Why fish die in an aquarium and what needs to be done.

It is very unpleasant when fish begin to die in an aquarium. It would seem that everything was done correctly: clean water was poured, the aquarium equipment was working, the fish received food in a timely manner. Despite this, living creatures die. Unfortunately, this situation occurs quite often among beginners in the aquarium business, which is why it is necessary to arm yourself with knowledge about the causes of this phenomenon.

Every novice aquarist should understand the following in advance: if conditions in a water house are created for its inhabitants as close as possible to their natural habitat, then they will not get sick, much less die.

At the very least, the risk of death will be minimized.

Practice shows that in the vast majority of cases, the death of fish is not caused by any external diseases, but by errors in maintenance, illiteracy and carelessness of their owners. There are various reasons for this unfortunate phenomenon or a whole combination of reasons and factors that should be considered in detail.

Nitrogen poisoning

Nitrogen poisoning is the most common problem. It often concerns beginners who have no experience in dealing with aquarium animals. The fact is that they try to feed their pets to their fullest, forgetting that at the same time the amount of waste increases. According to the simplest calculations, each fish leaves excrement equal to 1/3 of its weight per day. However, not everyone knows that in the process of oxidation and decomposition, nitrogen compounds appear, consisting of:

• Ammonium;
• Nitrates;
• Nitrites.

All these substances have in common their toxicity. The most dangerous of them is considered to be ammonium, an excess of which will be the main cause of death of all inhabitants of the reservoir. This happens most often in recently launched aquariums. It is the first week after the start that becomes critical. There are two options for increasing the amount of these substances in aqua:

• Increase in the number of residents;
• Filter failure;
• Excessive amount of feed.

You can determine the excess by the state of the water, more precisely by the smell and color. If you notice darkening of the water and a rotten smell, then the process of increasing ammonium in the water has begun. It happens that upon visual inspection, the water in the fish house is crystal clear, but the smell makes you wonder.

To confirm your suspicions, ask for special chemical tests at pet stores. With their help, you can easily measure the level of ammonium. True, it is worth noting the high cost of the tests, but for a novice aquarist they are very necessary if you do not want to lose all your pets in a couple of days. If the situation is corrected in time, a fatal outcome can be avoided.

How to lower ammonia levels:

• Daily ¼ water change
• The water must stand for at least a day;
• Checking the filter and filter element for serviceability.

Gas chamber

Man loves clean air. Living in the city, especially next to industrial enterprises, is not a pleasant experience. That is why people strive so much for nature. Fish live in water, which is the same “air” for them. The slightest changes for the worse instantly affect the well-being of pets.

Fish and other aquatic inhabitants, like all creatures on this planet, leave behind a lot of organic products. These include excrement, particles of epidermis, and leftover food. As a result, the water is saturated with organic decay products - nitrogenous compounds: ammonium, nitrates and nitrites. This trio is incredibly poisonous.

Lack of oxygen as a negative factor

Fish are known to breathe air dissolved in water, and they can suffocate if there is too little of it in the water. Although such cases are very rare, they do occur.

As a rule, even beginners first purchase all the equipment necessary to operate a home aqua system.

And very often, when buying a fairly powerful filter, they trust it not only with water purification, but also with its aeration and mixing.

Still, experts recommend separating these two functions and ensuring constant operation of the air compressor

Megapolis

It's never worse if the pool is overcrowded. Yes, the wild desire to stock all the fish you like is difficult to quell. But it’s enough to put yourself in the place of the unfortunate pets and everything will immediately become clear. In such “megacities” the main problem is the lack of oxygen. Simply put, the fish are dying because they can’t breathe. Increased aeration and dispersal will solve the problem. Signs of asphyxia: heavy breathing, the fish swims near the surface, opens its mouth wide, jumps out of the water.

Fish diseases

No one wants to blame themselves, so novice breeders blame illness for everything. Unscrupulous sellers only reinforce their doubts, since their goal is to sell expensive medicine and make money. However, do not rush for a panacea; carefully study all possible causes of death.

Diseases can only be blamed if the symptoms have been present for a long time. The fish faded away gradually, and did not just die in an instant, for no apparent reason. Most often, the disease is brought into the aquarium along with new residents or plants. Death can occur due to a malfunctioning heating element in cold weather.

