Purchased these fish from my local Petco a week ago.
At first they were swimming around & enjoying the tank & now they just sit at the bottom right beside each other all day everyday. It also looks like they’re going blind?
They’re fed twice a day, & the filter is cleaned often & we’ve added Aqua Safe to the tap water.
The water temperature is 72°.
Posted by velvetvanta
13 Comments
Put some plants
So, that tank is under sized, the tank has no cover, I dont know why its only filled 75% of the way. The employee that sold those to you for an uncycled 20g is irresponsible. I work for petco, and that is well below the minimum standard we are supposed to sell to. Given that these are large fish in a relatively small volume of water, I imagine your tank is spiking in ammonia and nitrites if it was uncycled. This stresses fish immensely and can make it impossible for them to breathe.
Filter shouldn’t be cleaned often, especially if “often” has occurred in the span of a single week.
Look up the nitrite cycle. The filter media needs to have an established bacteria colony to function properly. It generally takes 4-6 weeks for the filter to establish a cycle before the aquarium is safe for fish.
How are you cleaning the filter ?
Oof. This is sad. Tank way too small for those fish. They’re dying. Also what do you mean that the filter is cleaned?
1. Stop feeding twice a day. Feed *once* a day, only what the fish will *completely consume* in 30 seconds or less.
2. DO NOT CLEAN THE FILTER OFTEN. Clean it when the water flow is reduced due to clogging, but it shouldn’t get “clogged” more often than once every 2-3 months as long as you’re not *overfeeding.*
Of course, I didn’t see any water test results…. The fish are likely swimming in piss, and your ammonia is spiking. Next stop to Petco should be to buy a API freshwater test kit and check your basic parameters, and while you’re there — get a book on fishkeeping and how to do a proper nitrogen cycle.
/SMH the irresponsibility of the people that work in pet stores to not ask the most basic questions or provide the most basic information about how to establish a new aquarium never ceases to amaze me.
Oh yeah, those are freshwater carp. You don’t need a heater. They also get to be 36″ long …. you’re going to need a bigger tank. Like, 1000 gallons bigger.
https://preview.redd.it/d9ip3otodsrg1.png?width=2048&format=png&auto=webp&s=3fa8bf85352b566251668b02bd8cfefc5b84a1f9
I would recommend you take a step back and determine the next steps you really want to take long term.
I read you’re getting a 50 gallon tank ready.. good intentions for sure. If those are koi though… A 50 gallon is a stop gap at best. Assuming you can nurse these fish back to health (which I think is a long shot) you are going to turn around and be in the exact same spot with them when they outgrow a 50 gallon having dumped way more money into something that’s not even a solution. They need a pond long term or at least a 125 gallon aquarium in all honesty. Koi get HUGE and live longer than your least favorite uncle 😂
For the health of these guys I think it would be best to return them to the fish store. They are going to outgrow a 55 gal tank as well and not fair to them to have them go through a fish in cycle. They are best suited for ponds. Best scenario would be to return them, cycle the tank(s) you have until the nitrogen cycle is stable then add fish suitable for your tank size and preferably with plants.
Stop cleaning the fucking filter!!! Sorry for the language, but you are torturing these poor animals with your harsh, uncycled tank’s ammonia. You must have a build up of nitrifying bacteria or your tank is just pure poison. You either need to return them TODAY or accept that they are being poisoned to death.
Return them.
Once they’re back in a safe tank at the store, walk to the fish supplies aisle and get an API master water test kid. Start testing your ammonia and nitrite levels every couple days. I am positive your tank is bright green with ammonia right now, and maybe some nitrite, too. Wait until your ammonia and nitrite levels are 0 and your nitrate level is relatively low – that one isn’t as dangerous – and then go pick out fish.
Do this now or these poor animals will die. At the very least their eyes and scales will burn from the poisonous ammonia!
Also I think you should please step back and stop putting your energy into another tank. Get a hold on the work you need to do with this small tank, because you already have started it, and a NEW fresh tank will be worse than the one already starting its cycle
Please just return them
Please return these fish or find a new home for them unless you are planning to create a pond soon. Koi are pond fish unless you want a 1000 gal tank in your home.
An uncycled tank is not a good home for any fish. So please learn about tank cycling/the nitrogen cycle before purchasing new fish for this tank. It will take at least a month to start the cycle. Rinsing the filter while it’s cycling kills some of the beneficial bacteria while it’s trying to colonize so avoid that and just let the tank run for a while with no fish (plants and snails are ok)
The recommendation that I’ve always heard is that Koi need a 4′ cube EACH. This is sad. Please return them and do more research.