Dying Danios

[Tetramad]

Hello,
Five days ago one of my zebra danios died in the night. Three days ago another died in the night. Last night one looked ill, it was swimming lethargically and gasping but not at the surface, an hour later it was dead. All my other fish seem fine and my nitrite etc. are fine. Any ideas? they have spawned recently.

Thanks, Mark.

 

[The-Wolf]

hi there
sorry for your losses

Symptom(s)
Fish swim normally but appear to be breathing heavily. (This can be judged by operculum movements).
Fish appear to be gasping, they may crowd water inlets.

possible cause(s)
1) Hypoxia. Dissolved oxygen levels may be low.

2) Poor water quality causing gill hyperplasia, excess mucus production or nitrite toxicity. Check ammonia, nitrite levels and pH.

3) It could indicate the early stages of gill disease. If the condition persists it is important to examine 2-3 fish for gill parasites or gill disease.

4) Gill parasites.

5) Anaemia. Gills look pale.

I hope it is going to be ok for you and your fish
at least this gives you some ideas on what to check for.

 

[Tetramad]

Sounds like it may be a disease or a parasite, my water is good and all the other fish are fine so I presume my oxygen levels are good. How do I treat this?, and is it contagious?

Thanks, mark.

 

[bigfish]

How old is your tank Mark? Is it a new set up or an established tank? Is it just the danios affected or any other fish??? Is the filter working and clog free?

It's very frustrating when ya fish died for no reason!!

 

[steelhealr]

Let's try and help you...post your results for pH, nitrite, nitrate and ammonia. SH

 

[bigfish]

Thats a good start!!!!! Why didn't i post something like that!!! DOH

 

[pahansen]

Is there anything else in the tank that might be harassing or stressing the danios? If there are no other symptoms, stress might be the problem. My dwarf gourami acted like that the night before he died (also died overnight), and there was nothing wrong with the tank or the other fish. My best guess is that the other gourami had pretty much stressed him to death. I haven't had any problems since with any of the other fish, since the gourami leaves everyone else alone.

Sorry for your losses,
Pamela

 

[Tetramad]

The plot thickens!! I`ll get my chemistry readings sorted and post them. You may have a point about harrassment, but i bought 6 and the other 3 left are absolutely fine, they only seem to quarrel a bit amongst themselves, all the other fish seem to leave the alone. I thought danios were really hardy? I have more delicate fish than danios and these are doing fine so I think my water is good, but it is a young tank, only 4 weeks old, but I did cycle it properly. Thanks for your help up tp now everyone,

Mark.

 

[Tetramad]

got home from work and ANOTHER danio has died. They were fine this morning. Please help!!!! thats 4 out of 6 dead!!! everything else is still fine.