Omaria

Thanks I suspected as much, do you know whats likely to cause it and is there anything I can do about it? Some of the neons seem to be swimming backwards or just flapping on the spot, man this proves to be a worrying hobby LOL

Just a tad worried what im going to find in the morning, but decided to turn of the light and let them all get some rest, including myself, I've done the best I know how. (And I dont really know much how LOL)

Now I wonder was it sucked there and died or did it die and was sucked there. Surely a filterpump would be safe for fish? :oops: Please someone tell me could the same happen to the other 5?

Not sure what you mean by fins clamped but the others have a sort of opened fan shape fin while this one is narrower and tighter it seems. When I did a water change it swam for a bit and now is hiding in its corner again (it keeps changing corners)

After 2 more new buckets of water, it seems to be picking up and swimming a bit more...phew!!

The red black tail fish is still strange, (guppy or platy am not sure) did several water changes yesterday (about 3 buckets), held back feed. It seems to be ok at times and then suddenly just lays in a corner, other corner, can lay there for hours before moving to the next corner. Its my favorite and really hope it survives, any suggestions? All the others seem fine after we lost one yesterday.

Its lovely, close enough too the city and yet far enough not to have the traffic and city life. We love it here

I am in Henderson Valley. About 6 km from nearest Animates pet shop

Much appreciate your suggestion and will definitely invest in some more stuff to make this work for the healthiest possible fish. Is an amonia and nitrite kit the same as a PH testing kit? I use API stress zyme and stress coat as reccommended in the pet shop.

Ok here goes, set up. 50 liter tank with light,filter heater, gravel, plants, stress zyme, filled with water and added all the recommended drops and stuff. After one week got the recommended fish from Animates. 6 neons, 6 platy, 1 male guppy and 2 female. One platy has died and one with a black tale keeps very still in a corner or beside one of the ornaments. Dont know whats up with it. How did we get into this? Well.......funny really. We were given considerable sums of m money for our 40th wedding anniversary and weren't sure what to do with it. I wanted a dog but hubby said not a good idea with us travelling so much. he wanted a budgie but i wasnt too keen on that idea. We went on holiday to Fiji and in one restaurant we both enjoyed the giant aquarium there and we looked into each other's eyes and nodded. So here we are. :lol:

What do you want to know about me? I am 62 yr old female married to almost 65 yr old hubby for over 40 yrs. We got 2 adult children, both married, and 3 grandchildren, who are the light of our lives. We just started this tropical fish hobby and are learning heaps. Its a bit scary as we already lost one poor fish but are hoping to see the others survive. :lol: We live in Henderson Valley and are very happy here. I work in Glen Eden and hubby is just beginning to pick up his labours again after almost a year out of the running due to having had 2 knee replacements. We love travelling. Anything else you like to know, just ask.

can you actually change the water too much? I did 2 buckets today. If I do more I need to take more out too? The tank isnt right up to the top yet but almost.

I prepared the tank according to the instructions of the sales person. About Changing the water, how can i get it up to the right temp and age it at the same time? Is adding some of the chemical to dechlorinate enough? The first bucket full change this morning I had standing for a day and added the chemical too and scooped out a bowl full and heated in the microwave before adding back to the bucket to get it to 23o. There is more to having fish than I thought, but im enjoying it and am learning heaps. And was that 3.5 buckets or 3 half buckets?

Thanks for your feedback, I did cycle the tank for almost a week. I only fed as per instruction, as much as they eat in 2 mins but then I guess i feel sorry as some didnt seem to get any, so I added a bit more (too much compassion lol) Some of those flakes seem awful big for such small fish but it was recommended.

Thnks Skippy and I assume that instructions come with the kit? One of the fish is gasping in a corner so I guess that one is off to kingdom heaven soon, im not even sure if it is one of the platy or a guppy, not sure how to tell, see how ignorant I am Just did a water change about 1 bucket and 1 bucket on stand by. There is some fluffy wooley looking stuff floating on the gravel , any idea what that can be?

Thanks for all the advice so far, will do some water change tomorrow and probably buy a PH measure gadget, but someone please tell me what is a healthy PH for the number of fish I have (12 small) in a 50 liter tank.

what is meant by the tank still cycling? Do we leave the filter on all the time or turn it off when we turn off the light? Is it worth to get a PH test kit? I am so glad I found this forum I will become the most annoying question asker im afraid LOL

For our 40th wedidng anniversary recently we were given a 50 liter tank, we filled it with water, heated it up to 23/24 degrees, added washed gravel, plants, and all the required additions to the water . Purchased 6 neon Tetras, 3 assorted platy, and 3 guppy (1 male 2 female) One of the platy keeps hiding in a corner and can stay very still for a long time, it is rather eary, but is it normal? Now we need to replace some of the water, so a bucket is standing ready but how do we get it up to the right temperature? How do we know when a fish is pregnant? Can we leave babyfish with the adults? So much to learn but so much fun as well.