When going to pet stores, you must be aware of what exactly you need medicine for. Each drug is aimed at a specific disease. There are no universal cures! If possible, consult with an experienced aquarist or on a forum; knowledgeable people will tell you what to do in such a situation.

Of course, disease cannot kill healthy fish. Why do fish die in an aquarium? If death occurs, it means that immunity has already been undermined. Most likely, the first two errors occurred. Do not rush to launch new residents, no matter how beautiful they are.

What to do to protect your aquarium:

• Organize quarantine for new residents;
• Sanitize your fish or plants.

What to do if there is a disease in the aquarium:

• Change a tenth of the water daily;
• Increase the temperature;
• Increase aeration;
• Remove disease carriers and those who are clearly infected.

Remember what kind of fish you launched at home last. Individuals brought from other countries can be carriers of rare diseases, which are sometimes not possible to detect and classify on their own.

Incorrect launch of fish

Imagine what a fish experiences when it gets from one water to another, the parameters of which are significantly different. When you buy a fish at a pet store, you deprive it of its usual environment, transferring it to your own, which is completely unfamiliar to the fish. Water differs in hardness, temperature, acidity, etc. Of course, the reaction to such a change will be stress. A sharp change in acidity by even 1 unit means death for sensitive fish. Sometimes the difference in acidity is much greater, so the shock that the fish experiences can be fatal.

Correct adaptation of fish to a new environment:

• Pour the water along with the fish into a large vessel,
• Add some water from the general aquarium,
• After 10-15 minutes, repeat the procedure,
• Dilute the water to at least 70% solution.

Even if several new fish managed to survive after a devastating change in water parameters, they will certainly die with the first illness. The immune system is significantly weakened, which means that bacteria attack them first. Keep a close eye on aeration, cleanliness and new residents. At best, the health of the fish returns to normal.

O2 deficiency

This option is the rarest of all. The oxygen saturation of a fish house is always adequately assessed even by novice aquarists. The first thing everyone does is buy a compressor. With it there is no fear of fish suffocating.

The only possible option is an increase in temperature and, as a result, a decrease in oxygen in the water. This can happen at night, when plants switch from producing oxygen to absorbing it. To avoid this, do not turn off the compressor at night.

Water quality

Utility services do not set themselves the task of purifying the water to such an extent that aquarium residents feel comfortable. Their goal is to make it safe for people and their homes. This is where the popularity of bottled water comes from. Tap water contains maximum levels of chlorine. In large cities, there may be a possibility of a change in water from artesian to desalinated water. As a result, water hardness will increase, which will lead to mass death. You can notice this by the changed behavior of the fish - they begin to rush around the entire aquarium in a state of horror.

Aggressive neighbors

Before you go to the store for pets, think through to the smallest detail: will several species be able to get along in one fish house? You should not count on the seller’s competence, since his main goal is to sell as much product as possible.

A few fundamental rules:

• Big fish always try to eat small ones (even in the case of herbivorous species);
• Many succumb to intraspecific aggression;
• Some are able to attach themselves to small neighbors, which ultimately results in death;
• The strong always eat the weak;
• Buy only those fish that you are sure are peaceful.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to determine why the fish are dying. The death of a pet can happen even among experienced breeders. Treat your fish carefully, and you will definitely notice a change in behavior and eliminate the cause of concern in time. More often than not, fish die in an aquarium due to oversight, and not due to other criteria.

Fighting nitrogenous compounds

Suspicion of gas contamination should be caused by the smell emanating from the water. Outwardly, the water may look crystalline, but this is a deception. A good solution would be to use special tests to determine nitrogen compounds. But the first step is:

• Emergency evacuation. The fish must be transplanted into a container with clean water as soon as possible. If there is no settled water, then you need to use stabilization tablets, which can be purchased in specialized stores. A basin is used as a container if there is no other aquarium. It is necessary to ensure the same temperature as in the “native” reservoir and establish aeration.
• Turn on the aerator and filter at full power while preparing the fish tank. This event will saturate the water with oxygen and purify it during the first hours of help.
• Rinse the aquarium, siphon the soil, change the water completely or replace more than 50% with fresh water. A complete restart is not a good idea. Such events are carried out if the fish are already on the verge of death: they lie on the bottom, gasp for air, swim on their sides.
• Regular water changes are the key to the normal functioning of the aquarium. But this must be done correctly. In “young” reservoirs, in which the balance has not yet been established, water is changed to a minimum: 1/5 – 1/10. This is enough to avoid the “swamp” state.
• Add charcoal to the filter. You can buy it at any aquarium store. This is a real “ambulance” in the fight against waste from the inhabitants. An absorbent, for example, zeolite, is also used. It gets rid of nitrates and nitrites. As for the filter itself, it must match the volume of water.

