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hello... <br>i have a problem! <br><br>i have a 55G community tank that has been set up for nearly 3 years now that houses a variety of fish including:<br>-1 gold gourami<br>-1 pearl gourami<br>-4 harlequin rasboras<br>-3 thredfin rainbows<br>-3 panda catfish<br>-5 red blue columbian tetras<br>-5 neon tetras<br>-1 common pleco<br>-1 GSP<br><br>i originally had larger schools of the rasboras, rainbows, catfish and columbian tetras, but i have been losing a fish here and there sporadically, for no obvious reason.<br><br>when they are dead, they seem to have dropsy, but did not show any symptoms prior to dying.<br><br>the only thing that i can think of is that i had a nematode infection in the tank about 1 year ago, which i treated successfully. there are no signs of worms in any of the fish today. however, could they be dying from internal damage caused by the original infection? <br><br>any thoughts, suggestions, or comments would be great, as i am getting frusterated!

Strange, the only thing I can think of is a bioload problem (then again im still a novice at the hobby). How big is the pleco? it could be that the pleco is just pooping to much. Dunno though, good luck in solving the problem.
-Andrew

Dropsy is usually caused by stress: poor water quality or aggressive behavior. So, do you see any aggressive behavior? How often do you change how much of the water? What kind of filtration do you have? Have you tested for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates? Does the tank look dirty or smell bad? No signs of parasites.

max

Definitely need to get parameters to make sure you don't have old tank syndrome (high nitrate, traces of ammonia).

There could be another explanation. When fish are kind of dying off one at a time and we don't think it is just old age, then I would ask if you have lost power in recent weeks or months preceding these deaths.

Dropsy occurs when the kidneys no longer filter out water properly, or the heart slows (much like heart failure in humans and they swell). It can be disease, parasites, virus, water quality, salt problems, etc).

Diane has called for parameter test results and I would agree that they're needed...

--garyroland.

Last edited by garyroland at 04-Jan-2005 20:58

-filter: rena filstar xp3

-heater: 300W

-no recent power outages

-weekly 30% water change and gravel vacuum

-ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate under 20 ppm, pH around 7.4 or so

-the fish don't usually appear to have dropsy before they die... they're just dead all one morning, all swollen up (particularily the red blue columbian tetras and red minor tetras)

-no aggressive behaviour noted

-fed 2-3x daily with different combinations of tetramin flakes, pellets, shrimp pellets, brine shrimp, blood worms, etc... (ie: good variety)

see my frusteration?! i'm tempted to start over from scratch!

**one last thing: i have a large pile of large lava rock at one end of the tank (covers about 1/3 of the bottom space) that i only disassemble once in a while to clean/gravel vacuum under. however, the filter discharge is at this end of the tank and extends down into the pile somewhat. also, when refilling the tank after a water change (with a python), i use the jet of water to spray in and around the rock formation.

could this be causing problems without registering ammonia, nitrite or nitrate?

thanks for the help so far!

One more question: Any chance your fish food has been exposed to moisture (even moist fingers). Mold that grows on food is highly toxic to fish and lethal.

Certainly, you could get pockets of hydrogen sulfide gas or nasty bacteria in a nook. But, it sounds like you address it regular.

How about fertilizers? Have you added them?

I'm wondering if they were poisoned since the lot was lost at once. Even hand lotion could do this.

i doubt that the moist food is the case... but good to keep in mind.

hmm... handlotion... possible i suppose, but i try to avoid it. maybe i'm not careful enough (?!). but why one fish and not the others? maybe he was just weaker?

Bacteria and virus usually cause mass deaths. You blinked at hand loation. I watched them clean the glass at Wal Mart, so I ask what they used. The reply was Windex. One has to be careful with alcohol, perfume, hair spray, nail cleaner/polish, any kind of spray etc. Poisons for roaches and mice can be introduced to your tanks when these critters get thirsty. The family dog or cat may add flea powder or dip to your tank. Young children are liable to add something. One has to be careful.

max

On a folder I put together for tank sitters while I'm away, I made one slide that states, "Clean Hands; Clean Air!". Then I go on to say that hands should be rinsed 2-3 times as long to make sure soap residue is gone. If you plan on sticking your hand in the tank, make sure you wash up your arms and rinse them as well. Never spray anything near a tank. Rather, spray it on a rag away from the tank. They also make more fish safe glass cleaners available at the pet store. I don't like these that much, so I just use a windex like product, but I spray it on the rag away from my tank.

Other culprits - tobacco smoke, or other smoke