Dead Female, Pls Help With The Male

[Curalingua]

Hi
I have a 60l (2ft length) tank and had a pair of Apistogramma Aggassizii and 8 Cardinal Neon Tetra's.

The tank was moved (complete with filter media kept wet in tank water) to mine about 2 months ago but had been set up for over a year. It remained cycled with it's stock intact (it was over stocked). The stock were removed to a bigger tank about 3 weeks ago and replaced with the above stock.

Ammonia and nitrites have always remained at o.
Nitrates around 5-20 (my tap water is 7).
Weekly 10-20% water changes.
pH is between 7.6-7.8.
Med-hard water (although not tested)
temp 78 F

My female aggie died today. She has been unwell for a couple of days not eating and kind of floating around the filter. No signs of any infection. She was a very bright orangey yellow when I got her and I was told that was her breeding colour. They have both been quite shy but now the male wont come out of the coconut cave not even to feed. I have to drop feed to the edge of the cave and he will pop his head out just enough to reach a bit, but not much.

I did a 50% water change today. Hope that was okay and didnt stress the male out more. He hid in his cave throughout.

What should I do? I have made enquires about females but they are quite hard to get on their own, they are usually sold in pairs and in any case none of my LFS have any in stock. I am also worried in case she had an infection although the Tetra seem fine the male Aggie is not acting normally (or maybe he, just missing her).

I know the pH is a bit high and they prefer softer water but they were sold as tank bred and used to these conditions.

Any ideas?
E.g.
Wait for couple of weeks to make sure no infections and male okay
Daily 10% water changes
Widen my search and go out and hunt down a new female or 2 (will my tank take 2 females?).

Sorry lots of questions

Thanks for reading and any help.

Happy New Year

Fiona

 

[WILDER]

Do any fish look pale or darker in colour.
Do any fish act listless and lethagic.
Do any fish look bloated or skinny.
Do any fish rest to oneside.
Any red sores or streading on fish fins or body.
Any signs of flicking and rubbing, excess mucas, darting, erratic swimming, or laboured breathing.
What does it look like when your fish go to the toilet.

 

[Curalingua]

Hi
Happy new year.

In answer to all your questions the cardinal tetra's are fine and as usual.

The male Aggie is a little dull, where normally he has a lovely turquoise shimmer to his main body its more dull. The firey orange of his fins is still as bright and they are as smooth and perfect as usual. As he is hiding haven't seen him toilet. He isn't moving at all just hiding. No bloating or thinning obvious. He seems to be swimming normally, though I've not seen that much, I just insisted he come out of the cave so i could check and he darted straight behind a plant and stayed there till i left and when i next looked he was back in the cave.

Hope someone can help

Thanks

Fiona

Edit - The dead female looked absolutely fine. Her behaviour changed a few days before she died, just kind of floating at top behind the filter. Not bloated or skinny and none of the other symptons asked about. She was always shy and hard to find (only been with me 3 weeks), she was about 2 inches and bright yellow.

 

[WILDER]

If there no signs of flicking and rubbing I would take the bacterial route and add a bacterial med to the tank.