My First Casualty

[screamingdonkey]

Woke up this a.m. to find one of my four peppered corys lying on it's side at the bottom of the tank.
I examined him/her through the glass & there seemed no "obvious" signs of illness (whitespot, damaged fins, wounds etc).
Then it flipped back upright & lay there for a while before trying to swim off - it was having difficulty swimming "normally" & only seemed to manage small burts. When he/she settled again, I could see that it's gills were flapping frantically.

After a couple more minutes, it tried to swim to the surface but swam in a dazed and confused manner & only made it half way to the surface. After 5 more minutes of seeing it struggle, I came to the conclusion that it was best to put it out of it's misery (some of the other peaceful fish were beginning to take interest in the poorly cory).

Part of my reasoning for the euthanasia approach was the fact that I'm going away this weekend & there'll be nobody at home to look after the tank. I was worried that if it was diseased, the other fish may contract the disease after feasting on the dead cory (assuming that it wouldn't survive the weekend). Hope I did the right thing???

Tested the water - ph, ammonia, nitrate & nitrite all fine.
At a loss as to why this happened.
Any suggestions???

A few more points - is there anything I should do before going away this evening?
I thought about doing a quick water change - but not sure what purpose this would serve, as current levels of amm, no2, no3 etc all ok (as mentioned above).
FYI - last water change was done 6 days ok.
All other fish seem ok.
PS: the peppered corys were introduced 3 weeks ago & had all seemed to have settled in ok

 

[KathyM]

Sorry, no idea what caused your cory to get ill (what were his barbels like?). Just thought I'd say though that given your last water change was 6 days ago, and the probs you've had with the cory, it'd definitely be best to do a good change before you go away.

 

[screamingdonkey]

what were his barbels like?

They seemed ok. I checked him/her over when I pulled the fish from the tank - not stunted at all.

Just thought I'd say though that given your last water change was 6 days ago, and the probs you've had with the cory, it'd definitely be best to do a good change before you go away

Ok, maybe I best do that then. Thanks

 

[screamingdonkey]

Well, I've come home from work early & there are no other casualties...

Done a 20% water change, so now it's fingers x'd that when I come back from the weekend away all the other fish will be ok!!!

 

[jollysue]

How many fish and kind in what size tank. What is "all ok?" What are you using to test?

I'm kind of sorry you euthanized. It really could have been an ammonia thing from the new fish or some other recoverable thing. Most Cory species are very hardy fish. It would be good to have a quarantine tank to put sick fish in.

Some female Cories that are spawning will go into a freeze and be disoriented.

Water changes are always the first line of defense.

 

[screamingdonkey]

How many fish and kind in what size tank. What is "all ok?" What are you using to test?

I'm kind of sorry you euthanized. It really could have been an ammonia thing from the new fish or some other recoverable thing. Most Cory species are very hardy fish. It would be good to have a quarantine tank to put sick fish in.

Some female Cories that are spawning will go into a freeze and be disoriented.

Water changes are always the first line of defense.

Just a quickie to say, I returned last night to no more casulaties - thankfully!!!!
No obvious signs of illness on any of the other fish.

FYI - tank is 4ft (or just under). I have a shoal of 7 tiger barbs, 3 male platies, 3 (prev. 4) peppered corys & two zebra loaches (hoping to add a couple more). Ammonia = 0, nitrite = 0, nitrate = 10ish, pH = 7.2.

Me too re euthanasia - unfortunately, I don't have a qurantine tank at present but this has made me feel I need one.
It's just that I was going away on an appointment I couldn't get out of. If I left the poorly cory there, I was worried the barbs would feast on the carcass (if the cory died while I was away) & maybe contract a disease that the cory would be carrying (??). Also, didn't want to let him/her suffer any longer than necessary. If circumstances were different, then I would've done things differently.

I'm pretty sure that all four (now 3) cories were male, looking at bits & bobs on the internet it appears the females have a more rounded shape.

Well, the water change seems to have done no harm.
Do you think I should do another one soon? Or just stick to my usual regime (25% fortnightly)?
As I said, it doesn't appear that any other fish are suffering/ill - touch wood!

Once again jollysue, thank you

 

[screamingdonkey]

As I said, it doesn't appear that any other fish are suffering/ill - touch wood!

Me and my big mouth!!!!

Looks like one of the tiger barbs is on it's way out
It's one of the green tiger barbs & it seems to have gone darker in colour.
It looks very listless & it doesn't seem to be able to extend it's dorsal fin.
Any suggestions

I may be able to get to the LFS tomorrow lunchtime - just want your thoughts before I consult them.

If I do get a "hospital tank", what water do I use?
I mean, do i use some of the main tank's water or do i use fresh (dechlorinated, obviously) water?
Sorry if that sounds like a silly question but i have no idea.
From the pinned post about A-Z of diseases, i'd say the most likely thing is internal bacterial infection.
Any thoughts???

 

[screamingdonkey]

As I said, it doesn't appear that any other fish are suffering/ill - touch wood!

Me and my big mouth!!!!

Looks like one of the tiger barbs is on it's way out
It's one of the green tiger barbs & it seems to have gone darker in colour.
It looks very listless & it doesn't seem to be able to extend it's dorsal fin.
Any suggestions

I may be able to get to the LFS tomorrow lunchtime - just want your thoughts before I consult them.

If I do get a "hospital tank", what water do I use?
I mean, do i use some of the main tank's water or do i use fresh (dechlorinated, obviously) water?
Sorry if that sounds like a silly question but i have no idea.
From the pinned post about A-Z of diseases, i'd say the most likely thing is internal bacterial infection.
Any thoughts???

EDIT:
I've just noticed on closer inspection that it's gills seem to be protruding more than you would expect & that it's head/gills seem shinier than the other green tiger barbs. Hope this helps with the diagnosis....

2nd EDIT/UPDATE:
It looks as though it's too late for the tiger barb. I've managed to isolate it but don't think it'll survive the night.
Will try to get quarantine/hospital tank tomorrow - just in case of any other victims, so I'd really appreciate an answer to my question re the water

 

[jollysue]

I'm sorry I have been unable to answer. I was called out of town on a family emergency and jusy got back last nigh--with a cold--after suffering a night of gastro intensinal distress. My son's family were all in the hospital on IVs for dehydration. Some nurse I am--haha

In my mind frequent small water changes never hurt and often help. If not to reduce a bacterial load, then to in increase the oxygen level and reduce a contaminant that may have gotten into the tank.

I either need full dimensions or volume on tank size.

There are so many things that can go wrong. And I am not a great fish doctor. I had hoped one of the better emergency folks would catch up to you.

As far as cycling a new tank, the fastest way would be to add media from the old filter to the new filter. It is a common practice to keep extra filters running on an established tank and ready to go. Getting a tank up and running from scratch is more problematic.

My practice is to steal media from other tanks, as well as to use BioSpira or another live bactera additive, and inaddition to do frequent water changes if I see rising nitrite. Also an airstone and some fresh water aquarium safe salt is usually recommended. I don't use old tank water unless I am trying to reduce acclimation distress. Usually since it is all water from my tap I don't get too concerned. The benefits of fresh clean water are to be weighed in the balance too.

Have you been keeping the bottom of the tank vacumed and clean? I'm sorry I know this is distressing for you, but I am really not on top of it right now--a little feverish.

NEONCORY responded much as I have and has the same suspicions. Check back on the Cory forum here

 

[Rhiannon]

My albino died of know obvious illnesses too.

One day I found it panting through its gills really heavily.

Afternoon it was dead.

Poor thing.