New Additions Dying

[tamsin]

Hiya,

I'm new to the forum and I joined up because I've got a reoccurring problem with introducing fish. Whenever I add new fish, I lose a portion of the new and some of the existing ones. For example, a few months ago I added five cardinals and I lost 4 of them and 2 existing platties. The fifth was fine and I rehomed her/him to my parents tank where he would have a shoal to live with. A few months before that I introduced 3 platties/3 guppies and lost 1 platty, 2 guppies and 2 existing cherry barbs. The loses start within days of introducing the new fish and continue for a week or so. Occasionally one will hide prior to death but in general they show no obvious symptoms. I again introduced platties and guppies on Sunday, I lost one guppy Monday, one platty yesterday and a cherry barb today. The fish have come from two different LFS both of which my parents and sister use without similar issues.

The tank is an aquaone 510 (75litres), planted, it's been running about 14 months, setup/water changes used RO water. Prior to the weekend I had 3 kuhli load, 2 albino corries, 3 cherry barbs, 1 platty, 1 guppy. I also have 2 amano shrimps, 3 red nose shrimps, and 2 adult cherry shrimps that are happily breeding away (about a dozen 1/3 inch offspring currently). I've had no shrimp loses at all (touch wood).

My water readings are
pH: 7.5
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 12.5
kH: 4
gH: 17
tank temp: 24oC

I did a approx. 7% water change yesterday after taking the readings after the platty's death.

I'd really appreciate any ideas on how to stop the rest of my new additions keeling over. I would really like to be able to stock my tank without this worry every time.

Thanks

 

[WILDER]

Always check bag water in ph and temp, so you know how long to climatise the new fish for.
How long did you climatise the new fish for.
Do you have an ammonia reading.
What test kit are you using?

It's best to have a quarantine tank so you can issolate new fish for up to 4 weeks. So they don't carry desease into the main tank.

Do any fish look skinny or bloated.
What does it look like when your fish go to the toilet.
Is the anus of the fish enlarged, or red and inflamed.
Lost any fish to bent spines.

 

[tamsin]

Always check bag water in ph and temp, so you know how long to climatise the new fish for.
How long did you climatise the new fish for.
Do you have an ammonia reading.
What test kit are you using?

It's best to have a quarantine tank so you can issolate new fish for up to 4 weeks. So they don't carry desease into the main tank.

Do any fish look skinny or bloated.
What does it look like when your fish go to the toilet.
Is the anus of the fish enlarged, or red and inflamed.
Lost any fish to bent spines.

I gave them the usual half hour floating to adjust temp plus a taste of the water. I don't think it can be the shock of a change in water though as that would not account for the existing fish dying.

Poop is normal, they are eating fine, no bent spines, weight loss or bloating. Very slight whiteness to the edge of the tail on one but the others looked fine.

I lost another platty today.

The other kits were tetra, api and interpet, and those results matched up with a Esha quick test strip. I'll see if I've got an ammonia kit in the cupboard and check that.

I think I'll have to try for a quarantine tank next. It just confusing it only seems to be affecting my tank even when my sister brought fish the same day. Once I could understand but every time, months apart.

 

[WILDER]

Whitness at the end of the tail can be finrot.
Does the whiteness look cloudy or fluffy looking.