Sudden cory death

[noelberg]

I had a peppered cory and a bronze cory and they swam and foraged for food together and looked very healthy. The difference was the peppered one came from a quality lfs and the bronze came from Petsmart. I added 2 swordtails Monday, and later that night an older one from Petsmart died of mouth fungus. I put Melafix in the tank the previous night to help out, and I am continuing to use it so no other fish die ... sometimes I add less than the recommended amount. Both cories looked perfectly healthy last night, but this morning the bronze one was belly up! It could have been the Melafix, but every other fish looks perfectly healthy and Melafix is natural anyways. Every fish that has died thus far has been from Petsmart, and all the original fish I got from the quality lfs has survived and thrived. I say sucks to Petsmart and shall never buy fish there again!

PS I noticed the bronze cory had one eye that was very red (after death) and the dorsal fin looked brown and decayed even though it looked fine last night. Disease or Melafix?

 

[Tempestuousfury]

I buy all of my fish from Petsmart. So far, one cory (somewhat my fault), 3 platies (2 from giving birth), one zebra danio, 2 bettas (1 jumped out and one died because of too many meds and water changes), and one crab died.

That's pretty good considering the fact that I have had over 60 fish over the course of 6 months.

Walmart's definitely a bad place to buy fish from, though, as is Petco.

 

[noelberg]

Perhaps I was a little cruel to Petsmart, and I have to say that no two lps's - even chains - are alike. Although WalMart generally seems to have unskilled/apathetic employees handling fish.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi noelberg

I'm sorry to learn about the troubles you are having with your fish. But, it may or may not be the fault of Petsmart.

From what you said, it sounds like you have a bacterial infection spreading in your tank. MelaFix might help it, but if it does not work soon, I suggest you remove it from your tank with charcoal and water changes. Then try a product called Kanacyn. It is an antibiotic made by Aquatronics. Here's a picture of the package:

http/www.aquariumpw.com/shopping/priceli...859&brandinc=20

This medication will not disturb your beneficial bacteria and will treat both the original and secondary bacterial infections.

Please let me know how your fish are doing.