My First Loss

[KISSfn]

Just the other day I read with a heavy heart how Coldcazzie lost all her fish due to a faulty CO2 regulator and I thought how terrible it must be for her and her kids. A few days prior I was drawn to the topic "How to properly euthanize a fish" in the New Freshwater tank section and read the various methods. Little did I know my turn was coming. I feel I have done everything within my financial means to try to establish and maintain a healthy tank. I've spent over $800. I know money can't buy everything and many have spent more but I've always spent the cash if I thought it would benefit my fish. I've missed (and been ridiculed for) after work get togethers for going straight home to change water (a few months back). Unlike non forum members fish to me "are not just fish!" Yesterday I lost one of my Serpae Tetras. He was one of eight purchased from a high dollar (non chain store) aquarium that boasts of their use of UV sterilizers less than a month ago. I noticed he was in trouble so I did a 50% water change. Using a Salifert ($25) ammonia kit and the NH3 calculator on this site my water has .000895 NH3, 0-0.25 NH3 + NH4+, 0 Nitrite, PH 6.8, Temp 77F. I use a UV sterilizer. I use 2 Eheim 2234's, one loaded with mature media graciously donated by Tolak (months ago) and the other loaded with mature media purchased from AngelsPlus.com (months ago). Everybody else in the tank (list above my pic) appear fine. Some fascinating behavior I noticed was after he was showing signs of duress it seemed one of my Tigers sensed it and began to pick on him a little. To add to my fascination his Tetra brothers came to his defense and kept driving the Tiger off! I was amazed. Anyway, what I am hoping to hear is that his short life was one of those events that can be attributed to something out of my control or inbreeding, etc. If I'm doing something wrong then I'll listen to that too. Sorry for the novel and if you got this far, thanks!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I'm sorry to hear about your loss KISSfn.


Sorry, I can't comment on what could have caused this.

 

[KISSfn]

Thanks Eaglesaquarium. I knew you would have something nice to say.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

 

[This Old Spouse]

I doubt you're doing anything wrong. Sometimes fish die through no fault of ours. You're an attentive and responsible fishkeeper. So sorry for your loss!

 

[KISSfn]

Thanks This (you're not) Old (to me) Spouse. You are very kind.

 

[SchottayB]

Sorry for your loss. I've recently lost some fish, still no clue on why

 

[This Old Spouse]

 

[KISSfn]

Thanks SchottayB.

 

[coldcazzie]

Sorry to hear that. It's almost worse when you don't know why they've died, and then you start wondering if it was something you did wrong. It doesn't sound like it was, but I know that probably doesn't make you feel any better. It didn't make/hasn't made me feel any better.

(((((Kissfn))))) rip little fishy.

 

[KISSfn]

Thanks coldcazzie. Your loss was and is tragic and my heart goes out to you again. I am humbled to hear from someone who has and is suffering far greater and yet you offer kind words never the less. One thing that makes me feel better are the wonderful people like you on this forum.

 

[XeroTolerance]

Im so sorry for your loss.

I too have once experienced something I never want to see again. A few years ago I kept a betta in a 5 gallon tank. He was all by himself so he had plenty of room. One night I came up to my room after watching a movie. I looked into the tank but i couldn't find him anywhere. I thought he was hiding in the plants like he loves to do. I looked in the plants too but couldn't see him. I was getting a little scared by now because I had no idea where he was. I looked down on my carpet and saw him dead..... he was just lying there. I didn't see him before because my carpet is blue and so is he. Anyways, I thought it was something I did. The water was perfect. I even had a lid and the only way he could have jumped out is a small opening where my filter sits.

I am so sorry for your loss.

EDIT: By the way your tank looks amazing!

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

So sorry for your loss, I remember a couple of months back, I had 3 of my fish (mollies) die, 2 were down I think to ammonia poisoning, and the 3rd got it's head stuck in a small hole on my cave.

I just wish fish wouldn't die for no reason, that way at least you could pin point what went wrong and make sure it doesn't happen again

 

[KkAaNnEe]

What a shame, though I feel sometimes it is inevitable when purchasing schooling fish that one or two will be weaker than the rest. By the sound of your setup there really seems no reason for it but something that was out of your hands and i hope your not too down about it.

The only thing I would say is that running UV can sometimes leave fish unable to fight off some diseases, as their defense isnt quite built up, seems mad to think that sometimes your water can be too clean, although tryin to pin point what caused it is so difficult

 

[minnnt]

As many have said, it is probably nothing you have done wrong, just a weaker fish than the rest. It's hard when you lose fish and have no idea why. I recently added 9 cardinals, of which after 3 days I was down to 3. very sorry for your loss.