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Post by parker002 on Jun 14, 2014 11:05:38 GMT -5
In the last 2 days, I've lost both of my Flying Foxes (false Siamese algae eaters). Both of them displayed the same outward symptom - white edges around their fins. The strange thing is that it was ALL of their fins and it was a very defined and uniform stripe at the edge of each and every fin. It didn't look like your typical fin rot, which is somewhat opportunistic. The fin edges are well-defined and don't appear to be damaged or broken like with fin rot. There's no texture to the white stripes - they're not cottony or puffy, there's no streaking, blood, or other signs of disease [other than rapid breathing right before death). They almost look the saw a ghost and just turned white.
Water parameters are fine and no other fish have any signs of disease. I have several Cory cats in this tank and I've had problems with them being fragile in the past but they're perfectly fine, so I'm just mystified.
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Post by Carl on Jun 14, 2014 11:50:06 GMT -5
Have you added anything new to your aquarium lately?
Any medications used of late that would be maybe out of the ordinary procedures you perform?
What is your pH, KH, GH, Ammonia?
Finally what is the ages of these fish, at least to the best of your knowledge since you likely will not known their age at the time of purchase?
Sorry to throw so many questions right back at you, especially since the answers you give may not help solve the mystery.
One thing I do know about Flying Foxes is that this type of sudden death does happen, but while I have sometimes figured this out, often it has remained a mystery.
Carl
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Post by parker002 on Jun 14, 2014 20:05:23 GMT -5
pH is about 6.5 which is normal since I have a lot of plants and wood and stuff. kH was a bit low between 40 and 80ppm. gH as always is off the charts (hard water). Haven't tested for ammonia but nitrates are 80ppm and nitrites are at 0. I'd be really surprised if I had ammonia.
The fish are only 2-3 years old, they were also pretty small when I got them so they weren't adults then. Everything I've read said they should live 8-10 years.
I did notice on the 2nd fish some streaking in one fin. I also noticed one of my synodontis catfish swimming strangely. I don't have any real meds on hand but since my kH was low anyway, I went ahead and dosed with 1 regular wonder shell and 1 medicated wonder shell.
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Post by parker002 on Jun 15, 2014 10:31:57 GMT -5
No ammonia according to the Ammonia Alert. Synodontis passed away overnight. Still no other outward signs of disease. I did notice the YoYo loach laying on his side this morning but he does that from time to time and when other fish got close he chased them away with the same amount of energy he always does.
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Post by Carl on Jun 15, 2014 11:12:45 GMT -5
I kinda figured the parameters have not changed.
What I was looking for is the use of a medication that is "sensitive" to very low pH and mineral environments, such as Melafix
Have you used any Alkaline Buffers? Wonder Shell do not do much for KH other than provide some stability (but not raising of KH or pH).
When is the last time the UV lamp/bulb been changed?
Has anything been sprayed around the house such as insecticides or have any oil based paints/thinners been used near the aquarium?
Carl
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Post by parker002 on Jun 15, 2014 17:12:06 GMT -5
I have not used any alkaline buffers, yet. I never thought about the UV bulb, it's probably been a year.
My mother-in-law has been staining/varnishing new cabinets in the kitchen but that's probably a good 20-25 feet from the aquarium.
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Post by Carl on Jun 15, 2014 18:45:25 GMT -5
I have not used any alkaline buffers, yet. I never thought about the UV bulb, it's probably been a year. Definitely would change this, as I recommend once per 6 months for best results Product Resource: www.americanaquariumproducts.com/1525wattuvBulb.html#g25t8This is still a possibility, I have on several occasions had a client use an oil based paint or varnish in the same room of the client's aquarium and shortly there after fish died off one by one with the most delicate going first. There is no way to prove this, but since this happened on at least half a dozen occasions for me, I have to think this had something to do with the problem. I would suggest running both carbon and Purigen in your filter, as well as a few water changes. In a couple of related instances, the clients had very absorbent crushed coral gravel/sand in an aquarium stored in a garage, when the aquariums were put back into use, nothing would stay alive until I changed out ALL the CC sand/gravel BTW; this is not a problem with latex paints Product Resources: www.americanaquariumproducts.com/1525wattuvBulb.html#g25t8www.americanaquariumproducts.com/NiroxProducts.html#carbonwww.americanaquariumproducts.com/Ammocarb.html#carbonCarl |
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Post by parker002 on Jun 16, 2014 9:24:31 GMT -5
Right now, everything seems to be better. The YoYo is still fine and no other fish appear to be suffering. I have otocinclus and corydoras both in this tank and both appear to be just fine, no clamped fins or signs of distress.
