Help?! Cardinal Tetras dropping like flies?!

[aquafan1885]

I kind of figure this has something to do with the fact that cardinal tetras ARE one of the most delicate tetras to have...however, over the past couple of days, 2 to be exact, I've lost...3 of the original 6 that I purchased...a much better count than my neons, though...however...I'd still like to try to narrow down some of the stuff...the first one, I really couldn't identify any "symptoms" persay...other than that he may have been extremely weak to begin with. The same goes for the second one that died...I never noticed any symptoms with him, either. The third, though...he had some kind of white stringy stuff hanging from around his mouth/gill area...I kind of figure it was probably some kind of parasite, though I'm not entirely sure what kind...now, I have one that appears to have the same thing, though not as bad...just a white spot on his head...and another one that has "the whirls." The one with the whirls just continues to swim around in erratic ways...he spins as he swims, swims in circles going nowhere, etc. I've already treated the tank with Naladin for this particular case, as it was suggested I do anyway with all of the tetras since they are rather prone to the disease. Anyway, does anyone have any idea of what may be going on or something? I've tested every possible thing I know to test in the water, and all the tests come out perfect...no high ammonia levels/nitrate levels/nitrite levels, a PH of about 6.8 to 7.0, the temperature stays about 75 to 80 degrees, and there's plenty of oxygen going to the tank. I just don't know what's going on, other than the simple fact that they are cardinals and are extremely delicate...

[RENEGADE]

not sure but your pH might still be too high but not 100% sure:(

[Cearbhaill]

Is this a new tank?
You might want to let things settle in a bit before adding Cardinals. They can be tricky but a mature tank is many steps ahead of a new installation in a lot of respects.

I notice you say "no high ammonia levels/nitrate levels/nitrite levels"- you shouldn't have any ammonia or nitrite levels. If you do you are still cycling and that's your problem. I would suggest that you carefully retest and then post your specific readings.

Also- I'm not familiar with Naladin, but personally think that adding medications on a "maybe" is a really bad idea. Keeping your water pristine via frequent water changes is the best way to keep things going in the right direction.

[anonapersona]

I read once that cardinals often come in with columnaris.

Look up Fournace as a treatment. Got that advice from the best store in town who sold me cardinals that have never gotten sick with anything at all, I think they routinely treat the fish before selling.

[Skittyfish]

I have 8 cardinals out of about 30. They just don't do well in my tank. And my tank is aged (it's 2 years old). But the 8 I do have are very big and robust. The rest would live a month or so and then just start dying off. My pH is a steady 6.6 with no amonia, no nitrite, (has nitrate, because it is a planted tank).
So, I think either you have good luck with them or you don't. And I always heard that they were hardier than neons.

[aquafan1885]

Well, since last night, I've lost all of my cardinals...not one made it. I'm still trying to narrow down the cause, though...I retested everything myself, the last tests I had done were at the lfs, but I retested myself, and I actually have no ammonia, no nitrites, and the nitrates are really low...the nitrates are probably due to the fact that this is a planted tank, similar to what Skittyfish said. I'm going to leave the cardinals alone for a little while, maybe wait a couple of months before I try again with them. Cearbhaill...you said you weren't familiar with Naladin? Naladin is something we use at the lfs I work at to treat "whirling or color loss," which was something a few of my fish were suffering from. It's perfectly safe for planted tanks, and, actually, whenever we get a shipment of rummynose tetras or cardinal tetras at the store, we add Naladin to their tank immediately, just as a preventative measure. But...I'm going to do some more checking and research before I add anymore...I might try some more neons, but, for the most part, I'm going to leave it alone for a little while.

[JesseJ]

Make sure that the temp is steady all day and all night. temp change will get most fish but cardinals/neons can't take much stress before dying. Try to lower your PH also. 6.5 or 6.6 is good. And if you haven't already add some aquarium salt to your tank.

[Lauren]

how hard is your water? I learned the hard way as well that cardinals are delicate. after loosing two in a tank that I didn't soften or alter the ph. I moved them to a tank that I did about a week ago. Since then, I haven't lost another and they are much happier. PH in the 6's, and gh at around 50-100 ppms is what these faint hearted little beauties need.

[emoore]

I have a school of 10 cardinals in hard water (pH = 7, gH = 200 ppm) and they are all doing very well (not one died). I think it is the luck of the draw with cardinals or neons ( I had neons before the cardinals but they all died within a few months).

[Captain Hook]

I didn't realize cardinals were such finnicky fish until hearing these stories and other similar ones on the net. I originally bought 4 cardinals and lost 1. Then I bought 2 more, bringing my total to 5 but have since lost another. The 4 that are still left have been doing really well though and have grown to a nice size.