3 Fish Dead In A Couple Of Days... Uh Oh!

[sven_sol]

Hiya!

A couple of days ago I posted regarding my Betta that looked like it had been attacked, which died the next day even though we isolated him as soon as possible.

Today we're missing two fish.. one of them I know is dead, 20 minutes ago I pulled out a black neons half eaten body (was fine this morning), and we're missing a male guppy too. Can't find him anywhere, may have been eaten in the last day or so.

Now, Wilder said the the Betta may have had a bacterial infection which could have caused the fins to look torn, I don't want to jump any guns here, but what if thats true. Could that be passed on and cause other infections?

All of them look fine, no blotches, spots, torn fins, swolen/shrunken bellies, all have their normal appetites.

I'm going to do a water change and hunt around for the body a bit more.

What should I do now to make sure that others don't die!?

Cheers everyone!

 

[BigIan]

did wilder suggest any sort of med you should use???

wilder is the master of fishy medications, but if it is as he says it is a bacterial infection then some form of anti bacterial med would be best, try melafix

 

[Phantom Thief]

Before we jump to conclusions about a bacterial infection, a water change is in order.

Having done that, what are the water parameters? And are the fish new or have they been in there for quite a long while?

P.T.

 

[sven_sol]

No, she didnt suggest anything. Just made an observation about my BGK fish...

Not done water change yet... going to do it shortly. Stats at the mo are spot on. 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrite, 15(ish) Nitrate, so things seem to be ok there.

Nothing new, only the Betta was a new one, the others range between 3 or 4 months (since we had the tank ready and running) up to about 3 years.

 

[Phantom Thief]

I would just do a water change and wait for another, maybe 24 hours or so. If no other fish show any signs or symptoms of distress, you're in the clear. Otherwise, you'll have to find some sign with which you can diagnose a specific condition, which isn't possible for the moment.

Considering the BGK is probably the most sensitive fish there, and nothing has happened to it (yet, touchwood), i would not be overly concerned just yet.

P.T.

 

[sven_sol]

I would just do a water change and wait for another, maybe 24 hours or so. If no other fish show any signs or symptoms of distress, you're in the clear. Otherwise, you'll have to find some sign with which you can diagnose a specific condition, which isn't possible for the moment.

Considering the BGK is probably the most sensitive fish there, and nothing has happened to it (yet, touchwood), i would not be overly concerned just yet.

P.T.

Gonna watch 'em like a hawk.

I luckly managed to avoid Neon Tetra Disease about 5 month ago, don't want to go through all that type of stuff again

 

[Anthony!]

Are you absolutely sure that you have a bacterial infection? I'd figure the BGK would cause your troubles. I FEED mine guppies(rarely), and I'm sure he'd have no trouble with betta and other fish *parts*. How big is it?

 

[sven_sol]

no, I´m not sure. could be anything/nothing.

(s)he is about 6 to 7 inches long atm, may be able to fit in a neon, but not a guppy.

I may be wrong, but never seen his mouth open that big.

 

[WILDER]

If you are losing fish, a fish is picking them off, second opion usually when a couple of fish die without any symtoms bacterial infection.

 

[KathyM]

A Black Ghost Knife Fish is not a "community" fish - I would put him in a suitable tank

 

[sven_sol]

We think we know whats happened, this is what we think has gone on:

The Betta and the Male guppy had an "encounter" (shall we say), must have been a big fight which the guppy lost but still managed to cause too much damage for poor Betta to survive. The guppy will have been eaten overnight as we can't find the body. (this has happened before, males died just after mating)(what a way to go!) As for the neon, I think it was just bad timing... he just died. These things happen with small fish, according to a fair few people. Now, all the other fish look healthy and still have appetites. Going to keep doing small frequent water changes though.

This is a best case scenario, but I think it is quite plausable.

Going to look at anti-bacterial treatment just in case, but moving these fish out of their home into a small tank for treating them will be more than a bit of a squeeze and if I use it in the main tank, won't it destroy all the filter good bacteria too?

Our BGK has actually made friends with with a few fish.. they share their own little cubby hole where it's nice and dark and (believe it or not) share food! This may change when he grows up some more, but everyone seems to get on quite well.

If he does start to be aggressive then we'll have to look at selling one of my kidneys to buy another tank

 

[Phantom Thief]

Hmm, not sure how much damage a gup can do to a betta.

Anyhow, the BGK will be fine in there for a while more, till its mouth is big enough, that is.

P.T.