Why Would He Die

[Sara0229]

My f8 just died. He was eating well but just kept getting thinner. I had him for a while 6 months or more. The other fish ate doing fine. He was eating mostly snails and occasional frozen bloodworms. Any ideas?

 

[iliveinazoo]

Internal parasites?

 

[Sara0229]

I considered that but I'd had him a while and he was healthy. There hadn't been any new additions to the tank so if so I don't know where they'd come from. I'd like to get another but I don't want to if I have no idea what happened to him. How would I know it's parasites and how do you treat them?

 

[iliveinazoo]

I considered that but I'd had him a while and he was healthy. There hadn't been any new additions to the tank so if so I don't know where they'd come from. I'd like to get another but I don't want to if I have no idea what happened to him. How would I know it's parasites and how do you treat them?

Just with you saying that he was eating but not putting on any weight, but if you cycled the tank with him it could have been that or if you didn't carry out enough water changes or if your tank is too small (15(US)G minimum required) it could of been that. If you have other fish could he of been bullied to death? Do you know what your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels were? what SG were you keeping him at?

 

[Sara0229]

Just with you saying that he was eating but not putting on any weight, but if you cycled the tank with him it could have been that or if you didn't carry out enough water changes or if your tank is too small (15(US)G minimum required) it could of been that. If you have other fish could he of been bullied to death? Do you know what your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels were? what SG were you keeping him at?
[/quote]

Here's my tank stats:
55 gallon
Fish-
5 under 1 inch female guppies
1 3inch orange chromide
3 bb gobies
( I'm due to get Monos on Friday, I ordered them before he died)
The tank has been set up for more than 1 year.
Here are my reading as of this morning (7/3):
SG 0.007 but ranges from 0.004 to 0.008, is typically 0.004
Nitrite- 0ppm
Nitrate 80 ppm
PH 7.4
KH I tested this with 2 different kits (one test strip and one with a test tube)I got 180 and 50-100 so not sure what to think of that

I did wonder if he was being bullied by the chromide when he first started to look thin. I made a divider and seperated him in the tank. This way he had the same water and everything and I fed him seperately. His fins didn't look nipped. His teeth did not appear over grown.

How would I know if it was parasites?

 

[iliveinazoo]

The nitrate is a little high which suggests a potential issue however if you carried out regular weekly water changes then maybe you were feeding too much because I wouldn't have thought that you were overstocked.

I still think that it's either bullying or Internal Parasites or a combination of the two. If your puffer ate well and got a nice round belly which then disappeared quickly then he may have suffered from IPs, IPs can not affect a puffer for a few years and then suddenly become apparent - maybe the aggressive Chromide brought it on?

Whilst I don't think that you were overstocked before you may be overstocked when the Monos come; they can grow massive and require lots of room.

 

[Sara0229]

Your idea about the combination of bulling and ip's seems to fit. He would get a big round belly after eating but it would soon be gone. Come to think of it he wasn't or maybe I just didn't notice but I doubt it, pooping as much. Thanks for your help. I'm not thinking of replacing him at this point but now what to do with all these snails?! Aquabid here I come!
And I guess I'll try some more frequent water changes. Thanks.

 

[Sara0229]

Oh and the guppies will be gone this week maybe today

 

[iliveinazoo]

Your idea about the combination of bulling and ip's seems to fit. He would get a big round belly after eating but it would soon be gone. Come to think of it he wasn't or maybe I just didn't notice but I doubt it, pooping as much. Thanks for your help. I'm not thinking of replacing him at this point but now what to do with all these snails?! Aquabid here I come!
And I guess I'll try some more frequent water changes. Thanks.

Many people treat puffers for IP's as a matter of course even if they don't show any signs

 

[Sara0229]

Thanks!