PICS! 20 long, dwarf compressiceps

[aquabee]

Normally, when you have a tank with stable fish and you introduce new fish which quickly die and then the original fish in the tank start showing signs of problems, I would suspect that the new fish introduced some kind of bacteria or parasite into the tank. However, in this case, the breeder is known and there have been no physical signs of disease. This is what stumps me.

Without any diseases involved, I'd then suspect that the dead fish contaminated the water due to decay, but I know these fish were removed promptly so that's not it.

I'd think perhaps stress, which may have been the case for the comps given their long car ride home, but I can't imagine the white clouds being stressed by what's happened.

So I'm at a complete loss. We may never be able to figure out what happened. I just hope the fish continue to improve.

Yeah. The breeder is known and has been calling me every day since this whole ordeal started. And other juvenile comps from the same batch in the same tank in his home are doing well. He's been watchin 'em like a hawk. The only other juvie comps he's sold are doing well in their new home as well.

[Complexity]

Normally, when you have a tank with stable fish and you introduce new fish which quickly die and then the original fish in the tank start showing signs of problems, I would suspect that the new fish introduced some kind of bacteria or parasite into the tank. However, in this case, the breeder is known and there have been no physical signs of disease. This is what stumps me.

Without any diseases involved, I'd then suspect that the dead fish contaminated the water due to decay, but I know these fish were removed promptly so that's not it.

I'd think perhaps stress, which may have been the case for the comps given their long car ride home, but I can't imagine the white clouds being stressed by what's happened.

So I'm at a complete loss. We may never be able to figure out what happened. I just hope the fish continue to improve.

[aquabee]

Heya Suntown. Was wondering where you disappeared to.

I added a fairly vigorous airstone and now the white clouds are playing in the current. Several days ago when I put the airstone in, they huddled away from it on the other side of the tank.

Q, I know I've had fish die in a tank and the other tankmates haven't cared... but I just had 4 comps die excruciatingly slow deaths. They've GOT to be releasing some sort of pheromone or something negative into the tank besides ammonia. Perhaps it was stress that killed my comps and made my white clouds act weird. Or maybe the wood had something bad in it and that killed the comps as well as made the white clouds act weird. Think I should leave the wood out no matter what and get new pieces? The tank looks bleak. River rocks haphazardly strewn about, a random airstone, and no beautiful wood pieces to add depth. The middle and upper water columns are totally empty.

[SunnyHouTX]

True. Maybe they "sensed" the tragedy that came upon the comps and now that that it's done with, they're feeling better themselves.

Sent from my Nexus S

[eklikewhoa]

Sorry for jumping in so late. B, you've got a puzzler in your hands. Either that or the comps are just so very delicate.

Sent from my Nexus S

doesn't explain the problem with the white clouds though.

[SunnyHouTX]

Sorry for jumping in so late. B, you've got a puzzler in your hands. Either that or the comps are just so very delicate.

Sent from my Nexus S

[aquabee]

Brand new.

[eklikewhoa]

Is the heater used old?

[aquabee]

That's a good point. I don't think the dieing comps would have an effect on the others unless it was something the comps were carrying cause I've had tanks of fish dieing and the tankmates could careless.

It has to be something different from the other tanks... maybe something in the filters or the substrate? This is starting to really bother me as well cause I've used deco with just a quick rinse and never come across such problem and even pushed my luck and started tanks, fully stocked with no cycle and using tap water, heck I do almost 80% water changes with tap water and filters off while it refills and haven't had a loss.

What's different from the other tanks is the filter, circ pumps, heater, rocks, sand, and wood. The only thing that made sense to me that could have something potentially bad in it is the wood. So I took it out before changing the water. But what bothers me is that all this stuff was in the tank nearly 2 months (except the circ pumps) and the white clouds never had a problem. River rocks sold at LFS's typically don't leach anything. So the only thing left that leaches potential contaminants very slowly is the wood.

Argh. This is frustrating.

[eklikewhoa]

That's a good point. I don't think the dieing comps would have an effect on the others unless it was something the comps were carrying cause I've had tanks of fish dieing and the tankmates could careless.

It has to be something different from the other tanks... maybe something in the filters or the substrate? This is starting to really bother me as well cause I've used deco with just a quick rinse and never come across such problem and even pushed my luck and started tanks, fully stocked with no cycle and using tap water, heck I do almost 80% water changes with tap water and filters off while it refills and haven't had a loss.

[aquabee]

Maybe it has something to do with the new water, none of my tanks were cycled and I didn't have any problems.

The fungus is normal, I've had tanks full of plecos and ocats and it would still grow like wild fire.

I've had white clouds before and even overdosing co2 or any drastic change never really bothered them. This is really odd for you to have these problems. Maybe there's some sort of harmful metals leaching in the water or something with your plumbing/pipes at your place.

With melafix/primafix make sure you increase oxygenation when dosing.

New water? What do you mean?

If it were a water/pipes problem, my other two tanks would most likely be suffering too. They have far more delicate fish in them than hardy white clouds and BN plecos, and the other tanks don't even have carbon, just sponge filters.

At this point, I feel like it was either the dying comps that stressed everyone else out or it was something in the wood. I still have to wait and see if the white clouds start eating tomorrow. But at least they're moving around a little tonight.

[eklikewhoa]

Maybe it has something to do with the new water, none of my tanks were cycled and I didn't have any problems.

The fungus is normal, I've had tanks full of plecos and ocats and it would still grow like wild fire.

I've had white clouds before and even overdosing co2 or any drastic change never really bothered them. This is really odd for you to have these problems. Maybe there's some sort of harmful metals leaching in the water or something with your plumbing/pipes at your place.

With melafix/primafix make sure you increase oxygenation when dosing.

[aquabee]

Wood removed, massive WC done. Last comp died about 15 minutes later.

The wood had a little fungus on it, which means the plecos aren't really eating either.

Interestingly enough... after removing the wood and the huge WC and the death of the comp... the white clouds are moving around a bit for the first time in weeks. I still wouldn't call them normal but they're actually swimming as opposed to hovering. I think I even saw one chase another one for a second, which is awesome. But I'm still too nervous to get my hopes up.

Vicki, I think I'm gonna try your melafix/pimafix suggestion unless the white clouds and plecos start eating again by tomorrow. It's a really good idea.

[barrettsline]

Give it a try. I would say it can't hurt. Just stick to the dosage and let us know how it turns out. Hopefully it will help.


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=29.255629,-95.212553

[Complexity]

What do you guys think about adding Melafix and Pimafix to the tank? They're not harmful to anything in the tank, including the bacteria colony, and can help repair damage to tissue. IF something has caused gill damage, it might be helpful. I have never heard anyone report that it was ever harmful, and it's commonly used in planted tanks. These are not harsh chemicals. Might be worth a shot.

Melafix: http://aquariumpharm.com/Products/Pr...x?ProductID=56

Pimafix: http://aquariumpharm.com/Products/Pr...x?ProductID=57