Lost My Jd :-(

[sharpshark]

I lost my bigger JD, it was nine months old and about four inches...

I saw absolutely no signs or symptoms of illness before or after death, I just noticed it on its side at the bottom of the tank.

I have purchased a new master test kit today and did a full test, the water was
just over neutral to alkaline, around 8 (too high)
the nitrites and ammonia were both nil
the nitrates were high, 100 - 150 mg/l

Usually I have never worried about nitrates, could it or the PH have killed my JD? Even though the smaller JD is okay?

Other than that, I can only think that either

1. One of my young children frightened it somehow (though the fish has put up with them until its death)
2. I have a RTB shark in there, hes quite aggressive but I have never seen him display this to the larger JD.
3. A disease of some kind


I am watching the smaller electric blue JD I have in the tank closely, he seems fine at the minute, as do the other fish.


Thanks for the anticipated help.

 

[bubblesburst80]

sorry for you loss, hope your other fish are fine

xXx

 

[ox5477]

I don't see either of the pH or nitrate killing him (though im not sure how high 150 mg/l is as I use ppm normally) so quickly though long term exposure to nitrates can shorten a fishes life

If one of your kids did startle him he may of run into the side of the tank or a piece of decoration that could of concussed him and he could sufficated after that if he wasn't moving enough water through his gills. Do you have any sharp objects or blunt objects that stick out in the tank that could caused internal injury to him?

the RTBS could of killed the jd as I have heard horror stories of how nasty these guys can be. But you have seen battle marks (torn fins, scales missing) on the jd I would assume if the rtbs had killed it

It could an internal fungus or other internal disease. was the jd eating when you put the food in? sometimes some fish just stop eating and will starve to death. I've never heard of this with jd's or most new worlds cichlids, but maybe another possibility

And im sorry for your loss, I would be pretty upset if my big guy turned up dead one morning when I go to say hi

 

[sharpshark]

There are plenty of things he could have run into, so thats a possibility, there were no visible battles scars and was eating up until the death. I guess it will remain a mystery.

Thanks for your help