Feeding and Nutrition :: Fish

[Squishy]

They're social fish and should be kept in groups of at least three, or they stress out and die.

[Daniel3507]

be sure and acclimate them too. if you just put them straight in they could die.
the good thing about them is that their really cheap!

[ScrewZoo]

I USUALLY BOUGHT LIKE 7 AT A TIME. SQUIRTLE WOULD EAT 2 THE FIRST DAY AND CONSTANTLY CHASE THEM ALL DAY FOR LIKE A MONTH UNTIL HE GOT EM ALL

[PcBuilder14]

I did acclimate by sticking the bag in the water and leaving it in there for about 30 minutes.

Could hard water hurt them? If so how much does that Reptisafe cost to be able to put it in a 55 gallon?

[Daniel3507]

the big bottle of it is like $9. i think its a teaspoon per 5 or 10 gallons. try adding some of the tank water into the bag after the 30 min and then wait another 15

[PcBuilder14]

So do I have to buy 3 at once? Or can I just buy one first?

[Daniel3507]

better off buying more than one. they are only like 12 cents so might as well buy more since they do better in groups

[PcBuilder14]

Well I just don't want them to die again. After I get a background, I'm going to buy water conditioner, then fish, then an Anarchis plant to try to get some veggies in him.

[Sassamo]

Did you test the ammonia and nitrates in your tank? They may be too high for the fish to survive. Since turtles make so much waste it takes longer too break down. We had soft water here and it was switched too hard water, I changed my fish over too the hard water throught monthy water changes and didn't loose any of them. The only time I lost fish is when the ammonia level sky rockets.
Since they are feeder fish no care is put into breeding them. So the short life could be attributed too that too.
I bought 7 the other day(for $5 for 75cents each O.o) and after a couple hours there is 1 left. He's been alone in the tank with my turtle and a convict fish fry for a few days.

[PcBuilder14]

That could be it.

[k9ck024]

that sounds like they were probably ill

sounds like its bad for RES

[Daniel3507]

i forgot that you just got a new filter. your tank could be cycling

[zoologist]

they died cause of stress. thats what i hate about rosy reds... they stress too easily.

the silver fish you are talking about are comets. essentially, so are the orange ones. they are part of the goldfish family and should be avoided cause they are fatty (already been said) and because their dorsal fin is sharp and could potentially become lodged in the turtle's throat.

[k9ck024]

If rosy red stress too easily what other fish is good for RES? what about bones? Do RES eat it?

[Daniel3507]

guppies. they eat the fish whole