Someone Please Help, My Fish Went Mad And Died!

[Loobie]

Can someone please help me, I have been watching my tank carefully recently as new fish have been added and all seemed fine, until this afternoon.

I walked in the door and my long standing female platy was acting really weird, she tried to jump out of the tank and then took a nose dive to the bottom of the tank with her head in the gravel and tail in the air, swam around knocking into things went to the top again and took another head dive to the bottom again to which she died.

I took her out, she didn't seem slimey, seemed ok. RIP Sarah!!!

I've checked my other fish and they seem as though they're on something, jittery? I know I had to do a water change as there is ammonia in the tank(0.50) I've done a water change and added some salt.

Can anyone shed any idea on what caused this really unexpected death??

ps I remember her yesterday having what looked like silk coming out of her bum, not a proper looking poo, could that be the reason?? If so what can I do??

 

[WILDER]

Ammonia should be 0 thats why there trying to escape the tank as it high reading
Water change, how long has the tank been set up.
Need to look at size of tank in gallons or litres, how many fish and which type.
Long stringy white poo can mean constipation, internal bacteria infection, too internal parasites.
Check the anus of the fish to see if its enlarged or red and inflamed.
http/www.fishtanksandponds.net/care-main...a_poisoning.htm

 

[Loobie]

She had been through one cycle and never acted as strange as this! The tank has been set up 8 weeks and already gone through a cycle, I know I need to water change and I have been doing them. Her bum was fine no inflamation no problems at all, just so unexpected.

My tank is 14 gallon or 54 litre and I have

5 Neons
5 Harlequin
3 Small Corys
2 Male Guppies
2 Platies

I was told that the neons would be classed as 1 fish as they are so small? I take it that the salt will help??

 

[WILDER]

Slightly overstocked but it ok, i would add another filter.
What make of filter are you using..
what your maintanence routine as ammonia should be 0.
Ammonia is toxic to fish destroys there gills and eventually the fish immune system will shut down causing desease and death.

 

[Loobie]

It's the Juwel Rekord 60 filter system, not sure what you call it, think it's the same one you've got?! It's a 54 litre tank and I've been changing 20 litres daily if their is ammonia there. I've just done 1 water change tonight and the reading is 0.2 I was going to do another tomorrow, depending on what it's like either another 20 litre or maybe a little more.

I didn't want to do another one tonight as it may stress out the fish.

This is the fish that ate one of my cardinal tetras, and I had one left and that one went missing also, not been seen in the tank, so presumably she ate that one too.

I know about the ammonia thing, but I'm trying to find some confort in the knowledge that if she has eaten both tetras, then maybe she did die of constipation, and well deserved if it was her that scoffed my other one!!!

Still miss her tho

 

[WILDER]

I have the same tank its a 12gal not 14, The juwel powerhead are not that good I run another one with mine.
When did you last do a gravel vac, fish can become aggressive when water quality isnt good, it would put me in a bad mood if I was a fish.

I run the 210 but I added another sponge box to it.
http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/listsecti...p=8&rets=16

 

[Loobie]

I gravel vac'd tonight, pretty much every water change I gravel vac, I don't like seeing a mucky tank!!

 

[WILDER]

Is the tank still cycling, or the powerhead not coping with the load of fish stock in the tank.
When did you last clean the powerhead as they always seem to get mucked up after a few weeks causing less flow of water out of the pipe.

 

[Loobie]

I don't think the tank is cycling as I've had spikes!! but maybe... I have had normal stats before I put my first fish in.

I haven't looked at the powerhead but seems to be fine as it's giving a very good flow of water the harlequins seems to like swimming in the torrent!!

I don't think that is a problem, any other suggestions? I just can't think of anything, I've put some yakulty stuff in (friendly bacteria) to boost the good bacteria, I'll see how they are in the morning, I don't think I can do much else![/font]

 

[WILDER]

Take the powerhead out and clean it, bang the tube in the sink and see the muck come out of it, clean the impellor as well.
I would invest in another filter as that one not coping on its own.

 

[Loobie]

Impellor I take it when you mean filter you mean all the sponges and the cartridge?

 

[WILDER]

No don't touch the sponges, the impellor inside the powerhead, you have to clean it every month in tap water.

 

[Loobie]

Ok, Will go and do that now!

Just want some clarity, when you mean filter what do you mean?? Last question honest, then I'm off to clean my powerhead!

 

[WILDER]

What I mean is buy another internal filter to help.
I like the eheim aqua ball filters that I left in the link, they are green so you can hide them with plants, they are round in shape and fit better in the tank better than fluvals taking less room up in the tank.

 

[Loobie]

Crystal clear now, thanks for that, off to clean my powerhead.

Thanks for all your help wilder, think there must only be you on tonight! lol

B in touch