Another "Please tell me what is killing my fish" thread!

myswtsins

myswtsins

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Jun 15, 2008
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I have lost a fish every day for the last 3 days in my OB/Albino socolofi tank. I do a 40% WC every 3 days, increased the filtration and surface disturbance and all tests are coming back fine. The last 2 albinos had odd marks near there vent/anus, see pictures. The second fish's belly almost seemed split open (last 2 pictures). He couldn't have been dead for more then 4 hours cause I checked the tank before I left.

I just got a buyer for the OBs and I want to make sure I am not giving him sick fish!

100_2895.JPG 100_2896.JPG 100_2903.JPG 100_2900.JPG
 
Other symptoms...increase respiration (only slightly now), I saw them "laying" the substrate a few hours before they died, possible lose of appetite...yeah I bet you all know what I am thinking! Bloat! I was feeding NLS growth up until a couple weeks ago then switched to NLS Cichlid.

My argument against bloat is that from my understanding it is uncommon in juvis, they aren't bloated & all their feces seems a nice health brown.

I tried to look at the other albinos underside and they don't seem to have the irritation. But I couldn't check out the 2 that are hiding in the rocks (add reclusiveness to the symptoms!). :angryfire:
 
What type of water are you on because this time a year most water companies add stuff that is great for us but bad for the fish and if your doing that many water changes i would start there with the water.. maybe call your water company and see what they are adding for the treatment of winter water our water compy does it as well and i actually step down on WC from weekly to Bi-weekly and not as much on the % ..
 
I'm thinking in bloat like you are. Bloat isn't that uncommon in juvie mbunas, IMHO. I think that NLS growth pellets are 0.5mm in size and NLS cichlid pellets are 1mm. Maybe they are eating the same amount of pellets which is twice the amount of food and got bloated this way.
 
I have well water. I was doing so many water changes because within 3 days the nitrates would be back up because this tank is overstocked.

When I switched to NLS cichlid I did cut back on the amount of pellets because I took into account that the pellets were larger. But I did feed the growth formula for longer than I originally planned which is higher in protein. I also had a newly acquired fry that was fine at first then developed a large belly but he is was quite the piggy so I moved him and few others over to the this tank when he would be one of the smaller juvis in the tank and has more competition for food. His belly did go down a bit but then he died too.
 
You can try to treat them with 1 tbsp. of Epsom salt per each 10gal of aquarium water.
 
I am sure it is bloat now, one of the albinos is hiding, breathing heavier then everyone else and looks a little bloated. I let my buyer know because as much as I need the OBs gone I will NOT sell sick fish!

I have started treating with espom salt & I am going to start treating with Metronidazole right now. I just happen to have bought some when I first bought my Mbuna so that I would have it handy! I will up the temp to 80 and leave the lights off...I should not feed them during treatment correct? How long should I treat to be sure it is gone?
 
Well cool that you have diagnosed it and now the treatment has begun, i would treat for a couple of days water change treat again couple of days should knock it out yes i would not feed while treating them a third treatment may be necessary but evaluate them before the third treatment and go from there..
 
No problem i hope all turns out well for your fishes.. I hate to lose fish.. I lost a huge female Livingstonii last night due to my punk male eating her face off i guess he was mad because i stripped her and she wasn't ready to procreate again.. Glad i took the babies now because they too would be dead..
 
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