Yellow lab dead within hours of coming home from pet store

[Ape0r]

I got a third yellow lab today at my lfs. I noticed several of the fish in the tank looked very pale, but didn't make anything of it - figured it was just the way they were. About five hours after I got it home, it was dead. I noticed it laying on its side under a rock at first, then sitting out in the open swaying side to side with the current.

Then it started drifting around wildly, like it was dead. Fished it out to put it in a bucket and it barely moved away from the net at all. When I checked on it five minutes later, it was dead.

I called the lfs and they just said to bring it back tommorrow. Right now my concern is keeping my other two labs from getting whatever it had. They've both spent the past few days hiding in their rock pile as usual.

I got one of my other two labs from the same tank at the same store one week ago today, he isn't pale, but right now he is sitting up in the rocks and not moving around as much as the other one.

What can I do to keep the remaining two from getting sick and getting them better if they do? I'm a little worried that the one may already have whatever it is...

Symptoms of one that died:
Very pale
Little movement - side fins tucked against body
Towards the end it drifted around with the current like it was dead, though it was still breahting
..dead

Thanks for any advice that you all can give.

[Mgamer20o0]

well to start a qt will help keep your tank safe. it could be from stress. did you just float it and pop it in?

[cohazard]

How long has your aquarium been setup? Did you cycle it? You should test your water to see where your params are.

[Blueiz]

Really dont think there is a disease issue going on here. Sounds more like an acclimation problem. SOunds like osmotic shock.

Blue

[Coler]

^ exactly

By coinicidence, before I knew better I killed a lab by poor acclimitisation. I floated the bag for 20 minutes, then explained what Ph was too him and let him out. He sank like a stone, moved 3 times in 24 hours and then had the decency to expire in front of me so I didn't have to go looking in and under the rockwork.

[Rbishop]

Acclimation or poor fish from the store.

[Ape0r]

I guess it could well be acclimation, I gave him about 20 minutes floating and plopped him in like you all were saying. Didn't think anything of it because every other fish I've done that way, including the other two labs, have done just fine.

However the fish was pale before it was even removed from the tank at the store, about half of the fish in that tank were, still has me wondering about disease.

Thanks for the replies, heading back to the lfs in a few hours.

[Coler]

just to be safe; in the future, take half the bag water out, put the bag in the tank, then put some tank water in the bag every 10 mins for an hour until its full. Then let 'em go.

[jm1212]

could also be some aggression from the other fish in the tank. acclimation is very stressful for the fish, and if the other two labs were pcking on him that is what couldve done him in. they already had territories established, and he was an intruder.