posted 10-29-2003 11:42 AM           

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i have just got started on piranhas, i purchased 4 on sunday and by today, wednesday, i have already lost 3. my ph is fine, does anyone have any suggestions or past experience with this. why are they dying. they seem to just sit at the bottom in the corner of the cage and not move at all, then they'll float to the filter because they are dead. what's going on. thanks for any help.

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From: Indy
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posted 10-29-2003 12:25 PM         

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Some more info would help. If this is a new set up how, long did the tank cycle? Did you acclimate the fish to the water as well as the temp? Do you use tap water conditioner?

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James (The Grateful One)

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posted 10-30-2003 10:35 AM         

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Sounds to me like your water was too clean. No Bio in the water. Your tank should be set up for at least 72 hours before you can add fish. Try a placo for a while or some other scavenger fish. To help build up needed bio for fish survival. If this isn't the case then you need to tear down your tank. Clean everything with a 10% bleach and warm water solution. Strain all your gravel clean. And start over from scratch. Don't let your fish suffer and die. Do it the right way. Go to www.peteducation.com

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posted 10-30-2003 01:08 PM         

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Lildab, I've noticed some heinous info in a couple of posts. Instead of cutting people down, take your own advice!

There's no way 3 days is long enough to complete an entire cycle. If you read www.peteducation.com, as you recommend, it says 3-6 weeks right there! Also, why would you put an algae eater in a new tank - there's no algae yet! As pointed out in another post (see dying betta or something like that) there are better ways of disinfecting a tank than bleach. Ses84 - have you tested for ammonia/nitrites/nitrates. What are you adding as water conditioner?

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posted 10-30-2003 01:16 PM         

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More info would be nice...

Did you have plants in your tank or places to hide? New fish like places to hide, especially Piranhas. Plants can definately bring down the stress level. Think of it this way: some giant puts you in a huge glass tank with no where to hide, you are terrified. Same way with fish.

And Lildab was way off. It takes about 3-4 (or longer) weeks for a tank to cycle (depending on the size).

How large is your aquarium? Because the water wasn't cycled, ammonia could have built up really quickly and killed them.

How much have you read up on Piranha? I wouldn't suggest trying out fish if you don't know how to care for them first.

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posted 10-31-2003 06:31 PM         

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I say again- Some more info would help. If this is a new set up how, long did the tank cycle? Did you acclimate the fish to the water as well as the temp? Do you use tap water conditioner?

Anybody who replies with advice on this info would 9 times out of 10 be wrong.

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James (The Grateful One)

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