Strange: Mass Black Neon Death

[LucyLu]

Hi all,

I came home from work this eve and all but one of my 6 black neons have died. I've had them for a while.. about 8 months or so and they've been ok.

Tank size: 2ft by 1ft. 60l
pH: 8 (have added peat to try and get the ph down)
ammonia: 0ppm
nitrite: 0ppm
nitrate: 0.3ppm
tank temp: 28 degrees. (I need to get a inside tank thermometer as I've got one that sticks to the outside and I realise they're rubbish! Maybe it's too hot!?)

The only recent changes have been that I've added a pair of German Blue Rams and before that some Guppies.

I've been doing about 2-3 water changes per week since adding the new fish but also because bits of the plants keep decomposing and there is quite a lot of stuff getting disturbed when I clean the sand so I am trying to clear it out.

Ah, I am not sure what I'm doing wrong.

L

 

[Prime Ordeal]

Well yes, your pH is too high and the temperature is too high for black neons. However, it's unlikely that they'd all keel over at exactly the same time as a consequence. What did you use to take the water parameter readings?

So, assuming your other fish are completely healthy and not showing signs of stress, then it's probably the other fish that have killed them. The obvious candidates are the GBRs especially if they are spawning or are preparing to spawn. They will defend their territory viciously.

 

[LucyLu]

Well yes, your pH is too high and the temperature is too high for black neons. However, it's unlikely that they'd all keel over at exactly the same time as a consequence. What did you use to take the water parameter readings?

So, assuming your other fish are completely healthy and not showing signs of stress, then it's probably the other fish that have killed them. The obvious candidates are the GBRs especially if they are spawning or are preparing to spawn. They will defend their territory viciously.

Thanks for replying.

I used the api master test kit. Usually pretty accurate aren't they?

London water is really high ph and so I added peat balls and squeeze them once a week. The Black Neons have been in there longest.

I haven't seen the gbr giving them grief but maybe they did kill them. The other fish seem ok - eatin
well and playing. I'll keep a close eye over the weekend and see if my gbrs are preparing to spawn.

I've lowered the temp and will buy a thermometer tomorrow from my lfs.

Shame as I loved those little guys. Poor one is all on his own now.

Lx

 

[comocrayfish5]

Well yes, your pH is too high and the temperature is too high for black neons. However, it's unlikely that they'd all keel over at exactly the same time as a consequence. What did you use to take the water parameter readings?

So, assuming your other fish are completely healthy and not showing signs of stress, then it's probably the other fish that have killed them. The obvious candidates are the GBRs especially if they are spawning or are preparing to spawn. They will defend their territory viciously.

i agree

 

[LucyLu]

Mmmm... I've been home and have watched them closely for a whole and it looks like the gbr's are being rather feisty toward most of the others.

Perhaps I should set up another tank for my other fish and transfer them, or see how they go.. What do you think?

Lx

 

[comocrayfish5]

that would be a good idea!!

 

[Haveagojoe]

Strange, the same thing happened to me a few weeks back but I had no additions to the tank nothing at all had changed and all but one of my seven black neons had died, do they suffer from neon tetra disease?

 

[LucyLu]

Im not sure about neon tetra disease. Would be good to know.

Seems like such a coincidence that you had the same thing. I'm sorry to hear that mate.

L

 

[Prime Ordeal]

It's not unheard of for a single tetra to go 'rogue' and kill all the other tetras and sometimes other fish in the tank as well. There won't necessarily be any visible signs at all on the dead fish because they die from stress.

It's not a common occurrence though (which is why I didn't mention it in answer to the original post).