Hi
Hoping someone will be able to offer advice.
I've a 300L tank which has been ticking along fine for a while now. All fish were babies when I got them and I've only made a few additions. The tank is about 8 months old.
Over the past week fish have started dying - no visible signs of anything. They look totally normal but then just. . .die.
So far I've lost about 5 catfish, 3 clown loaches and one blue Gourami. It is heartbreaking - especially as I've grown them all from babies.
1. Water parameters. (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, PH, temp', Hardness etc)- all checked 0 amonia, 0 Nitrate and trace nitrite. Hardness/PH all spot on. Temp is current at 27C.
2. A full description of the fishes symptoms. As above - key losses seem to be just the Bristle nose catfish and the clown loaches. Symptoms seem to be fast breathing and listlessness. Then next thing is they are dead. It seems to happen very very quickly. There are no visible signs on the outside. Gills do not look swollen. All other fish in the tank seem fine and happy as normal. But again - some seem to be breathing fast.
3. How often you do water changes and how much. I'll be honest (as I want a solution) I've not been as active on the water changes recently it was probably 3-4 weeks previous to the last one before they started dying. Since they have - I'd done a good 40% one on Monday. Intending to do another today. In regards to water quality - my fish are regularly spawning (Angel fish laying eggs, Bristlenose catfish laying eggs, livebearers giving birth etc).
4. Any chemicals and treatments you add to the water. Only treatment added right now is Interpret Anti Internal Bacteria - which my LFS recommended due to the symptoms.
5. What tank mates are in the tank. 2 x Angel Fish, 2 clown loaches (one not looking happy), 1 Bristlenose catfish (not looking happy), 8 danios, 4 livebearers and one Red Shark. Also about 6 shrimp.
6. Tank size. 300L
7. Finally Have you recently added any new fish? Nothing new added to the tank for months.
My only thought through research is potentially this is gill flukes. To aid with the air in the tank I've got an air stone creating some water flow to the surface over and above the spray bar. But the spray bar has been fine for a while (ie nothing else needed). But in regards to gill flukes there is no sign of any white spot or inflamed gills.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. I've not yet added salt as I've read this isn't helpful to the loaches. Today I've added the last treatment of the anti internal bacteria - but just today I woke up to one dead clown loach (who seemed fine the day before) and a dead catfish about an hour ago (again seemed fine).
Matt
Another thought - I have had a snail problem. Since I've had the issues in the tank the snail population has diminished as well.
Matt
Hoping someone will be able to offer advice.
I've a 300L tank which has been ticking along fine for a while now. All fish were babies when I got them and I've only made a few additions. The tank is about 8 months old.
Over the past week fish have started dying - no visible signs of anything. They look totally normal but then just. . .die.
So far I've lost about 5 catfish, 3 clown loaches and one blue Gourami. It is heartbreaking - especially as I've grown them all from babies.
1. Water parameters. (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, PH, temp', Hardness etc)- all checked 0 amonia, 0 Nitrate and trace nitrite. Hardness/PH all spot on. Temp is current at 27C.
2. A full description of the fishes symptoms. As above - key losses seem to be just the Bristle nose catfish and the clown loaches. Symptoms seem to be fast breathing and listlessness. Then next thing is they are dead. It seems to happen very very quickly. There are no visible signs on the outside. Gills do not look swollen. All other fish in the tank seem fine and happy as normal. But again - some seem to be breathing fast.
3. How often you do water changes and how much. I'll be honest (as I want a solution) I've not been as active on the water changes recently it was probably 3-4 weeks previous to the last one before they started dying. Since they have - I'd done a good 40% one on Monday. Intending to do another today. In regards to water quality - my fish are regularly spawning (Angel fish laying eggs, Bristlenose catfish laying eggs, livebearers giving birth etc).
4. Any chemicals and treatments you add to the water. Only treatment added right now is Interpret Anti Internal Bacteria - which my LFS recommended due to the symptoms.
5. What tank mates are in the tank. 2 x Angel Fish, 2 clown loaches (one not looking happy), 1 Bristlenose catfish (not looking happy), 8 danios, 4 livebearers and one Red Shark. Also about 6 shrimp.
6. Tank size. 300L
7. Finally Have you recently added any new fish? Nothing new added to the tank for months.
My only thought through research is potentially this is gill flukes. To aid with the air in the tank I've got an air stone creating some water flow to the surface over and above the spray bar. But the spray bar has been fine for a while (ie nothing else needed). But in regards to gill flukes there is no sign of any white spot or inflamed gills.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. I've not yet added salt as I've read this isn't helpful to the loaches. Today I've added the last treatment of the anti internal bacteria - but just today I woke up to one dead clown loach (who seemed fine the day before) and a dead catfish about an hour ago (again seemed fine).
Matt
Another thought - I have had a snail problem. Since I've had the issues in the tank the snail population has diminished as well.
Matt
