Sorry about your loss 🙁
Here are some common and less common causes to consider:
1. A spike in Ammonia (NH3)
2. A disease - perhaps from recently introduced livestock
3. A large swing in water parameters
4. Leaching compounds from substrate or hardscape
5. O2 depravation
6. overdosed CO2
7. Contaminated food source
8. a massive drop (or spike) in temperature
If your shrimps are doing OK - which I suppose since you didn't mention them - I would guess 2 is the most likely cause. 🤷♂️. For most of the other conditions listed above, the shrimps would be among the first to succumb.
Cheers,
Michael
Thank you very much indeed Michael.
Two fish were dead when we got them home (9 miles from the LFS) They we’re quite nippy when being caught and the chap said he thought he might of crushed one so I assumed two were hurt during being caught for bagging.
Noticed one dying on Sunday but there was one that was more subdued - until today it was three Chilli Rasboras that had passed. When I came home there was about 10 dead (didn’t notice anything this morning but can’t say I paid a massive amount of notice as it was early)
Think I have lost about 15 Chillis and 20 CPD’s.
I’m pretty gutted this whole project has been my way of coping in life so pretty down.
Shrimp are all fine with no deaths to report.
I measured amonia last night and it was zero - last time I took readings for nitrate / nitrite / PH / KH & GH being fine.
Hi all,
It is a possibility, it is probably more likely to be an indirect effect, rather than direct toxicity.
There is honestly nothing worse, you tend to blame yourself, even when it is just "circumstances".
That is probably sound advice, especially with the benefit of hindsight.
I'd try and maximise oxygen levels, so lift the outlet up, or add an air-stone etc. Low oxygen levels might be the "indirect effect".
You are probably never going to know quite what has happened.
Cheers Darrel
Thank you Darrel - You always strike me as someone who clearly knows what they are talking about and I appreciate everything you do.
That’s the outlets raised right to the top creating loss of oxygen - The fish seem to be behaving “normally” still apprehensive about what awaits tomorrow morning but time will tell.
Sorry to hear that, mate.
When did the mass die-offs occur (i.e. did you wake up and find them) and was there anything you did before the die-offs (no matter how small?
Hello Bradders - Deaths we’re first spotted the day I got them home (2) then 1 the day after. Then it all went downhill today.
I have been dosing No planaria to get rid of some hydra with Friday (day before buying the fish) being the second dose and Sunday the final. Doses were accurate and water changes carried out I didn’t even have much planaria.
As Darrel says I won’t know what happened I just need to look after those little ones that are left as best I can notch it up to a life experience.
It does make me wonder if there was any correlation between the price of the fish and their health status and longevity.... not meaning to directly point the finger at the fish shop, but surely a possibility to consider?
Hello Maf - Anything's possible that’s for sure. The shop has a good reputation I think they are better than others near unless I drive for 4 hours.
I just wonder what to do next.
I’m thinking just to sit it out and see how things develop. I hope that’s it for deaths but I have no idea - I really enjoyed the company of the fish. I’m a bit at a loss but I think just giving it time is for the best.
I don’t even know if I will buy more Rasboras whenever the time comes round. It’s quite expensive to just flush down the toilet 48 hours later.
