Fish loss

underwaterdan · Feb 16, 2016

So I've lost about 8 fish in the past month. I believe it is a worm or parasite since my corals are thriving and my ammonia nitrates and phosphates are doing just fine.
My fish had ich for a bit but that was a while back. It went away and in one weekend I lost three fish. Then I am slowly losing one a week or so.

So my thought is to let the other fish stay as long as they can, once all the fish die I will let the tank stay without fish for about two months, then start over.

melypr1985 · Feb 16, 2016

just so I have this straight.... do you want to treat the sick fish and possibly save their lives or just wait for them to die and start over? We can help you save them.

Regardless of which avenue you take here.... a 76 day fallow period is recommended

underwaterdan · Feb 16, 2016

Well I'd love to save them. But I can't risk my corals dying since purely dollar wise (which is not my take on this hobby I am caring for animals) . Also not sure if I can figure out what's wrong with the fish.

rayn · Feb 16, 2016

Have you done the QT procedure on these fish? If not you can and still save them and some money. Even letting the tank go fallow, you may add a parasite again if you don't QT.

underwaterdan · Feb 16, 2016

I am going to start a qt, like most I skipped over that part assuming that my fish store qt the fish so why add that extra step. Just not sure if I have the space to qt the 10 or so fish I have left in the tank now.

melypr1985 · Feb 16, 2016

If you can post a close clear picture of the fish displaying symptoms, we can give you a hand with identifying what's wrong.

underwaterdan · Feb 16, 2016

I will try. But right now there are no symptoms. That's my problem... All the sudden one will die.

melypr1985 · Feb 16, 2016

underwaterdan said:
I will try. But right now there are no symptoms. That's my problem... All the sudden one will die.

There are no physical or behavioral symptoms? Scratching, flashing, breathing heavy, lethargy, head twitching, spots, dusty appearance, redness, swelling, swimming into the flow of powerheads, being reclusive or shying away from light? Things like that? Do they show anything at all right before they die?

underwaterdan · Feb 16, 2016

Well my foxface is staying under a swim threw I have and keeps changing to his camo colors and leaving his spikes up. It's the place where my cleaner shrimp set up shop. So I assume he's got a problem.

melypr1985 · Feb 16, 2016

underwaterdan said:
Well my foxface is staying under a swim threw I have and keeps changing to his camo colors and leaving his spikes up. It's the place where my cleaner shrimp set up shop. So I assume he's got a problem.

He seems to be stressed, but without pictures or more info I wont be much help to you. sorry

underwaterdan · Feb 16, 2016

Ok ill try and get him out so I can take a clear photo. It's a big tank and if he's not in the front half the pictures are blurry.

underwaterdan · Feb 16, 2016

Now that you say that. I lost one of my blue green chromas it did a similar thing. Hung out in the corner before it went. No heavy breathing or scratching.

underwaterdan · Feb 17, 2016

melypr1985 said:
He seems to be stressed, but without pictures or more info I wont be much help to you. sorry

Here's a picture I was able to get of my magnificent foxface. Hopefully you can see I noticed today a few dark colorized Dots on him.

jetmaker · Feb 17, 2016

Sounds like you may have stray electricity.

underwaterdan · Feb 17, 2016

Hum I'll check, I don't think it is but who knows. . But can't imagine from what. Wouldn't I be shocked if I put my hands in the water?

jetmaker · Feb 17, 2016

Not nesasarally low current. I've seen this on threads here.

bairdimusprime · Feb 17, 2016

anyway you can get a clearer picture? the blues are dominating in this one

underwaterdan · Feb 17, 2016

bairdimusprime said:
anyway you can get a clearer picture? the blues are dominating in this one

I will try but it took me almost a full day to get that one. He hasn't been coming out much.

mcarroll · Feb 17, 2016

underwaterdan said:
I will try. But right now there are no symptoms. That's my problem... All the sudden one will die.

Doesn't look like anyone else will bring it up, but it looks like there may have been too many, too large of fish too quickly in too small of a tank.

Any of that kind of combination and you wanted up with stressed fish who will eventually succumb to some kind of disease.

A more thinly stock tank is extremely resilient against this kind of death rate. Especially when it is stocked with smaller more appropriate fish.

underwaterdan · Feb 17, 2016

Thank you for your honesty. I guess that could be the problem. I have a 150 gallon tank I try to space fish out by Atleast 10 days but I have added 3 or 4 in a week and waited about three weeks before the next addition. I kind of hope that was it so I can start back up. I wish there was a test for diseases!