THE LAST STRAW
- Thread starter davexstumpe
- Start date
Is it possible the flashing could be from being put in water with a lower ph than what they were used to? Could that irritate their skin? I know it's possible to acclimate some fish to live in a different ph environment than what they have been raised in, but rams and rummies and pandas are known to be some of the more sensitive fish species and I suspect sometimes they just can't adjust quickly enough and they succumb to what could be a harsh environment to them. I would suspect that as an average most LFS tanks contain a ph more on the alkaline side than the acidic side. Human skin can can react similarly to changes in bath water, sometimes harder, mineral laden water will dry people's skin and cause extreme itching. I'm just thinking out loud that sensitive fish are affected by changes in living parameters more than we know. Published guidelines can quote water ranges, but say the rummies were spawned and raised so far in a water with a ph of 7.6, it doesn't seem to me they'd really thrive if their new water was 6.6. I'm just using those numbers as an example. What do you think?
Debbi
Debbi
as long as acclimation is done slowly, the fish should be fine. unlike people, they have a slime coat to protect their skin from irritants, and a slow acclimation to different water should allow them to adjust their protective layer as necessary. pH problems would cause fish to react (die) much faster than the fish in this post. internal parasites seems the most likely to me, but because of different fish in the same 'batch' doing fine in another tank, that is kind of ruled out.
dave - i know you've probably gone over everything you could have done wrong, but is there ANYTHING in the tank that might be leaching chemicals into the water? anything at all? i don't know what your water change schedule was like, but any possiblity that this could be a chemical contaminant that is progressively building up in the tank due to either deterioration of a decoration etc. . . which is happening at a faster and faster rate, or an external chemical source that you may not have realized was harmful? anything at all?
dave - i know you've probably gone over everything you could have done wrong, but is there ANYTHING in the tank that might be leaching chemicals into the water? anything at all? i don't know what your water change schedule was like, but any possiblity that this could be a chemical contaminant that is progressively building up in the tank due to either deterioration of a decoration etc. . . which is happening at a faster and faster rate, or an external chemical source that you may not have realized was harmful? anything at all?
I will say one thing about Jungle remedy... toss it. There are a lot better treatments out there for fish. I have not heard very many good things about that line. Use something by a more recognised company such as API, Seachem or some such when treating internal and external parasites.
As for flashing... it is not always caused by an external parasite. Flashing also occures when a fishes external layer is irritated which can be water conditions or something in the water itself. I know our natural reaction is to assume a parasite when they start that but by treating for a parasite that may or may not be there you could be doing more harm than good.
As for flashing... it is not always caused by an external parasite. Flashing also occures when a fishes external layer is irritated which can be water conditions or something in the water itself. I know our natural reaction is to assume a parasite when they start that but by treating for a parasite that may or may not be there you could be doing more harm than good.
honestly. the only things i have in my tank are fake plants, pieces os slate, a pot ornatment made for tanks, a rock boguht at a LFS, and a clay pot.
it could be the slate, i'm no geologist but i had some problems in one of my tanks that i later could attribute to a few rocks i had put in there... i was getting so mad cause my fish kept on dieing, took the rock out and did some water changes..restocked(slowly) and no more dieing fish... i also want to suggest a much slower rate of restocking your tank, as it sounds to me that you put a lot of fish in there in a short amount of time.. this could cause amonia spikes and wipe out your new fish... what kind of subterate are you using? filtration? are the plastic plants meant for aquariums?(sounds dum i know but some stuff like that have hazardous chemicals in them)
Ok, using same water in both tanks, one tank is fine, so its probably not the water itself. My thought is that something in your tank is releasing something harmful. are you using any carbon? If so, how often are you changing it, and are you pre soaking it?
Did you do any sterlization or disinfection of the ornaments added? what type of clay pot, and was it used for ANYTHING before it went in the tank?
Did you do any sterlization or disinfection of the ornaments added? what type of clay pot, and was it used for ANYTHING before it went in the tank?
I am using carbon, but haven't changed it in about 2-3 months, but i am rinsing it.
Clay pot was bought new from a flower store a block away from my house. Im pretty sure its just clay.
The slate rocks were from a friends tank, which was an established tank for 2+ years, with no fish deaths since he can remember. I used them to help boost my cycle, but then i liked them and just kept them in there.
thanks for the ideas.. i guess you guys can see my frustration with this. Kepp any thoughts coming though!
