Pet Information > ASK Experts > Pet Fish > Freshwater Aquarium > My fish keep dying...why??

My fish keep dying...why??

23 16:38:59

Question
QUESTION: We  purchased 6 fish and a sucker fish less then 2weeks ago, we bought a 10G tank along with them we have a heater, filter fake plants etc. I've changed the tank and let the fish sit in a bag of water from the old tank for a half an hour before merging them into the new water making sure it's the same temp. i have the special chemical to make sure the water is clean and tablets to keep their slime coat and protect them from any diseases or fish that have died i fed them twice a day. I'm confused because i thought i had been doing everything i was supposed in order to keep them healthy but soon they just started dying one after an other. My last fish is pretty much in the same boat he's staying close to the bottom and not really moving much kinda tilts to his side once in awhile. Any ideas why this is happening?

ANSWER: What kind of food are you giving them?
I need to know that to help ya out. ^^

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The type of food is Nutrafin Max Color Enhancing Flake Food for all tropical fish. When we bought the fish the women suggested this one because it's what the fish were being fed.
ANSWER: Your fish are starving to death. 'Sucker Fish' are usually algae eaters and will only eat algae what you need is 'Algae tablets' and they need to be put in the tank so they have something to eat.  I have 2 'sucker fish' and they don't eat anything but algae if you want to save your last fish go get them quick! My guess is you either have a Pleco or a Chinese Algae eater? Either way if any fish stick to the glass they are usually algae eaters.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: My sucker fish was just a tiny little guy but very fast! I was never told it had to be fed algae tablets. I'm sorry but i have to ask..why do you say my fish are starving? The type of food isn't right? It's a type of food meant for community fish isn't it...? If not please let me know what the proper food should be?

Answer
Your sucker fish are starving because the food they are being fed is not right for them. Sucker fish do not eat flakes. It is a food for community fish but sucker fish are different.  The proper food you need to be feeding your fish are 'Algae Tablets' you can get these made by a few brands I feed mine. 'Hikari' brand tablets. When feeding put at least 2-3 in and add more when ever they seem to be gone.

Algae eaters do not eat normal fish food they need the tablets. I don't know why that lady told you to feed them flakes if she was feeding them that in the store she was on a road to killing them.