Let's See If Y'all Can Figure It Out.

[McCool]

Okay, so I just had two Angel fish go from active to dead in less than 6 hours. One had internal parasites, so I seperated both angels into a five gallon bucket. It was half clean water, and half tank water, primed of course. I tested it, no ammonia, no nitrite, 20 nitrate. I've put fish in these buckets before. Nothing was sprayed that could've contaminated the water. I dosed with Tetra Parasite Guard tablets. You are supposed to use one for every ten gallons, so I cut it in half and dosed it. The bucket also had a live plant in there, from my main tank. Now, 6 hours later, both fish are dead. I've been gone, So I couldn't tell you any symptoms or anything else from that 6 or so hours.
Can ANYONE figure this out? They were my two center piece fish, and I'm half ticked and half devastated.
I'll also add that these two angels have always been buddies, hence why I treated them together. There is absolutely no signs of damage to either body, and I have never even seen them bicker. One was full sized with a bent fin, and the handicap is part of what I contribute his docile nature too, and the other maybe half his size.

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Did the bucket have any filtration? It may of been lack of oxygen?
Maybe the medication was unsuitable for angels, or, maybe even though you cut the tablet in half, it may of still been too strong?

 

[McCool]

Did the bucket have any filtration? It may of been lack of oxygen?
Maybe the medication was unsuitable for angels, or, maybe even though you cut the tablet in half, it may of still been too strong?

No filtration, but a very large sword that pretty much filled the whole bucket. They've been in the same bucket much longer before, so I don't think oxygen would be it.
It doesn't say anything about being fish specific.... And if it was too strong with a small overdose, that must be some amazingly concentrated medication. I'm really stumped on this one

 

[Blondielovesfish]

seems like I am too then. Maybe they were just stressed from being moved?

 

[McCool]

seems like I am too then. Maybe they were just stressed from being moved?

I just can't believe that would've actually killed them I honestly have no clue. maybe someone else will have an idea.

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Hopefully

 

[Chad]

I'm going to go for lack of oxygen myself.
 
Did the plant have a light on it? The plant is only going to produce oxygen during photosynthesis. Also, 6 hours in a bucket without filtration is going to lead to an increase in ammonia. Using part tank water isn't going to include enough bacteria to consume the ammonia. Was the test numbers of the bucket water you list above after the fish were removed from the bucket?

 

[McCool]

I'm going to go for lack of oxygen myself.
 
Did the plant have a light on it? The plant is only going to produce oxygen during photosynthesis. Also, 6 hours in a bucket without filtration is going to lead to an increase in ammonia. Using part tank water isn't going to include enough bacteria to consume the ammonia. Was the test numbers of the bucket water you list above after the fish were removed from the bucket?

Yes, I tested the water right before I made this thread. The plant didn't have direct light, no. The reason I say I didn't think it was lack of oxygen, is because I have already dosed these fish before, and they were in the bucket for a full 24 hours if not longer. I could not dose my whole tank because of crafty bamboo shrimp that evade my net and would've been killed by the meds. After I saw some improvement, I moved my angels back into their main tank, however the next day, the large Angel was once again showing signs of a parasite, so I acclimated them back to the bucket, and they were fine for a good hour after that, up until I had to leave. I get home hours later and find them dead.

 

[Noahsfish]

I agree that leaving them in a bucket would lead to ammonia build up, but I seriously doubt they'd be dead in 6 hours from lack of oxygen...I know they have those breathable bags, but a lot of fish are transported overnight or longer in a bag that isn't even half a gallon...could it be a combination of things like them being sick, stress of moving, and a small trace of ammonia build up? I just can't really imagine that lack of oxygen could have killed them...maybe I'm just lucky but when my 10g busted I had 6 harlequins and a few cherrys in a single 5 gallon bucket overnight and everything survived and stayed in good shape. I also had a ton of plants floating in there including about a pound of java moss . Anyways I hope you find out what happened, by the way what other fish were they housed with and are all of those fish fine?

 

[Chad]

I agree that leaving them in a bucket would lead to ammonia build up, but I seriously doubt they'd be dead in 6 hours from lack of oxygen...

Agreed. I'm thinking more of a combination of things. A change in oxygen, pH, ammonia etc.
http/www.ca.uky.edu/wkrec/pH-Ammonia.htm

 

[McCool]

I agree that leaving them in a bucket would lead to ammonia build up, but I seriously doubt they'd be dead in 6 hours from lack of oxygen...I know they have those breathable bags, but a lot of fish are transported overnight or longer in a bag that isn't even half a gallon...could it be a combination of things like them being sick, stress of moving, and a small trace of ammonia build up? I just can't really imagine that lack of oxygen could have killed them...maybe I'm just lucky but when my 10g busted I had 6 harlequins and a few cherrys in a single 5 gallon bucket overnight and everything survived and stayed in good shape. I also had a ton of plants floating in there including about a pound of java moss . Anyways I hope you find out what happened, by the way what other fish were they housed with and are all of those fish fine?

Loaches, Swordtails, a Whiptail Cat, and a few odd otos. Everyone else seems to be in perfect health, and they all ate good tonight. Only the large Angel was showing the parasite signs, however I wanted to treat both just in case, plus I figured it would lower the stress of the large Angel, since they never leave eachother's sides in the big tank.

I agree that leaving them in a bucket would lead to ammonia build up, but I seriously doubt they'd be dead in 6 hours from lack of oxygen...

Agreed. I'm thinking more of a combination of things. A change in oxygen, pH, ammonia etc.
http/www.ca.uky.edu/wkrec/pH-Ammonia.htm

Honestly those things are the only explanation I can come up with. My only sticking point is that they've made the same exact transaction before, and much longer, with no problem at all....

 

[DyArianna]

Just a thought...trying to think outside the box, or bucket, sso to speak. Thinking external again. You said you were gone for a few hours. Any pets or others around that could have contributed to the mystery?

 

[McCool]

Just a thought...trying to think outside the box, or bucket, sso to speak. Thinking external again. You said you were gone for a few hours. Any pets or others around that could have contributed to the mystery?

Nope. Nothing.

 

[the_lock_man]

I'm with Chad, that it's a mixture of oxygen deprivation and ammonia.
 
Why didn't it happen before? I would presume because the illness hadn't weakened them so much previously.

 

[McCool]

I'm with Chad, that it's a mixture of oxygen deprivation and ammonia.
 
Why didn't it happen before? I would presume because the illness hadn't weakened them so much previously.

Yes, but one Angel wasn't even sick, and honestly the one with parasites didn't even act sick. His only symptom was white stringy poo and a loss of appetite. He was still plenty active. If it was only the sick one who died it would make sense, but both of them did.