Banggai Cardinal death

[OrangeCountyReefer]

I’ve had a pair of mated banggai cardinals for about 6 months. Both have been happy and healthy the entire time and I noticed the one was not eating yesterday and this morning it died. No really visible issues with it other than it looked aged, fins were a little detoriated Body patterns were faded and starting to discolor. Now the other one is not eating, I’m not sure if losing it’s mate will stress it or maybe that one is falling I’ll with whatever the other maybe had. I’ve added nothing to the tank in over 4 months not even a coral, the other fish and inhabitants in the tank are fine. Parameters are as they always are. So questions is should I get the other cardinal another cardinal? Or just let it be.

below is a picture of the deceased fish and then one of the mate that is currently still alive in the tank

 

[9975]

I know it can be tough but a picture of the fish that passed and the one that's still alive may help someone determine a potential concern

 

[OrangeCountyReefer]

I know it can be tough but a picture of the fish that passed and the one that's still alive may help someone determine a potential concern

Yes you are correct I just added the pictures to the post. First time I have lost a fish in a very long time so I am definitely upset. I actually watched it take its last breath.

 

[OrangeCountyReefer]

I should have posted new to R2R in the title and maybe I would have got some help...

 

[Sharkbait19]

It’s quite possible one killed the other if the cardinal looked completely fine. Even in pairs, they dispute over territories and the fights often end in deaths. Perhaps it was two males, and in that case, they would not get along. What other fish, corals, and inverts are you keeping in there?

 

[Conchman]

Sorry for your loss. Strangely the only fish that has died abruptly for me was also banggai cardinal also. Sounded almost the same circumstance, one day looked fine, within a couple of days gone. No real signs of stress. Again, sorry for your loss...

 

[nereefpat]

Any idea how old it was? Anecdotally, they aren't long lived like tangs and clowns and some others.

 

[OrangeCountyReefer]

It’s quite possible one killed the other if the cardinal looked completely fine. Even in pairs, they dispute over territories and the fights often end in deaths. Perhaps it was two males, and in that case, they would not get along. What other fish, corals, and inverts are you keeping in there?

I did not even consider this but this could be a possibility. The other one is completely fine a week later. Other inhabitants are 2 clowns, goby, pistol shrimp, 3 emerald crabs, serpent star, and about 50 various corals mostly LPS. All have lived together since the tank was put together

 

[OrangeCountyReefer]

Any idea how old it was? Anecdotally, they aren't long lived like tangs and clowns and some others.

This was my first thought, it’s really hard to say but the cardinals were full grown when I got them. Only reason I don’t think it was old age now is that he was a very aggressive eater up until the point of death. I feel that if old age was the culprit he would have slowed down over time but that was not the case. He was completely fine and eating normal and next day dead.

 

[OrangeCountyReefer]

Sorry for your loss. Strangely the only fish that has died abruptly for me was also banggai cardinal also. Sounded almost the same circumstance, one day looked fine, within a couple of days gone. No real signs of stress. Again, sorry for your loss...

Thank you. Luckily the other one is still hanging in there and eating. I don’t lose fish often so it was definitely not expected.

 

[nereefpat]

This was my first thought, it’s really hard to say but the cardinals were full grown when I got them.

If they were full grown (3" or so), then I wouldn't be terribly surprised if they didn't live very long. Sometimes we never know why fish die though. Good luck with the other one.

 

[OrangeCountyReefer]

If they were full grown (3" or so), then I wouldn't be terribly surprised if they didn't live very long. Sometimes we never know why fish die though. Good luck with the other one.

It always could have been some other natural cause as well. Appreciate the response