Pale Sterbai Corydora?

[Noahsfish]

I have two tanks with sterbais in them, a 30 gallon with 4 sterbais that are around 3 years old, and a 20 gallon with sterbais that are about 10-12 months old. One of them in my 20 gallon has lost almost all of it's coloration, normally darker on the body with pronounced dots, it's now almost white with still visible dots. Its front fins (pectoral I think) are completely colorless, while its back 2 are still orange. It still eats, and moves around, but I've noticed it's also breathing hard. I keep my corys on sand, plenty of plants, natural caves, and low light. Temperature is around 81-82 farenheight, and they live with cardinals.. Every day or every other day I directly feed them either a hikari wafer or blood worms/brine shrimp. I vacuum the sand thoroughly twice a week with water changes. I use seachem prime and dose with flourish and excel. Can't see the problem, I really don't want to lose one other than to old age, where this can't be the case..

 

[TallTree01]

Colorless fish are normally a sign of stress or cdisease. What are your water parameters? How many cories are there? Any symptoms apart from breathing and color?

 

[Noahsfish]

No, I've had them for about 10-12 months with no issue, there's 6 in all and he's the only one showing signs. Ph 6.0-6.2 ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 20 ppm.

 

[TallTree01]

Pics could help. Maybe it's parasites or infection?

 

[Noahsfish]

Well I just came home to a sad sight, him lying on his side gasping. He looks terrible, and his fins are all droopy. At first I thought he was gone, but he righted himself after a minute. I've had fish that had dropsy before, but he seemed just to be lying on his side, not struggling to swim. Not too sure what to do at this point, I won't be surprised if he doesn't make it to morning . I know corys, are sensitive to meds, and none are at hand....I'll do a 30-50% water change tomorrow if he lasts. Oh yeah, and there's red around his mouth, but all his "whiskers" look in shape.

 

[TallTree01]

Have a look at this Noah,
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/227839-pale-corydoras/

 

[Noahsfish]

i'm sorry to say he didn't make it .  Thanks for the link TallTree, it had lots of good info, but my poor cory was too far gone.

 

[TallTree01]

Sorry to hear that Noah.