Corydora In Trouble

[Kendalyn]

OK let me give some history here before I get to my immediate problem.

I have an Eclipse 6 gallon tank that for about a year and a half had 1 male Betta. The Betta died about 2 weeks ago and I'm not sure why. I thought maybe he was just kind of old or something.

So I had a 2.5 gallon tank with a female Betta in it already and I decided to get rid of that tank and put her in the 6 gallon. She was in that tank about a week and I added 4 Corydoras to go along with her.

This morning I found the female Betta dead on the bottom of the tank. I have no idea why.

Now this evening, one of the Corys is laying on the bottom of the tank, breathing really hard. He'll lay there for about 10 minutes looking pretty bad, and then pop back up and start swimming around like normal.

I've done 2 water changes this week of about 20% each time. The tank has been running for 2 years. Nitrite and Nitrate levels are fine. I am sure the tank is cycled. Prior to my male Betta dying, I never had a problem with unexplained fish death.

What could be going on? I hope the little Cory doesn't die.

 

[Kendalyn]

Oh yeah, I totally forgot to add that one of the Corys died within hours of putting it into the tank. So I went from 4 Corys originally to 3 and now I have 1 that isn't looking good. The other 2 seem fine so far.

 

[Kendalyn]

Oh I should also add that before the male Betta died, I did see him laying on the bottom kind of gasping just like this Cory is doing right now. I never saw the Female Betta do that but it doesn't mean she didn't. I am worried that whatever killed my male Betta, may have killed the female and is now killing the Cory.

Is that likely the case? What could it be?

I am not used to losing so many fish in a short amount of time.

 

[saz326]

Have you changed foods? Used any medications recently?

Could you provide water parameters, and tell us what your routine maintainance involves?

Also have you added anything to the tank, or even the room the tank is in (i.e. new ornament, plants, or even air freshner in the room the tank is in)

 

[WILDER]

Has any chemical gotten into the tank.
Have you been decorating or using sprays or household chemicals near the tank.
Had any bad weather around your area.
Any sign of flicking and rubbing or laboured breathing.
Any excess mucas on the gills or body of the fish.
How long did you climatise the corys for.

 

[Kendalyn]

The only difference is, since the female Betta died I haven't been putting blood worms into the tank.

I don't know actual results on parameters because I'm using test strips. I know most people don't like them, but that's what I've got. I change 20% of the water once a week. This week I did it twice because of adding new fish. The water seems to be on the alkaline side. Nitrite levels are 0 and Nitrate looks like it's about 5-10. Both are in the safe zone.

No chemicals and weather has been a bit rainy.

The little Cory seems fine now. I do notice that there are 2 cories that are always together and the one that seemed sick is by himself a lot now. But he is active today and hasn't done the laying down on the bottom thing.

I put in 2 algae wafers this morning and they've been munching on them.

Maybe it was a fluke?

Oh, I acclimated the Cories for 2 hours. I added the bag water to my tank. No flicking or rubbing. No weird mucus. Today actually, they seem really normal from what I can tell. I haven't had them that long.

 

[WILDER]

is the cory laying to onside.
Any red sores on his belly.
Corys are more prone to bacterial infections.

 

[Kendalyn]

Yesterday, yes he was laying on one side but I haven't seen any redness. Today he is more active but I wouldn't say AS active as the other 2.

BTW, I can't quarantine him. I took down that other tank and that was my only other one.

 

[WILDER]

Laying to oneside being listless and lethagic are signs of a bacterial infection.

 

[Kendalyn]

OK thanks. We'll see how he does. I hope he makes it. So far he looks a lot better than he did on Sunday!

 

[WILDER]

Good Luck.