I'm hoping maybe it was a fungal thing or something but the medicated wonder shell seems to be working.
Luckily I learned early on to keep spare UV bulbs, I'll be changing it out today. I need to replenish my stock though, plus I need wonder shells, so I'm going to go ahead and place an order. Thanks for your help. Hopefully I'm in the clear.
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Post by parker002 on Jun 16, 2014 17:57:47 GMT -5
Hey Carl, I ordered 2 new UV bulbs today but I have a problem.
I pulled 2 bulbs out of my spares that I bought from you last year. I went to replace the bulbs in both sterilizers and I’ve found that one of the bulbs does not fit. The bulb is actually wider in diameter at one end and thus won’t fit into the crystal sleeve.
What do I do? I got a message that my order has already shipped, I don't want to pay S&H on just one bulb. Right now the UV on my fish tank is not running because I'm short one bulb.
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Post by Carl on Jun 16, 2014 18:56:11 GMT -5
Steven sent you out a replacement, sorry for the delay in getting your UV back up to snuff.
Also sorry for the quality control mistake, as this is something we check for prior to shipping
Carl
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Post by parker002 on Jun 16, 2014 19:33:25 GMT -5
It's no problem. You guys are the best in the business, period. Thanks for taking care of me and my fish!  |
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Post by parker002 on Jun 17, 2014 14:28:52 GMT -5
I guess I'll know sooner or later if the fumes from the stain/varnish were the problem. She was in there working today and the small was so bad it was choking me up in my office with the door closed! I thought for sure I would find her passed out on the kitchen floor. |
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Post by Carl on Jun 17, 2014 18:27:43 GMT -5
I guess I'll know sooner or later if the fumes from the stain/varnish were the problem. She was in there working today and the small was so bad it was choking me up in my office with the door closed! I thought for sure I would find her passed out on the kitchen floor. Well I hope she survived! Carl |
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Post by parker002 on Jun 19, 2014 17:45:52 GMT -5
I haven't lost anymore fish so I'm guessing the varnish wasn't the cause. I got my UV bulb today (thanks Carl!) so I think I'm home free.
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Post by Carl on Jun 24, 2014 9:50:54 GMT -5
I haven't lost anymore fish so I'm guessing the varnish wasn't the cause. I got my UV bulb today (thanks Carl!) so I think I'm home free. Did you run carbon and/or purigen? Carl |
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Post by parker002 on Jun 24, 2014 17:05:59 GMT -5
I haven't yet. I'm finishing the Wonder Shell treatment first. All of my fish appear to be fine still.
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Post by Carl on Jun 24, 2014 19:46:31 GMT -5
I haven't yet. I'm finishing the Wonder Shell treatment first. All of my fish appear to be fine still. OK, this is good to know, as if you HAD used Purigen and Carbon, this could have removed many of the toxic chemicals, but sense you have not, I think it is safe to rule out the varnish. Often oil based paints and varnishes are more dangerous around tanks with absorbent substrates such as crushed coral as these substrates will absorb the chemical toxins but then slowly release these chemicals over time (due to normal bio acid production). Also my understanding that these paints and varnishes are not as toxic as per the fumes as they used to be Carl |
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Post by parker002 on Jul 8, 2014 10:02:39 GMT -5
I lost the yoyo loach yesterday rather suddenly. In addition, I have a white skirt tetra showing signs of swim bladder infection and a cory showing signs of popeye. I've had both of these fish from the very early days of my 55G tank so they are likely pretty old but I'm guessing I have a bacterial infection going on.
I did a large water change yesterday and put in the Ammo-Carb and Purigen. I'm currently treating the fish with baths rather than treating the entire tank, due to the fact that I just finished the medicated Wonder Shell.
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Post by Carl on Jul 8, 2014 14:14:47 GMT -5
I lost the yoyo loach yesterday rather suddenly. In addition, I have a white skirt tetra showing signs of swim bladder infection and a cory showing signs of popeye. I've had both of these fish from the very early days of my 55G tank so they are likely pretty old but I'm guessing I have a bacterial infection going on. I did a large water change yesterday and put in the Ammo-Carb and Purigen. I'm currently treating the fish with baths rather than treating the entire tank, due to the fact that I just finished the medicated Wonder Shell. Sorry to read this, especially since I know you take really good care of your fish (from what I know, pretty much the way I would) I would continue to follow the procedure you are on and hopefully no further problem will occur I would also wait a few weeks before adding back any more fish Carl |
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Jul 8, 2014 16:48:16 GMT -5
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