Cardinal dying, other fish next?
- Thread starter A649475
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Well... more bad news. After I came back home, I could only see two of the cardinal tetras and the remaining rummynose tetra. So I turned on the lights and took a closer look at the tank. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the rummynose developed the same signs as the cardinal from the previously posted pictures.
Here he is:
I couldn't find the two other tetras. So I started moving and uprooting some java ferns. It took me a bit to find them and both of them were dead.
Cardinal 1
Cardinal 2:
Cardinal 1 is the one I took a picture from last night. He started to decompose as you guys can see. I don't think any of the other fish or shrimps nib on him, but you can notice his open stomach.
Cardinal 2 was a surprise to me as I didn't see the rest of the cardinal sick yesterday before I went to bed. From the last picture, although hard to see, only 1/3 of its body has its original shininess while the other 2/3 is white dull. I also noticed a red spot at the bottom left fin.
All stores are closed by now. I'll look around tomorrow for the medications you guys recommended.
At this point, it seems I will lose all the tetras...
Edit:
I had the gourami with the cardinal tetras originally in this tank for over a year; introduced the rummynose a couple of months ago.
Questions:
If its a bacteria infection, where did this bacteria come from? Is it always present in the tank? If so, that would mean the tetras' immune system has deteriorated. What would have caused this deterioration? The otos and gourami as well as the shrimp seem immune to this infection, why? Does it affect only tetras?
Remark:
I have kept different tetras species including the cardinal tetras for the past 5-6 years and this has never ever happened where each fish dies systematically. It's... saddening to say the least.
Here he is:
I couldn't find the two other tetras. So I started moving and uprooting some java ferns. It took me a bit to find them and both of them were dead.
Cardinal 1
Cardinal 2:
Cardinal 1 is the one I took a picture from last night. He started to decompose as you guys can see. I don't think any of the other fish or shrimps nib on him, but you can notice his open stomach.
Cardinal 2 was a surprise to me as I didn't see the rest of the cardinal sick yesterday before I went to bed. From the last picture, although hard to see, only 1/3 of its body has its original shininess while the other 2/3 is white dull. I also noticed a red spot at the bottom left fin.
All stores are closed by now. I'll look around tomorrow for the medications you guys recommended.
At this point, it seems I will lose all the tetras...
Edit:
I had the gourami with the cardinal tetras originally in this tank for over a year; introduced the rummynose a couple of months ago.
Questions:
If its a bacteria infection, where did this bacteria come from? Is it always present in the tank? If so, that would mean the tetras' immune system has deteriorated. What would have caused this deterioration? The otos and gourami as well as the shrimp seem immune to this infection, why? Does it affect only tetras?
Remark:
I have kept different tetras species including the cardinal tetras for the past 5-6 years and this has never ever happened where each fish dies systematically. It's... saddening to say the least.
Last edited:
Many bacteria that turn nasty live regularly in your tank without causing problems, same with the "outside" world. What causes one to take off when has been dormant...well I can't speak to that, but it does.
The worst case of mass die off I had caused me to break the tank down and give everything a good disinfectant. cleaned the tank, new substrate, dipped the plants. About the only thing that didn't get nuked was the filter so I kept my cycle. Stopped the unexplained deaths though. Just couldn't justify throwing more meds at a 46 gal tank without knowing what I was targeting.
The worst case of mass die off I had caused me to break the tank down and give everything a good disinfectant. cleaned the tank, new substrate, dipped the plants. About the only thing that didn't get nuked was the filter so I kept my cycle. Stopped the unexplained deaths though. Just couldn't justify throwing more meds at a 46 gal tank without knowing what I was targeting.
I am sorry for your fish
I also find it odd that it happened to your schooling fish and tetras only, especially as they are more active, and I think(don't quote me), that it is harder for more active fish like schoolers/tetras to catch disease faster than your slow moving gourami, and ottos. It seemed to only affect the smallest most active fish in the tank, maybe they were weak. I am sorry, hope your other fish stay okay.
I also find it odd that it happened to your schooling fish and tetras only, especially as they are more active, and I think(don't quote me), that it is harder for more active fish like schoolers/tetras to catch disease faster than your slow moving gourami, and ottos. It seemed to only affect the smallest most active fish in the tank, maybe they were weak. I am sorry, hope your other fish stay okay.
To follow up on FishBoss97's comment.
When I had to break my tank down and start from scratch, it was livebearers that were dying off one by one....mollies, platies, swords. The few tetras, gouramis, and the pleco in the tank were perectly fine. So I can understand how things seem to target one type of fish.
When I had to break my tank down and start from scratch, it was livebearers that were dying off one by one....mollies, platies, swords. The few tetras, gouramis, and the pleco in the tank were perectly fine. So I can understand how things seem to target one type of fish.