What to do if you find dead fish in the walls of the aquarium?

1. Take a closer look at the number of fish in the tank. Count them in the morning and during feeding hours. What is their condition, are they getting food well? Are there any fish that refuse food? Is it possible for one of the fish to have bloating? If you do not find any fish, check all corners of the aquarium by lifting the lid. Inspect the plants, caves and all the decorations. If after a few days the dead fish has not floated to the surface, it may have been harmed by a neighbor in the aquarium, and you are unlikely to find it again. Sometimes fish get caught in an unprotected filter and die there. In any case, continue searching until you find visible reasons for the disappearance.
2. Fish that have died in the aquarium must be removed from it. Tropical fish species quickly rot due to elevated water temperatures. In such an environment, bacteria multiply quickly, the water becomes cloudy, and an unpleasant odor appears, which can infect other pets.
3. It is necessary to inspect the dead fish. You must understand why she died in the aquarium. Put medical gloves on your hands. If the body is not completely decomposed, look at the condition of the fins, scales, and the condition of the abdominal cavity. Perhaps there will be wounds on the body or signs that she suffered from unkind neighbors. If the belly is very swollen, the eyes are bulging, the scales are covered with plaque or spots, this means that the pet has suffered from illness or poisoning. After inspection, the gloves should be discarded.

1. Check water parameters. Water is often the main cause of deterioration in fish health. Take tests with indicators and make the necessary measurements. The increased content of ammonia, nitrates, and heavy metals in the water leads to pets quickly dying. If the aquarium has a decorative element made of iron, zinc, or copper, this is another indicator. Some fish do not tolerate metal well and die suddenly.
2. After the test results, draw conclusions. The test will show two results - either everything is fine in your aquarium, or the water is dirty and contains an excess of toxic substances. In the second case, you need to turn on powerful filtration and replace 25% of the aquarium water with clean and infused water. There is no need to change water parameters abruptly; this can harm living fish.
3. But if the water is in good condition, there could be a number of other reasons why the fish died. Sometimes aquarium pets die from hunger, overeating, illness, severe stress, bruises received after being attacked by other fish, or age. If fish die suddenly, you need to do everything necessary to keep others alive. Contact your veterinarian if no obvious cause of your pet's death is found.
   

   LIFESPAN OF AQUARIUM FISH.

   PH IN THE AQUARIUM - PHOTO VIDEO DESCRIPTION REVIEW.

MUDDY WATER IN THE AQUARIUM: WHAT TO DO - DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEMS PHOTO VIDEO.

HOW, WHAT AND HOW MUCH TO FEED GOLDFISH? DESCRIPTION PHOTO VIDEO.

AQUARIUM FISH THAT CAN GET WITHOUT OXYGEN AND AIR

Warnings

• Do not throw out the fish until you are sure that it is dead.
• Don't wait too long to throw away your fish. Dead fish are carriers of infection, which they can fill the water with and infect other fish.
• NEVER flush fish down the toilet. Not only is it harmful to the environment, but it also spreads tropical infections to non-tropical areas. Bury them or throw them in the trash. If the fish is large, it is best to bury it, if permitted by law.

If only one fish dies in the aquarium, and the water looks clean, it is not necessary to change it, since after changing the water you will need to wait for the ecosystem and biological balance to be restored. Therefore, it is enough to simply add fresh water, renewing the old one. If the fish has died from an infectious disease or has been in the aquarium for several days, the water should be replaced and the aquarium washed out.

When adding fresh water, at least one third of the old water should remain in the aquarium - and the fresh water should have similar hardness and temperature.

