Two Fish Died Today

[eowyn]

Please help...I've lost two fish today.

I woke this morning to find an albino cory laying sideways in a plant at the top of the tank. When I tried to remove him, he swam away and hid. He died a few hours later. Now, as I'm feeding my fish, I found a sunburst platy dead at the bottom of the tank. It was so sad to watch his friend poke him.

Water stats as of now:
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 5
Nitrite 0
pH 7.4
temp 76

It's a 16 gal tank with an aquaclear filter and sand substrate. Water changes are done weekly. I did one yesterday (about 40%)....only dechlorinator is added. I've had the tank since Dec.

2 albino cories (one died); 2 peppered cories; 5 glowlight tetras; 3 sunburst platies (one died). I have not added any new fish or decorations.

I get a little bit of algae on the glass each week but I clean it off when I do the water change. It is minimal.

Right now the fish are moving about and eating. However, they don't seem to be as active as they used to be. The tetras don't race each other around the tank like they used to and the platies hang out at the bottom more often. I've noticed this behavior yesterday but thought they were just mad because I had cleaned their tank.

The two fish who died today looked fine...no open sores, no fin damage. I did another partial water change today and I've added Melafix.

Suggestions?

Thanks.
Eowyn

 

[Anna Robinson]

Your water looks fine, but is there any chance there could have been a problem with it before the water change? The change was so large it would have diluted out any problems, so if you tested afterwards you may not have seen them. If there was a pre-existing water problem, then this could have harmed the fish, even though the water right now is fine. I assume you made sure the new water was at least roughly the same temperature as the tank water, it wasn't cold?

The fact that the two dead fish were of completely different species suggests an environmental problem rather than a disease, but the Melafix will not do any harm, so you can continue with it if you wish.

Alternatively, losing two fish at once might simply be a very unlucky coincidence.

 

[eowyn]

I tested the water on Thurs and the reading was the same. The water was room temperature when I added it back. I usually only change about 25% of the water but once a month I change a larger amount.

I had Melafix on hand and decided to add it just as a precaution. The two dead fish didn't look sick. Maybe it was just an unlucky coincidence. I'll be monitoring them closely and checking water stats when i get home today.

 

[WILDER]

Any signs of laboured breathing.
Do the fish look pale or darker in colour.
Any fish resting to onside on the substrate.
Can fish maintain there balance in the water.
What does it look like when the fish to the toilet.

 

[eowyn]

The fish are breathing ok and they ate this morning. I fed them at early so they were all resting on the bottom and they were rightside-up. They swarmed the food like usual. None of the fish have changed color. I'm hoping this was just a freak accident.

 

[WILDER]

Ok.
Get back to the board if any more problems. ]
Good Luck.