Seemingly healthy Bellus died

[Slocke]

Bought this Bellus Friday, it was healthy and eating at the store. Temperature and salinity acclimated it and added it along side my other bellus. Found it dead this morning. It's got good weight and no signs of damage. The other bellus is fine. The tank parameters are all perfect. Any ideas?

 

[Slocke]

My LFS quarantines their fish. My tank is a 6' 125gal with piping and plenty of rock work. I fed frozen brine shrimp, frozen reef frenzy, algeaflakes, and various fresh seafood. The bellus was very shy and hid in my big eel pipes or in caves most of the time.

 

[Slocke]

#fishmedic
Tank is fairly new FOWLR
1.025
78F
alk 10.6
Never had ammonia
nitrates close to 0
Flow and lighting is low

Tank mates:
Smaller female bellus
2 adult engineer gobies
small banded snake eel

 

[vetteguy53081]

Bought this Bellus Friday, it was healthy and eating at the store. Temperature and salinity acclimated it and added it along side my other bellus. Found it dead this morning. It's got good weight and no signs of damage. The other bellus is fine. The tank parameters are all perfect. Any ideas?

May have gotten startled and crashed into glass or other object being a new occupant OR May have had condition you did not notice at time of purchase

 

[Chrisv.]

Such a bummer. What a beautiful fish. Did you notice any aggression between this fish and others in the tank?

 

[Slocke]

May have gotten startled and crashed into glass or other object being a new occupant OR May have had condition you did not notice at time of purchase

Thanks for the reply. I bought it pre-quarantined, though I don't know their quarantine procedure. I'm guessing stress though it surviving in a busy LFS in a tiny tank with no place to hide to then die in my much bigger tank with tons of hiding holes makes me wonder.

Such a bummer. What a beautiful fish. Did you notice any aggression between this fish and others in the tank?

Thanks. One of the engineer gobies is a bit aggressive but only if something gets too close to its burrow. Nothing else. The eel is a coward and the other bellus is only 2" compared to that 4".

 

[Chrisv.]

Thanks for the reply. I bought it pre-quarantined, though I don't know their quarantine procedure. I'm guessing stress though it surviving in a busy LFS in a tiny tank with no place to hide to then die in my much bigger tank with tons of hiding holes makes me wonder.


Thanks. One of the engineer gobies is a bit aggressive but only if something gets too close to its burrow. Nothing else. The eel is a coward and the other bellus is only 2" compared to that 4".

One of the perhaps "odd choice" practices I've been doing is to allow micro algae to grow on the glass for a week or so before introducing new fish to the display. Idk if it helps at all, but my logic is that 1) makes it easier for the fish to see the walls of the tank and 2) provides a partial screen to the outside world. Could be total BS, but it's part of my introduction scheme now.

 

[Slocke]

One of the perhaps "odd choice" practices I've been doing is to allow micro algae to grow on the glass for a week or so before introducing new fish to the display. Idk if it helps at all, but my logic is that 1) makes it easier for the fish to see the walls of the tank and 2) provides a partial screen to the outside world. Could be total BS, but it's part of my introduction scheme now.

That makes a lot of sense honestly. I’m starting to suspect stress is far more dangerous than we think.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

That makes a lot of sense honestly. I’m starting to suspect stress is far more dangerous than we think.

How long was their quarantine process? A lot of deep water angels are collected with sodium cyanide and this can cause residual death for up to 40 to 50 days after collection. The mortality rate can reach 40 to 60%. Symptoms include shyness, eating well and then stopping, and dying with no other apparent symptoms.
Jay

 

[Slocke]

How long was their quarantine process? A lot of deep water angels are collected with sodium cyanide and this can cause residual death for up to 40 to 50 days after collection. The mortality rate can reach 40 to 60%. Symptoms include shyness, eating well and then stopping, and dying with no other apparent symptoms.
Jay

Well that does sound similar. It began quarantine on July 11th. They observe for 10 days and if no sign of disease move it to their store side. They told me it acted very healthy the whole time and seemed as surprised as me that it died.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Well that does sound similar. It began quarantine on July 11th. They observe for 10 days and if no sign of disease move it to their store side. They told me it acted very healthy the whole time and seemed as surprised as me that it died.

If they did no preventative treatments, then 10 days of simple observation isn't very effective. That DOES weed out early mortality from cyanide and shipping stress, but doesn't help with disease issues or long term cyanide issues....

Jay

 

[Slocke]

If they did no preventative treatments, then 10 days of simple observation isn't very effective. That DOES weed out early mortality from cyanide and shipping stress, but doesn't help with disease issues or long term cyanide issues....

Jay

Thanks for the help it's nice to know what may have happened and to confirm its not contagious.
I'll agree with you about the quarantine. I will say its the only store in my area that "quarantines" all their fish even if it is to a minimal level and despite that they sell for about half the price of competitors so I'll stick by them.