Is It The Tetras?

[VTDrew]

OK,

So last week I posted about new young angel fish that I got which were dropping like flies. I lost all 4 within 4 days. We ruled out water quality:
0 Ammonia
0 Nitrites
5 Nitrates
Low Phosphate (can't remember exact number)
3-4deg GH
0deg KH
Temp was around 78 although I tried to raise it towards the end.

I noticed around that time that my Cockatoo Apisto started acting funny, and shy, he is an older fish but recently moved him to my larger new tank...he is not a shy fish at all and loves to follow me around the room. Soon after he developed a chromataphore issue, his rear end (from anal fins back) was super dark and his front was camoflaged but on the lighter side. There was a very, very distinct point on his body that this change occurred. Neither end of his body was abnormal. I debated moving him back to his old tank thinking he was just stressed from the move to the 56 gallon tank but figured he would adapt and come to love being in a tank more then twice the size of his 20, not to mention moving tanks would be more stressful. Now, I think I'm seeing the early signs of dropsy.

Anyway, with dropsy presenting its self, I decided that the stress of a move back to his old tank would be a worthwhile risk. The bag is floating now. The old tank has changed a litle since he left, but mostly the same. Just 3 more neon's and two guppies. Otherwise, same old tank with the same old inhabitants. No one has yet claimed his old hiding spot.

So, to the point, can stress cause dropsy. At this point the Buenos Aires Tetra's are my number one suspect in what killed the angels. Could they also be pissing off my Apisto? The Tetra's are going back the the LFS tomorrow, but I didn't want to wait a single second to save my favorite fish. If he wants to live in a 20gal then he can live in a 20gal! Maybe he just missed sleeping in the bedroom with me .

Thoughts?

 

[garyspence84]

I think (but might be wrong) dropsy is caused by bad water quality?

Although your stats are perfect, you might not be doing enough water changes? If I were you, is leave the apisto in the bigger tank. Do a big water change, like 50%, increase the temp by a couple of degrees and add some aquarium salt over the space of a week and see how it goes.

Sometimes if fish aren't getting enough veriety in there diet, ie. They only get 1 type of flake every day, there bellies can expand. I've seen this with my fish in the past.

I'm just trying to rule out any obvious things that may be causing this. There's nothing more frustrating than not knowing what's causing your fish ill health.

Hope you can resolve this.

 

[thereverendturtle]

Buenos Aires tetras are quite boisterous and can be aggressive. They probably did do your angels in. As for your apisto, stress can cause dropsy and I hate to say it, but I have never been able to save a fish when it starts to show signs. Hopefully you'll have better luck.

 

[VTDrew]

Both tanks get 25% waterchanges weekely. Aside from a learning experience where I removed my filter and crashed the cycle to treat with meds, I've never had poor water issues. The 20 got a 50% last week. They also get a mix of flakes that the LFS uses in their own tanks and freeze dried blood worms.

I did complete the move to the 20gal. I live in a rural area with poor tap water and a steep climb up a mountain. I have to transport all drinking (for myself and dog), cooking and tank water up in my car. Sadly it would limit my ability to do a 50% change spur of the moment on the big tank, my max capacity is 20 gallons tank + 25 gallons drinking and an operation like that would be big.

I caught it before the pineconing started. I like to watch this fish so I noticed the slightest change right off the bat. Fingers crossed! He actually looked slightly better this morning. Had a little fight with a Serpae after moving to the tank, but that is because he decided to go into the Serpae hiding spot...he knows better, his hiding spot is in the lava rock cave, which is where he is now.