to a new tank and am prepared to do water changes. I can see you tried really hard.
everything looks ok. sometimes they just get stuck but that doesn’t sound like your situation. can i ask, is there any surface area that isn’t covered by plants? might have been an unhealthy fish that was in its way before you picked it up.