New Keyholes , 1 Dead

[bikerfish]

Hi All

On Sunday I went and bought 4 keyholes only inch in size ,I was 30 mins from home , floated bag 20mins then slowly added water from my own tank for a further 20mins , netted fish and put in tank .
One almost straight away I could tell was not well as just sitting at the bottom of tank and was heavy breathing but unfortunately died Monday day

.
Today noticed another one is now just sitting at the bottom with heavy breathing and I am worried now this poor little fellow is going to die, I have done a 3 bucket water change with water treatment as normal .I was hoping this might make him feel a bit better .But has not
All 4 fish looked healthy at the lfs where I bought them from. All fish looked healthy in there tank plus the surrounding tanks.
The other 2 still look really healthy and are swimming about and eating well .
My tank is 3 years old and amm 0 and nitrite 0 ,
No new plants added , no other new fish added , No chemicals or room deod could have got in .
Tank had full clean on sunday morning of 30% water and substrate cleaned and normal water treatment added to each bucket of water before being added to tank like normal.
Any Idears please what could be wrong ?
His markings look a bit washed out .
Apart from this he looks healthy.
Thank you for reading this
cathy

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Very different water chemistry (gH; kH; pH) at suppliers coupled with your quick acclimatisation?
 
Big temperature difference between supplier and your tank?
 
Plenty of surface rippling (especially if tank temp is >25C) to eliminate possible low oxygen levels?

 

[bikerfish]

Hi cheers for answering , I have always acclimatised fish in this way and have not lost one before , I have no idear what there (gh,kh,ph) but water temp the same .
I have 2 airstones in tank 1 each end and also flow from filter so I there is good movement on the surface .

The poor little guy has now stopped eating , I put some garlic based fish food in tank to temp him but he did not move.

Cathy

 

[DoubleDutch]

Can you place a pic Cathy? Strange for Keyholes are hardened fish to my knowledge though prone to worms, but that shouldn't have led to the dead of this fish just this fast. I'd say it must be something in the waterchemistry that causes this. What's the tanksize and other inhabitants?

 

[bikerfish]

Hi I have had keyholes before with no problems ,The second fish is trying to swim but more floating at times now but is still gasping , it is horrible to watch but still hoping he will pick up and I have just put a general fish tonic in to see if this will help him .
My tank is 4ft and 240lt , Other fish are 1 angel , 1 kissing gourami , 2 blue german rams , 2 electric rams and 10 cories . 1 spotted headstander and 1 brn . This tank is 3 years old and water stats are ammonia 0 and nitrite 0 do not no nitrate.
All my other fish are healthy . 3rd keyhole is now hiding so not sure how he is but 4 th is swimming ok and eating .
Could I have been unlucky and bought from an un healthy batch?
This is the first time I have been to this lfs but all tanks looked very healthy and they have had a good write up on here .
This is breaking my heart to see him suffering like this and I do not no how to make him better
Cathy

 

[bikerfish]

Hi I have just lost my second keyhole

  I decided to do the kindest thing as he was not going to get better , I am just hoping I do not lose the other 2 .
Cathy

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Hmmm seems strange for sure. The only thing I can think of is the acclimation. I always acclimate for at least an hour, adding tank water every 10 minutes.

Does it look thin at all? Any darting or head shaking? Without any other symptoms a diagnosis will be hard

Do you have any scaleless fish in the tank? If not, you could add some salt, it wouldn't do any harm anyway
Aw poop, I'm sorry to hear this. Is one still hiding?

 

[bikerfish]

Hi They both looked healthy apart from the gasping also near the end there colour looked washed out , I have always climatized like this and not lost a fish before , I have been trying to think if I done anything different . I have scaleless fish so can not add salt but added some general fish tonic earlier to see if this will help.
cathy

 

[DoubleDutch]

Friend of mine bought some keyholes lately. They appeared to have worms : gasping and colorloss were symptoms !!! I'd go back to the shop and have a look at the ones overthere. Tell the owner about your problems. Maybe he/she can help one way ot the other.

 

[bikerfish]

Hi I am going back tomorrow with a water sample and to pick up a couple more or poss 3 if the other 1 has not picked up and will take it a lot slower to acclimatize them to tank and possible worm , I had a couple before and never had a problem with them , I  just have no idear what has caused this , to see 2.  fish just go down hill so quick , I am hoping the 3rd will pick up .
Thank you for your replys
cathy

 

[bikerfish]

Hi ALL
Did not manage to get to lfs  today as m25 jammed so all roads to enfield were gridlocked so going tomorrow morning ahhhhhhhhhh
3rd keyhole is now out but in middle of tank hiding in a plant , his giles are opening and shutting  fast , still not seen him eat , Need help as scared I am going to loose this 1 aswell , if it was worms then what treatment would be best ? please answer asap and will get down pets at home before shutting .
I have taken video and will try to download
cathy

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Well Waterlife sterazin treats body and gill flukes and internal worms so may cover more potential problems. However, my P&H doesn't carry this brand but my Maidenhead aquatics does.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Hi I have had keyholes before with no problems ,The second fish is trying to swim but more floating at times now but is still gasping , it is horrible to watch but still hoping he will pick up and I have just put a general fish tonic in to see if this will help him .
My tank is 4ft and 240lt , Other fish are 1 angel , 1 kissing gourami , 2 blue german rams , 2 electric rams and 10 cories . 1 spotted headstander and 1 brn . This tank is 3 years old and water stats are ammonia 0 and nitrite 0 do not no nitrate.
All my other fish are healthy . 3rd keyhole is now hiding so not sure how he is but 4 th is swimming ok and eating .
Could I have been unlucky and bought from an un healthy batch?
This is the first time I have been to this lfs but all tanks looked very healthy and they have had a good write up on here .
This is breaking my heart to see him suffering like this and I do not no how to make him better
Cathy

Having just seen this post, this has brought about another theory, I somehow thought from your initial post these Keyholes were the only fish in the tank.
 
Given this tank already had 5(?) cichlids already and you were adding 4(?) Keyholes that are more timid than the others, did you pull out the 4 Rams and the Angelfish, do a rescape and then add the Keyholes before returning the others?
 
I'm wondering if at least one of the existing cichlids took offence to the new Keyhole invasion and attacked them.
 
A species mix 9 SA cichlids in a 240l is taking a chance IMO, especially adding newer timid ones like Keyholes to established ones.

 

[snazy]

Hi They both looked healthy apart from the gasping also near the end there colour looked washed out , I have always climatized like this and not lost a fish before
 

 
Some fish are more sensitive to totally new water conditions and need longer acclimation/drip acclimation. If they were fine in the shop then I don't see how a few hours later their mysterious disease suddenly appeared. You may lose them all. If you buy more, then acclimate them properly.
 

One almost straight away I could tell was not well as just sitting at the bottom of tank and was heavy breathing but unfortunately died Monday day
 

 
This seems to rule out bullying from other fish?

 

[bikerfish]

Hi   the other fish def did not attack the other 2 which have died as watched from distance a lot sunday and the first which died on Monday just sat at bottom and rest of fish stayed away , he had no marks on him from being nibbled on . The second again watched and they stayed away and he had no nibble marks on him either .
I have spent a lot of today watching and my rams and angel just leave these 2 alone if anything , the 1 healthy keyhole will go upto them and have a nip
Upto recently I had 2 full grown keyholes which a friend had and this was for a totally dif reason which obv I now regret .
Maiden head aquatics was where I was going today and will hopefully get there tomorrow , I have spoken to them on the phone and are being really helpful .
cathy