Why are my shrimp and fish dying?

Question

I have a five gallon with a betta 3 red cherry shrimp and a betta. I was told this would be fine by an employee at petco but was a bit doubtful. I was going to move the tetras to my ten gallon if needed. It's been 2 weeks and I've had to bring 4 tetras back to the store to be replaced within the first 3 days. I figures they were just delicate. After the 4th I've decided I'm done trying to do neon tetras. Today I came home to find a dead shrimp!  Why? They have been healthy so far and the other ones are fine! I have lots of hiding spots and I feed them just enough. And live plants. Filter heater all that. I've tested my water 3 times and it's been all in the normal levels! Why is this happening!

noselessman · Answer

A 5 gallon tank is only large enough for a single betta and the shrimp.

Tetras are sensitive fish, and neons have to be the most sensitive species of tetra.  
Tetras must be added to a well and fully cycled aquarium, a 20 gallon is the minimum for them.  Neons get stressed very easily and do better in a larger school of 8 or more.  However it is still important to only add 2-3 fish every several days, and then check your tank parameters in between to be sure the filter is still cycled.  
Ammonia and nitrite must be zero, but nitrate will not be zero, because in a cycled tank, the ammonia and nitrite are transformed into nitrate, which you now try to keep near 20 or below, but not zero, and not over 40.

Soo, I now you said your tank parameters are normal, but what are they?  It is easy to mistake an uncyled tank that has been clean recently, for a cycled tank, and that mistake can be deadly.

Im sorry that you were mislead by un educated petstore employees, you cant trust them, its not like they go to college for petcare.  
Reasearch online first, and get plenty of  opinions until several of them match!

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Why are my shrimp and fish dying?

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