Exploding Zebra Danio

[Liquid_Pyro]

Did a water change earlier this afternoon, and now 3 hour later I found a dead zebra danio.

She was holding eggs, but was no larger in the belly than I have usually seen her. I found her on the bottom with basically a slit right down the middle of her belly as if cut with a knife. As if it just exploded...just left with a hollow inside.

Any ideas?

Water parameters are fine...in a 46gallon bow front with 6 zebra danios (now), 4 swordtails, 3 platties, 7 dalmation mollies, 2 clown pleco's...

ps. what would be the reccommended number of say swordtails one might have in a 46 gal bowfront running a 305 Fluval Canister Filter and good water changes once a week?

 

[Liquid_Pyro]

bump...no one?

 

[IslandHopper]

...what would be the reccommended number of say swordtails one might have in a 46 gal bowfront running a 305 Fluval Canister Filter and good water changes once a week?

Wow... I have no idea on the Danio... wierd.

As for Swords... assuming nothing else, 'cept maybe a fleet of corys to keep the bottom ship-shape, I wouldn't hesitate to put a couple dozen of them in there. I don't have a problem doing 25% water changes every week on my tanks though.

Everybody has their own ideas of proper stocking. But of course, you can have more fish if you do more filtration, more frequent and larger water changes, etc. If you want or need to do fewer water changes, or only have a smaller than "desirable" filter, then you will be able to keep fewer fish in the setup.

 

[jaysen]

when my pregnant guppies and danios died i noticed the catfish and others first went for the eggs. what other fish are in there?

 

[jaysen]

sorry i didnt notice you listed the tankmates. every fish in there, except maybe the danios, i have see tear up a corpse. they almost always go for the stomach first. maybe they really are looking for flakefood but they seem to prefer organs to flesh.

 

[Liquid_Pyro]

yeah, i would agree with the other fish eating flesh...but it had just happened and it was clean...it honestly looked as if she was carrying too many eggs and just exploded...her belly was empty

and to add to the other point...i could have 12 swordtails and 12 cory cats in my 46 gal bow front with the 305 fluval and that would be reasonable? or possibly more?

 

[Stargazer53]

I agree with the other posters; I think your fish had a 'roe feast'. As to why she died; no clue. Maybe intestinal parasites? And for your tank size -- I'd say 6-7 swordtails. Keep up with the water changes though.

 

[Liquid_Pyro]

I'm sorry "stargazer" you said 6-7 sowrdtails in a 46 gallon tank and thats it? with good water changes?

I do good water changes faithfully, every sunday, with all 4 of my tanks

 

[CatsMeowww]

How do you add new water to your tank? If you add it directly from the faucet, you could have filled it too quickly, and the dechlor didn't have time to do its job -- this happened to me when I first used my "python" to fill the tank. I did it too fast, and lost 3 angelfish and a bristlenose to acute toxins within 2 hours.

Hope the rest stay healthy!

 

[Stargazer53]

I'm sorry "stargazer" you said 6-7 sowrdtails in a 46 gallon tank and thats it? with good water changes?

I do good water changes faithfully, every sunday, with all 4 of my tanks

There's no need to be sorry about anything at all. I meant 6-7 additional Swordtails in addition to your current stocking (which now that I think of it, may be pushing it if you factor in your mollies, danios, platies, and plecos). I think you should factor in your male + female ratio into your final decision, as well as the fact that Swordtails being livebearers, can also breed and provide you with future offspring. Just add livestock to your liking and try to reach a harmony with the general look of the tank; just try not to get too crazy.