Fish are dying!

lil.guppy

Active Member
So about a month ago I had a watchman goby. He was fine and then I found him dead one morning after having him for a week.
Then I got a foxface and I have had him for about 2 weeks and for the past couple days he would lay on the bottom and finally he started getting dark and croaked this morning.
The only fish that have survived since January are my 2 clowns and my coral beauty.
Are there any other fish out there that are hardy like the clowns and coral beauty?
 
I wonder whats killing them? I lost my Banggai and keeping my eye on my sixline wrasse now.. Got them from two different LFS. There is no physical signs to speak of,, but my Banggai had long white stringy poop stuff that he was toting around before he died. My six-line had some this morning, but his fell off... I'm worried bout him now too...
 

username.

Member
stringy poo is usualy a sign of parasites or bacterial infections you should check out the desease furom and look for some treatments
 

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by lil.guppy
http:///forum/post/2974261
So about a month ago I had a watchman goby. He was fine and then I found him dead one morning after having him for a week.
Then I got a foxface and I have had him for about 2 weeks and for the past couple days he would lay on the bottom and finally he started getting dark and croaked this morning.
The only fish that have survived since January are my 2 clowns and my coral beauty.
Are there any other fish out there that are hardy like the clowns and coral beauty?
Your goby & foxface are (were?) considered easy fish. Either you had some bad luck, and will never know why they died or you need to find out why. Without a lot more info, its impossible to guess what happened. I think you've been around the forum long enough to know what sort of info is needed to help: water params, feeding, signs of disease, source of your fish, etc. etc. If you give us a lot more info, maybe someone can help. Just a guess: you may be adding too many fish, to a new tank, too quickly. I wouldn't put 5 fish in a 46 gal tank in less than 2 months.
 

lil.guppy

Active Member
Well he ate a big load of algae plant from ***** and never acted the same since. Once a day I would find him lying on the bottom but then he would get up and act all normal and eating just fine.
The gobies anal area was sticking out when I found him dead. Almost as if he exploded from the inside. (that was weird)
Other then that all my perims have been excelent
 

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by lil.guppy
http:///forum/post/2974486
Well he ate a big load of algae plant from ***** and never acted the same since. Once a day I would find him lying on the bottom but then he would get up and act all normal and eating just fine.
The gobies anal area was sticking out when I found him dead. Almost as if he exploded from the inside. (that was weird)
Other then that all my perims have been excelent

By any chance, are all your fish from *****?
 

sean48183

Member
Have you tested for ammonia or ph problems lately? Both of those are big culprits for mystery deaths. Also did you stick your hand in the tank with anything on them. I always wash my hands with plain warm water and dry them off real good with a towel before I stick my hands in the tank.
 

fishlawyer

Member
Originally Posted by sean48183
http:///forum/post/2974595
Have you tested for ammonia or ph problems lately? Both of those are big culprits for mystery deaths. Also did you stick your hand in the tank with anything on them. I always wash my hands with plain warm water and dry them off real good with a towel before I stick my hands in the tank.
+1 We are usually the worst polluters in a tank.
 
U

usirchchris

Guest
I had a white spotted boxfish that I found dead this morning. No idea why.
Tested water
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
PH 8.2
Temp 79
salt 1.009
I had the fish in hypo and have been doing water changes and watching the params daily. In hypo, because it was new. It made it about three weeks, and was eating like a champ last night. This is the second one of these I have attempted with the same result. I am unsure why it passed...not going to put much thought in it aside the fact I will probably not try another one of these. Sometimes it is just a mystery
.
 

fishlawyer

Member
Originally Posted by usirchchris
http:///forum/post/2974675
I had a white spotted boxfish that I found dead this morning. No idea why.
Tested water
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
PH 8.2
Temp 79
salt 1.009
I had the fish in hypo and have been doing water changes and watching the params daily. In hypo, because it was new. It made it about three weeks, and was eating like a champ last night. This is the second one of these I have attempted with the same result. I am unsure why it passed...not going to put much thought in it aside the fact I will probably not try another one of these. Sometimes it is just a mystery
.
Salinity seems low? That could stress the fish.
 
