Fish Dying...need Help!

[marblek]

I have a 29 gallon freshwater tank.

Ammonia and nitrite are 0, nitrate is low. I have been doing weekly water changes of about 15 - 20 percent, and then adding stress zyme.

I added a pleco about six days ago and then three cory cats five days ago. Within a half an hour of entering the tank one of the corys was laying on its side on the bottom of the tank with what looked like internal bleeding on its side. Shortly after it disappeared and I couldn't find it. The next day one of the other corys was swimming drunkenly and then lying on its side. I took it back to the shop, where they said they didn't see any sign of disease. My water tested fine. I then lost two silvertip tetras and one neon.

No one shows any sign of disease or distress. The only clues are that the neon was swimming nose down, and one of tetras was skimming the surface several hours before it died. I added an airstone when I saw the surface swimming, thinking it might have been an oxygen issue. That was last night, this morning I have lost one more neon and one more silvertip.

Remaining tankmates: 1 cory cat, 1 small pleco, 5 danios, 2 silvertips and 2 neons

I would appreciate any assistance, as I am afraid my whole crew is about to die!

Thanks,
Elizabeth

 

[fluttermoth]

Sorry to hear of your losses, Elizabeth.

I can't quite put my finger on what's wrong. Fish swimming head down is often a sign of a water quality issue; I know your tests have come out fine, but there's always a chance that something we can't or don't test for could be causing a problem, so I'd suggest some large water changes as a first aid measure.

I wouldn't bother with the stress zyme; it's very unlikely to be doing anything useful for you; the bacteria need flowing water, an oxygen supply and food (ammoina) so can't survive in a bottle.
Are you using a dechlorinator? How long has the tank been set up? Are you testing the water yourself or is the shop doing it for you?

 

[marblek]

Sorry to hear of your losses, Elizabeth.

I can't quite put my finger on what's wrong. Fish swimming head down is often a sign of a water quality issue; I know your tests have come out fine, but there's always a chance that something we can't or don't test for could be causing a problem, so I'd suggest some large water changes as a first aid measure.

I wouldn't bother with the stress zyme; it's very unlikely to be doing anything useful for you; the bacteria need flowing water, an oxygen supply and food (ammoina) so can't survive in a bottle.
Are you using a dechlorinator? How long has the tank been set up? Are you testing the water yourself or is the shop doing it for you?

Thanks for your time!

The tank has been set up for about four weeks, but I started it with water from a friend's tank, so I am certain it is cycled. I have used a basic dechlorinating water conditioner as well. I have been testing it myself as well as taking samples in to the shop. I just called the shop and they think I am dealing with dropsy or parasites, thoughts?

Thanks for the heads up on the stress zyme...common sense, if you stop and think about it!

 

[fluttermoth]

I hate to be the one to tell you this, but your tank's almost certainly not cycled. There's almost no useful bacteria at all lose in the water; they cling pretty strongly to the filter media. If your friend could give you a piece of sponge or something that would be better.

Keep a close eye on your water and be prepared to do some large changes if you see any trace of ammonia or nitrite.

It's certainly not dropsy; fish with dropsy become very lethargic and swell up so much their scales stick out (called 'pine coning'), and anyway; dropsy is a symptom rather than a disease on its own. Parasites take longer to affect a fish than half an hour, so I don't think it's likely to be that either.

 

[marblek]

I hate to be the one to tell you this, but your tank's almost certainly not cycled. There's almost no useful bacteria at all lose in the water; they cling pretty strongly to the filter media. If your friend could give you a piece of sponge or something that would be better.

Keep a close eye on your water and be prepared to do some large changes if you see any trace of ammonia or nitrite.

It's certainly not dropsy; fish with dropsy become very lethargic and swell up so much their scales stick out (called 'pine coning'), and anyway; dropsy is a symptom rather than a disease on its own. Parasites take longer to affect a fish than half an hour, so I don't think it's likely to be that either.

Could the cory have brought it to my tank? Would it affect everyone else this quickly?
Thanks

 

[fluttermoth]

It's really hard to say at the moment to be honest.

