Hmmm. I dunno what the deal would be, bichirs are normally very hardy. Well water can be low on oxygen, but bichirs can breathe air, so unless you didn't have room at the top of the tank for them to get any, it wouldn't have been an issue, though you can also have a large pH swing with water that is low on oxygen as it circulates and attains more. If you added water directly and the pH swung drastically overnight it could have done it.
On the other hand well water can also contain contaminants, and sometimes certain gases. You might wanna have someone come out and test for heavy metals and all kinds of other stuff. If it killed your fish it may not be safe for you either.
Oftentimes houses on well water have a filtration system. If it's something like a water softener, it may have chemicals in it, and if it's something like an RO unit it might be stripping all the necessary minerals out of the water. Most fish cannot survive in pure water, not to mention you will have pH drops and bacteria die offs with unbuffered water. Pbass may be more likely to survive in low to no mineral water since they can live in very soft somewhat acidic low mineral water in the wild.
So if you have a household filtration system check into that too.
It's a good warning to other people who move. Always test your water for as much as possible, note any filtration systems present, and if necessary update or maintain, and also read the yearly pamphlets that generally get sent out regarding the health of your water. It will show things such as TDS, specific heavy metals, nitrates, etc..
If you don't receive one, you can usually request one. Any drinking water sources are generally tested yearly. If not, you need to have someone come out and do one, at the least to make sure it's safe for you and your family. Sometimes this paperwork will come with the house if you buy, or be available from the landlord
On the other hand well water can also contain contaminants, and sometimes certain gases. You might wanna have someone come out and test for heavy metals and all kinds of other stuff. If it killed your fish it may not be safe for you either.
Oftentimes houses on well water have a filtration system. If it's something like a water softener, it may have chemicals in it, and if it's something like an RO unit it might be stripping all the necessary minerals out of the water. Most fish cannot survive in pure water, not to mention you will have pH drops and bacteria die offs with unbuffered water. Pbass may be more likely to survive in low to no mineral water since they can live in very soft somewhat acidic low mineral water in the wild.
So if you have a household filtration system check into that too.
It's a good warning to other people who move. Always test your water for as much as possible, note any filtration systems present, and if necessary update or maintain, and also read the yearly pamphlets that generally get sent out regarding the health of your water. It will show things such as TDS, specific heavy metals, nitrates, etc..
If you don't receive one, you can usually request one. Any drinking water sources are generally tested yearly. If not, you need to have someone come out and do one, at the least to make sure it's safe for you and your family. Sometimes this paperwork will come with the house if you buy, or be available from the landlord