If the aquarium still needs to be cleaned, you need to remove all live fish and plants from it, wash, disinfect and dry. After this, new water is poured into the container. In the first few days, a short-term bacterial outbreak with cloudy water may occur in the aquarium - no need to worry, it will go away on its own. After this, when the water becomes clear again, the plants can be returned to the aquarium, and it is advisable to introduce the fish after about a week. Changing the water is often the most effective way to get rid of bacteria, but it is a huge stress for the fish, so you shouldn’t overuse it.

Healthy golden

First, let's define how a healthy goldfish behaves. These hydrobionts lead an active lifestyle. Their movements are smooth and often leisurely, but movement is literally life for fish!

The color of the scales should not change; bright scales without any plaque are a healthy fish. Good appetite – always! These babies have such a voracious body that they can even die from overeating. Goldfish hardly feel full, so they are always eager to have a snack.

A healthy pet has a bright color, clear boundaries of the fins and tail. He is in good spirits and eating well.

Preventing deaths

The problem must be prevented before consequences occur. This will save the lives of aquarium pets . Prevention measures need to be taken:

1. Carefully transport them from the store. In winter, you need to use thermoses.
2. For new fish, you need to quarantine for 20-30 days (in aquarium water).
3. Use different equipment for sick and healthy individuals.
4. Change a quarter of the water three times a month.
5. Overcrowding an aquarium is highly discouraged.
6. Use species-specific food.
7. Constant temperature control.

By following all the recommendations, you will be able to avoid most problems when keeping fish. If one of them dies, you need to immediately remove it from the aquarium.

Even people with extensive experience can have fish die. You need to be attentive to your aquatic pets , then you will be able to notice the problem in time.

Why do cleaner catfish die? already the fourth? The rest of the fish live, but the catfish die!!!!

Mikhail Morkovkin

If you mean ancistrus, then at a juvenile age (size less than 3 cm) they are overly vulnerable. They can be killed by adult cichlids (it’s a pity that you didn’t indicate the species composition of your aquarium. They need a weekly change of 1/10 of the water. Most often, these timid creatures in their youth simply starve and die from exhaustion. Try dipping a piece into the aquarium DAILY for 30 minutes fresh loaf (then be sure to remove the remains). Or catch them daily and feed them in another container. The main thing is that their feeding occurs before your eyes. If it doesn’t help, write again, clarifying the question. Success!

User deleted

Ancistrus most often die of starvation (with a lack of appropriate algal fouling). Buy tablets for catfish containing spirulina algae. You can also feed ancistrus with lettuce leaves or cucumber slices scalded with boiling water. Also, all chain catfish are very sensitive to table salt.

Irish@

The condition of the catfish themselves and their health should not be discounted. It is risky to place a newly purchased fish in an aquarium with other fish; quarantine is required. Try to buy one and put it in a separate aquarium and watch them…. There you will see whether they eat?

Diseases

The third and most important cause of death for aquarium pets is disease.

This includes:

1. Diseases as a result of decreased immunity due to poor water, incorrect adaptation or improper diet. Before resorting to the use of any drugs, make sure that all causes have been eliminated.
2. Diseases that could be carried by sick fish. You should be especially careful when handling imported fish. Before being placed in an aquarium, they must be examined for the presence of diseases and dangerous bacteria that can cause the death of other inhabitants of the aquatic world.

Red spots

Causes of red spots:

1. Rubella is a collective name for spring viremia of carp, aeromonosis, pseudomonosis and vibriosis - diseases with similar manifestations. Accompanied by hemorrhages, especially in the head area. Other signs: the appearance of ulcers, bulging eyes, swelling of the abdomen. Carry out treatment in a separate container. You will need leukocyte human interferon (1 ampoule per 35 l) in combination with chloramphenicol (2.5 g per 100 l). Apply every other day until the condition improves. Replace a third of the water at least 1-2 times a week. Chloramphenicol (250 mg per 25 g of feed) or furazolidone (0.5 g per 25 g of feed) also helps. Feed the mixture for 6 days. Provide continuous aeration during treatment.
2. Skin and gill flukes. Animals behave restlessly, try to scratch themselves on objects, fins are often pressed, red spots appear on the body, and the skin becomes covered with mucus. Treat with special means against parasites or using baths with potassium permanganate.
3. Ammonia poisoning.