View Full Version : Dead Kuhli - what happened?
Squeakfish
07-04-2008, 6:05 AM
I came home this morning to one of my five Kuhlis lying on its side. I knew it was dead upon examination. My question is, what could have done it in?
Ph: 7.6, possibly a little lower.
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
Temp: 80 F
Its color was pristine, as if it was only playing dead. No fading at all, no marks, no physical symptoms prior. Just up and died.
What happened? Old age? Something I'm not considering?
Is your tank heavily planted? What test kit did you use? Old age is not the cause otherwise you would have noticed the fish weakening as days progress. How often do you change the water and how much water is replaced?
Squeakfish
07-04-2008, 6:53 AM
Moderately planted, liquid test kits, water changed once a week, 20-30% changed.
What brand is the kit? Have you noticed anything unusual with that particular kuhli a few days back? A fish that died suddenly is very unusual. Have you noticed some occupants being particularly aggressive to one another?
Squeakfish
07-04-2008, 7:03 AM
API for the pH, Tetratest for everything else. Nothing unusual with any of my fish, no aggressive behavior (and there were no marks to show it... the fish literally was pristine). I hardly ever see my loaches. All of the fish in my tank are breathing normally, none of them appear to be under any type of stress.
Squeakfish
07-04-2008, 1:22 PM
Lupin? Got any other help? This has got me way too worried about the health and safety of my other fish..
API for the pH, Tetratest for everything else. Nothing unusual with any of my fish, no aggressive behavior (and there were no marks to show it... the fish literally was pristine). I hardly ever see my loaches. All of the fish in my tank are breathing normally, none of them appear to be under any type of stress.
Lupin? Got any other help? This has got me way too worried about the health and safety of my other fish..
Try retesting your ammonia, nitrites and nitrates using API in case of inaccuracies on the part of Tetra. I'm still stumped here to be honest which is why I haven't posted yet.
Dangerdoll
07-04-2008, 1:28 PM
your nitrates shouldn't be zero is what I think Lupin is thinking, that was my first thought. You might want to recheck with another test kit for the validity.
Eupterus
07-04-2008, 1:49 PM
Couldn't a fish die of various reasons?...Maybe that kuhli loach had a genetic disease we don't know about yet or had a stroke and keeled over dead.
Not saying it's not a bad idea to rule out things we have control over, still I bet fish can die despite good care and good conditions sometimes.
Squeakfish
07-04-2008, 2:12 PM
I will have it retested at my LFS.. I think I didn't let the nitrates test sit long enough, it changed shortly after. They aren't nonexistent, but they're not out of range.. 12 ppm I think.
I still can't imagine it was anything but the loach itself.. the immaculate color suggests that.
fishorama
07-06-2008, 4:01 PM
How long had you had your loach? Another thought, mine often zoom around the tank & there have been reports of them jumping out. He may have smacked into the tank top & had spinal damage. Sorry for your loss, I love my kuhlis.
Squeakfish
07-06-2008, 5:32 PM
Not very long, maybe two weeks. I don't have a solid tank top, I have a mesh top.
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u314/squeakaddict/100_0113.jpg
fishorama
07-06-2008, 5:58 PM
Kuhlis don't adapt to change well, it may transfer/shipping shock. I try to get them after a few weeks in the store. Hope the others do well for you.
That's an interesting top, do the lights lay on the top?
Squeakfish
07-06-2008, 6:06 PM
The light is that white bar with the iridescent sticker on it.
Also, the kuhlis had been in the store for a long time when I got them. Well over a few months.
Squeakfish
07-07-2008, 12:58 PM
Nooo!
I lost a cory last night! Unbelievable! What is happening to my stock??
fishorama
07-07-2008, 3:42 PM
Uh oh, did you quarrantine the new fish? Water change, water change. Have a really good look for other dead fish.
Squeakfish
07-07-2008, 4:37 PM
Uh oh, did you quarrantine the new fish? Water change, water change. Have a really good look for other dead fish.
Currently I need to treat for Ich, so water changes will have to wait a while. I've done a head count and everyone else is alive.