Lost A Gbr, Think I'm Losing The Other

[mancin]

I came home today and found my male Ram dead. I then noticed that my female was missing. I searched all over the tank and found her. She doesn't look too hot either.

This is the male:

The female is breathing rapidly, seems to have a protruding belly, and has a long stringy substance coming out of her. She is hanging out in one spot of the tank and hiding. It was hard to get a pic of her based on where she is in the tank (had to take the pic from the back of the tank). You can kind of see the stringy stuff in this picture:

You can see her bulging belly here:

Other fish in the tank:

2 Kribs
20 Harlequin Rasbora
1 BN Pleco

I did do my first water change in the tank yesterday with the Python. I made sure that I added dechlor before putting the new water in and I also dosed ferts. Prior to this, I was doing weekly water changes manually.

There were no signs of distress from either fish. They were acting fine yesterday. I do feed a varied diet of Cichlid sticks (pre-soaked), flakes, frozen brine shrimp, and frozen bloodworms (as a treat).

Tank stats:

55 Gallons

Temp: 80F
pH: Around 7.2 (looks less than 7.5)
Ammonia: 0
NitrItes: 0
NitrAtes: 5

Is this a parasite? Any ideas? I do have a 10 Gallon that I don't have set up yet as the Hospital/QT tank as I've been a stressball with work and some medical issues with one of my dogs and haven't had the time to set it up. Should I fill it up and transfer the female to there? Is this something that could potentially affect my other fish? No other fish are showing any signs of distress.

 

[mancin]

Too late. I'm really confused. This hit both of them hard and fast. I really thought I was doing everything they needed. So far everyone else is looking fine. I got a pic of the female to try and better show what was hanging out of her. Should I be concerned for my other fish???

 

[mancin]

Anybody?

 

[WILDER]

Were the fish scales sticking out.
What do you feed the fish.
Long stringy white poo can be constipation, bacterial infection, internal parasites.
Was the anus red and inflamed or enlarged.
R.I.P.

 

[mancin]

Were the fish scales sticking out.
What do you feed the fish.
Long stringy white poo can be constipation, bacterial infection, internal parasites.
Was the anus red and inflamed or enlarged.
R.I.P.

Nope, no scales sticking out. I do feed a varied diet of Cichlid sticks (pre-soaked), flakes, frozen brine shrimp, and frozen bloodworms (as a treat). Didn't notice red or inflamed anus. Would any of those issues be able to kill them that quickly?

 

[WILDER]

Can you describe the thing hanging from the fish. Where was it on the fish as can't make much out in the pics.

 

[Truck]

what do you temp do you keep them at? and are there any lesions on the head? such as pits or holes? most probably a bacterial infection with a ram

 

[WILDER]

Truck does it look like pitting with strands of mucas coming out of it. As I can't make much out in the pics.

 

[Truck]

i can see some form of dint in the head in the first pic, and the bloat makes me think early dropsy.

the male looks to be in very bad health judging by the first pic, hes washed out, appears bloated, scrawny thin fins and his eyes are buldging.

@OP

do you have a sand substrate?
what temp do you keep them at?
what are your water stats?

 

[WILDER]

Thanks truck.
I would add a bacterial med like anti internal bacteria med by interpet.

Hole in the head starts off a pitting or small spot that ulcerates on the head.

 

[Truck]

this is why i am very vocal about the 28oC thing, low temps cause these things mentioned

theyre not just average community fish, everybody perceives them as that though

nice fish, but have picky requirements.

@OP if your nitrates are above 20 i would get some plants, high nitrates are the no1 killer of rams

 

[TigerIssey]

Mancin you were doing really well, you did have the temp at 28 didn't you, I remember having a temp discussion with someone. They looked really healthy when I sexed them a few weeks ago.

How long have you had these fish now, it was not that long was it??

Can you do some water tests

pH
Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate

if you have it KH.

Has anything changed in your water supply recently I know you said you recently used the python for the first time.


What dechor are you using and have you recently changed ferts, do you usually add dechlor and ferts at the same time?

 

[mancin]

Hope I'm answering everyone's questions:


Water stats are in original post:

Temp: 80F
pH: Around 7.2 (looks less than 7.5)
Ammonia: 0
NitrItes: 0
NitrAtes: 5
Sand substrate

Nitrates have never been above 5ppm in this tank. I am quite anal when it comes to testing the water, and I had been checking the water every other day since I got them. The tank is planted as well. I have been doing weekly water changes of 25% with a bucket up until I used the Python.

It seemed like long stringy white poo, but it looked more worm like than poo. Had I fed them a worm like food recently, I wouldn't be as concerned. It was extremely long. I've seen them go to the bathroom several times and it has never been that long or that thin. I haven't changed my feeding since I got them. I have a pretty consistent schedule of how much gets fed and on what day.

I usually dose ferts and add dechlor at the same time during water changes, except one fert does require daily dosage. I use a Potassium only fert as well as Seachem Flourish. The dechlor is Aqua-Safe Dechlorinator by Tetra. I started using the Potassium fert about 2 weeks ago when I noticed some issues with the plant leaves (and it was recommended by some members to get a Potassium fert and dose according to the bottle, which I have been doing).

I understand they are finicky fish, and have been labeled as somewhat difficult to keep, but they had been doing SPECTACULAR up until their sudden death. They were active and spawning every week or so. I got them almost exactly a month ago.

I honestly wonder if something went wrong with using the Python. That seems like the most likely cause since this started happening almost immediately after the water change. I didn't notice any lesions in the head. I do agree the male Ram looked extremely washed out when I found him dead, but you can see in my Avatar, he was a beauty!

 

[WILDER]

Try some peas.
Get back to the board if the long stringy white dosn't clear up. It could be constipation, bacterial infection, internal parasites.

 

[mancin]

Try some peas.
Get back to the board if the long stringy white dosn't clear up. It could be constipation, bacterial infection, internal parasites.

Too late now since they are both dead. The point I'm concerned about now is if whatever killed them so quickly is going to affect my other fish, which as of right now, all seem normal.