So--
Today the last endler died. I started off with around one for about 5 months, and then I added in around 9 more in December. At first, they were multiplying, and after two "litters" I began to wonder if I could handle them. Gradually, they all died, I probably lost an average of one per week and a half. Some of the fry looked like they were malformed. But at one point, I had four healthy females, two of them quite large (including the original). My guess at the time was that they were harassed to death, but I have no idea. The last two surviving was a (guessing) 8 month old male, and a two month old male, which supports my theory. But in the span of two weeks, they too, died.
The last one was the young male, and he was the only endler for about two weeks. I mention this because I am wondering of the likelihood of the last two dying of the same illness that far apart. No other fish had died in that span. This morning I found the last one twitching, belly-up, at the bottom of the tank.
So anyone wanna take a stab at guessing cause? I ask because I am considering buying more endlers, but...
my theories are:
1) Inbreeding + interspecies Harassment + sickness.
2) All died of some same sickness.
3) Another fish (the molly) harassed them all to death. (the betta is way too lethargic to be a likely suspect.)*
4) I saw them often grazing off the algae on the rocks. Could they have been poisoned/swallowed too much rock bits?
* - I see the Molly acting aggro around feeding time, as she is very territorial about food. She does this mostly with the white clouds, tho, and they're still around. Also, I saw the last endler nibbling at the top of the tank last night.
]
here's my tank's show thread. This tank has been established for around 6 months.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=183951&page=2
Tank: 20H AGA
Lighting: 2 x 14w T5 coralife
Filtration: HOB
Substrate: Onyx Sand + Black Flourite Sand
CO2: DIY yeast
Water temp: 74-80 F
pH: 6.8
Fish:
1 elderly Crowntail Betta
1 Black Molly
4 Golden White Clouds
2 Otos
Plants:
Dwarf hairgrass
Didiplis diandra
Rocks from Central Park
Today the last endler died. I started off with around one for about 5 months, and then I added in around 9 more in December. At first, they were multiplying, and after two "litters" I began to wonder if I could handle them. Gradually, they all died, I probably lost an average of one per week and a half. Some of the fry looked like they were malformed. But at one point, I had four healthy females, two of them quite large (including the original). My guess at the time was that they were harassed to death, but I have no idea. The last two surviving was a (guessing) 8 month old male, and a two month old male, which supports my theory. But in the span of two weeks, they too, died.
The last one was the young male, and he was the only endler for about two weeks. I mention this because I am wondering of the likelihood of the last two dying of the same illness that far apart. No other fish had died in that span. This morning I found the last one twitching, belly-up, at the bottom of the tank.
So anyone wanna take a stab at guessing cause? I ask because I am considering buying more endlers, but...
my theories are:
1) Inbreeding + interspecies Harassment + sickness.
2) All died of some same sickness.
3) Another fish (the molly) harassed them all to death. (the betta is way too lethargic to be a likely suspect.)*
4) I saw them often grazing off the algae on the rocks. Could they have been poisoned/swallowed too much rock bits?
* - I see the Molly acting aggro around feeding time, as she is very territorial about food. She does this mostly with the white clouds, tho, and they're still around. Also, I saw the last endler nibbling at the top of the tank last night.
]
here's my tank's show thread. This tank has been established for around 6 months.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=183951&page=2
Tank: 20H AGA
Lighting: 2 x 14w T5 coralife
Filtration: HOB
Substrate: Onyx Sand + Black Flourite Sand
CO2: DIY yeast
Water temp: 74-80 F
pH: 6.8
Fish:
1 elderly Crowntail Betta
1 Black Molly
4 Golden White Clouds
2 Otos
Plants:
Dwarf hairgrass
Didiplis diandra
Rocks from Central Park