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usirchchris

Guest
Originally Posted by FishLawyer
http:///forum/post/2974693
Salinity seems low? That could stress the fish.

Yes it is friend. It's hyposalinity. A method used for treating ich. It is actually said to be less stressful on the fish, unless held there for a long period of time. I would not go for more than 2 months.
 

fishlawyer

Member
Originally Posted by usirchchris
http:///forum/post/2974698
Yes it is friend. It's hyposalinity. A method used for treating ich. It is actually said to be less stressful on the fish, unless held there for a long period of time. I would not go for more than 2 months.
I know what Hyposalinity is, but given your problems, that seems a little low? I know people do it, but you seem to be having troubles... Maybe bump it up to 1.012 or so... Seems like your fish are in stress and I refuse to believe that low salt causes no stress.
I treated my last outbreak with high temp and MedIc. (Really worked well...) Maybe a different route would help your fish, but hey, I am no expert and even those who are experts disagree here...
BUT, there is always the possibility that it is a natural death... One never really knows at this hobby. I guess it makes it more fun.
 
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usirchchris

Guest
Originally Posted by FishLawyer
http:///forum/post/2974714
I know what Hyposalinity is, but given your problems, that seems a little low? I know people do it, but you seem to be having troubles... Maybe bump it up to 1.012 or so... Seems like your fish are in stress.
Ich has been shown to reproduce in levels higher than 1.009. Not saying 100% this was not the cause, but this is extremely unlikely. This is considered the most gentle of alternatives in fighting ich. The first white spot I had did not make it the night, and was never put into hypo.
 

fishlawyer

Member
Originally Posted by usirchchris
http:///forum/post/2974724
Ich has been shown to reproduce in levels higher than 1.009. Not saying 100% this was not the cause, but this is extremely unlikely. This is considered the most gentle of alternatives in fighting ich. The first white spot I had did not make it the night, and was never put into hypo.
Sucks to hear though man... Hope it works out without more losses...
 
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usirchchris

Guest
Originally Posted by FishLawyer
http:///forum/post/2974729
Sucks to hear though man... Hope it works out without more losses...
Thanks, yeah it does suck. I have used hypo with a number of other fish, including other species of boxfish with no problem. I seriously would not worry about that in regards to fish loss. I am just going to chaulk this particular species up with a species that cannot be kept captive...(in my house)
. Don't want to scare other people into thinking hypo is going to kill their fish. It is the one method used on sensitive fish that cannot be treated with copper....and besides copper, hypo is the only other method (to my knowledge) used that has data to back up the fact that it can rid a fish of ich.
 

pete159

Member
1.009??
wow., why is your salt level so low?
the lowest a fish only tank should be is 1.020
a reef tank should be 1.024
1.009 is way way to low
 

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by pete159
http:///forum/post/2975089
1.009??
wow., why is your salt level so low?
the lowest a fish only tank should be is 1.020
a reef tank should be 1.024
1.009 is way way to low
It is low on purpose to kill ich. Getting the salt level down to 1.009 is a treatment for the illness.
 
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usirchchris

Guest
Originally Posted by pete159
http:///forum/post/2975089
1.009??
wow., why is your salt level so low?
the lowest a fish only tank should be is 1.020
a reef tank should be 1.024
1.009 is way way to low

Fishlawyer I can understand questioning the ins and outs of hypo, as he is relatively new to this site and saltwater, but you have been around for two years and never heard of hypo? I bet Beth and Sep would be deeply offended.
 

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by usirchchris
http:///forum/post/2975128
Fishlawyer I can understand questioning the ins and outs of hypo, as he is relatively new to this site and saltwater, but you have been around for two years and never heard of hypo? I bet Beth and Sep would be deeply offended.

No response; the mods must have disabled him.
 
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