It's very bad practice to start treating fish when you're not 100% certain of what's wrong. All I can suggest is water changes, watching closely for any other symptoms and keeping your fingers crossed

 

[Tizer]

It's really hard to say at the moment to be honest.

It's very bad practice to start treating fish when you're not 100% certain of what's wrong. All I can suggest is water changes, watching closely for any other symptoms and keeping your fingers crossed

+1

Tank temperature? In direct sunlight?

 

[marblek]

It's really hard to say at the moment to be honest.

It's very bad practice to start treating fish when you're not 100% certain of what's wrong. All I can suggest is water changes, watching closely for any other symptoms and keeping your fingers crossed

+1

Tank temperature? In direct sunlight?

Tank temp is consistent 78 degrees, about five feet from a window, but no direct sunlight

Thanks for the help....

 

[marblek]

It's really hard to say at the moment to be honest.

It's very bad practice to start treating fish when you're not 100% certain of what's wrong. All I can suggest is water changes, watching closely for any other symptoms and keeping your fingers crossed

+1

Tank temperature? In direct sunlight?

Tank temp is consistent 78 degrees, about five feet from a window, but no direct sunlight

Thanks for the help....

The guy at the shop recommended Maracyn-Oxy...due to the combo of gasping at the surface and laying on the bottom. He tested my water again, again all was well. Now that I am home again, one of the silver tips is rapidly opening and closing her mouth. One of them seems a little twitchy, but not sure if I am making that up since I a desperate to see a clue. I know it is bad to treat if you don't know what you are treating. Thoughts about that medicine? I don't want to just sit back and watch them all die.

Thanks again!

 

[fluttermoth]

I don't want to sound off hand, but have you done a water change yet?

What were the actual numbers when your shop tested the water? I'm afraid it's all too common for shops to tell you that your 'water is fine' or 'within safe levels', but that's because water changes don't make them any money; selling you medicines does...

 

[marblek]

Don't worry about sounding anything...I appreciate your time and insight. I did a 25% change yesterday. My levels are:

Nitrate: 10 ppm (safe)
Nitrite: 0
Hardness: 75 ppm (safe)
Chlorine: 0
Alkalinity: between 0 and 40 (low)
pH: 7.2
Ammonia: 0

Afraid I am going to lose the silver tip who was gasping earlier...she is isolating herself up in the top corner, still gasping, and has a very slight, slight pink hue to the sides of her abdomen.

Ugh, I feel awful. Should I do another change? I changed my filter cartridge yesterday too.

Thanks.

 

[fluttermoth]

I can't comment on the Maracyn, as it's antibiotics and I'm in the UK where you can't buy them over the counter; you have to have a prescription from a vet.
I'd be more inclined to use something for internal bacterial infections, if I was going to use anything at all.

25% isn't very much; I'd want to do 75 or 80% (don't forget to switch your heaters and filters off doing a water change that large).

What's this about the filter cartridge? Why do you change it?

 

[marblek]

Thanks again for your time...

I did a major water change this morning, as you suggested. As for the cartridge, my filter requires a new cartridge every month, so I put in a new one yesterday. I haven't used any meds yet, I think I'll wait a bit longer and see if there are any more defining symptoms...I don't want to cause a problem by giving meds that aren't appropriate for the situation. I lost another neon last night, one that wasn't showing any signs at all. Interestingly, the silvertip that looks so ill is hanging in there, much longer than all of her friends that have died thus far. Let me know if you think of anything else!

Thanks

 

[fluttermoth]

Your filter doesn't need a new cartridge every month; no filter does; the manufacturors just say that to get money off you. Just rinse it out in old tank water when you do a water change (just enough to get rid of the worst of the dirt).

Sorry about your neon; keep up the water changes and I really hope things pick up soon.

 

[marblek]

Thanks for the filter tip, yeesh. I had numerous tanks growing up, but boy things have changed a lot!

I have lost another silver tip, and my last neon doesn't look good.

At what point should I shut my tank down and start over? ...and how does that work with my remaining fish who may be infected by this mystery disease? Or do I just keep doing water changes and hope for the best?