Fish Are Dieing

[wolfwolf]

I have been losing fish in my 29 gallon tank. So far it is 2 pearl danios, 3 harlequin rasboras, and now 3 trillineatus cories. All over the space of about 2 weeks. Other than loss of color my previous deaths have been mysterious. My cory that died last night was rather pale and it looked like his insides were red from his gills to about half way to his tail. It reminded me of internal bleeding. I was going to cut him open but he smelled really bad and I am very squeemish about cutting things.

What would cause a fish to appear red on the inside? No fungus, cloudy eyes, or wounds of any sort. He died sometime over night.

pH is 7.5
kH is 3
Ammonia ??? (I just did a 10% water change with Prime when I noticed the fish)
Nitrate 10
Temp 79F

Other fish in the tank - 4 pearl danio, 5 harlequins, 7 cories.

I had just added 7 cories the day before the death. (Thought the dieing was done)

Decor: Sand, large piece of bogwood, plastic plants, 1 java fern baby, 1 anubia
Aquaclear 50 filter
Weekly 20% water changes

 

[WILDER]

Red beneath the skin like blood pools is septicemia.
Its best to issolate fish with septicmia as the bacteria can enter the tank from the fish.
I would add a bacterial med to your tank.

Are the gills red and inflamed as that can be bad water quality to gill flukes.
Anys sign of flicking and rubbing.
We need to look at your ammonia and ntrite reading.

 

[wolfwolf]

I'll check the nitrite and ammonia tonight when I get home. Hopefully I will not need to do a body count. I have not noticed any flicking or rubbing from the fish in the tank. They just die. I do not have any place to isolate the sick fish.

Should I start maracyn and maracyn 2 right away tonight?

 

[WILDER]

Yes I would.
Good luck.

 

[pickledbrain]

Do you just have sand in your tank or other methods ofsubstrates, ie stones gravel etc....

The sand can trap methane gas!!! which of course is fatal for
fish!

 

[wolfwolf]

My sand is an inch or less in depth. Just enough to cover the bottom really. I don't think it could cause a gas buildup. I thought that only happened with very deep substrate.

I did not add the medication last night. The fish that I looked at seemed to be in okay health. One cory did look a little red at the gills but it is hard to tell. Anyway I did a 30% water change and checked ammonia and nitrite. Both are 0 using api test liquids. I am going to check the levels and do another 30% water change tonight. If I lost a fish overnight I will defintely go to the medication. I have it sitting right in the cabinet under the fish tank.

Thanks for you help

 

[WILDER]

Red inflamed gills can be due to bad water quality to gill fukes.

 

[wolfwolf]

No deaths but one more cory is hiding away from the others and when he swims its more like a crazy darting action than a normal swim. Is that another sign for parasites?

Two other cories appear to be a shade of red rather than the natural white. All of the cories cower at the back corner of the tank.

I'm so freakin frustrated at this point.

 

[WILDER]

Yes darting can be a sign of parasties.
Have you checked your water stats.
Signs of flukes are.
Red inflamed gills or pale gills with excess mucas.
Flicking and rubbing against objects.
Heavy breathing or gasping.
Darting around the tank.
Red sores on the fish body.
Swimming oddly in a jerky movement.
Spitting food out.
Loss of weight.

Flukes can also cause bacterial infections as in there hooks or suckers they carry a nasty bacteria which enters the fish blood stream when the parasite pierce the skin.