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Sigh... I had such hopes... everyone was doing so well recently, but today I woke up to find that one of my 100 Acre gang doesn't look so hot. Piglet, by far the shyest of my bunch, was sitting at front and center, and was so pale he was nearly transparent. Everyone's colored up so much recently that he looks like a pale ghost next to his buddies.

He's not dead, but he looks like he's on his last fins... he moved a bit when I tapped on the glass by him, but frankly, the fact that he wasn't hiding behind one of the bigger cory cats is strange in and of itself. All of the other pandas look fine, as do the other members of the tank. Piglet's big burst of energy was to swim crazily for a few inches, including a barrel roll or two.

It's been two weeks since I got the new pandas and this is exactly what happened the first time. I bought three pandas, after two weeks, one died. Does this mean that I should expect to lose Tigger or Pooh Bear next week? That's what happened last time... one on week three, one week four. It doesn't make sense, though! They LOOK healthy, then just get found dead one day.

I don't know what I can do to save him... I've never found one who looks like he's ABOUT to die. Maybe I'm being pessimistic, I don't know.

I did a water change a few days ago, but everyone was happy afterwards and looked healthy. I just don't know. *sigh*

My sister is redoing the floor in her bedroom, and varnished it just before I got up, but it's pretty odorless for varnish. As soon as I woke up enough to get my brain in gear, I vacated my room and stuffed a towel under the door. I don't think that has anything to do with Piglet, though...

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

Kitten, just some thoughts...

One of the most important things you can do now and if he expires is to look very, very closely into the eyes and at the base of the fins. Look for blood spots or streaks, even the size of a pinhead.

Aeromonas infections are very stealthy, not always revealing themselves until they are very near death. You may even see blood pooling in the gut if the body is transparent enough. If he dies, check it even more carefully.

I'm not suggesting medicine, so don't do that. But, if you see those signs, then you know you very possibly are dealing with an aeromonas infection in the tank. Compacted gravel is a source. Places where oxygenated water cannot get are subject to building anaerobic bacteria. This can include some of those pretty and pricey caves that hold water, but don't allow it to circulate through.


Last edited by Cory_Di at 26-Mar-2005 08:59

IMO, Panda's are one of the most delicate Corydoras. They need, nearly perfect water & lots & lots of patience.


http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
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Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
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Piglet died. I found him face first in the base of a stem of wisteria. Sigh. He WAS the most delicate seeming of all the pandas, sorta frail. He took the longest to settle into the tank and his markings never darkened to the rich black that the others have. But he was just doing so well otherwise that I had hopes for him.

I didn't notice any blood spots or really, anything out of the ordinary. He didn't have a very plump belly... almost looks as if he wasn't getting enough to eat (not emaciated, but a bit thin), but I feed a bottom feeder wafer per catfish, plus a couple extra, every other day. The extras were because the betta girls liked to play with them and pick at them. Plus, I also alternate with sinking foods and different wafers, so there should be NO issues with underfeeding. I've seen him eating, so I don't know... something internal?

He will be missed. RIP Piglet.

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

Maybe piglet had internal parasites, but its hard to say. Could have been born with problems too. If any others look or get thinner than usual, I'd go a round of Prazi-Pro to flush out potential worms or 3 days on crushed Jungle Anti-Parasite Med sunk. It's hard to view poop from a catfish because they don't string it along, but usually white or pale, stringy feces indicate internal parasites.

Thats so sad

I know exactly how you feel and I am so sorry. Same thing happened to me when I first started getting panda cories.

I have found the larger the panda, the better the chance they survived.

This doesn't look good. Ever since Piglet has died, the other three aren't as active. I've only been able to search and find two at a time (and there's not a whole lot of places they can hide from me). I don't know what I'm going to do... there's no way I can afford to get more pandas, if my LFS has even gotten them in. *has hissy fit* Things were going so well, dang it!

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

Pandas ordinarily don't do well in small schools. They may be feeling the effects of not having enough. I believe it would make them shy. HOpefully, Cali could weigh in.

Oh, dear. Wish I could beam Lady Emma Hamilton and the Three Musketeers over to you right now, because a group of 7 would well and truly come alive. Yes, the sad fact is that if Panda numbers drop as a result of deaths below a certain critical level (and experience shows that four is the critical level) then the remaining ones start to pine somewhat for the missing one.

The only advice I can hand out that may be remotely useful in the circumstances is this: see if you can find a specialist catfish society near to hand, and see if one of the members has some spare Pandas going cheap. Chances are you could pick up some replacements a lot cheaper that way than from a fish store. Furthermore, the replacements obtained that way are likely to be much more easily acclimatisable to your aquarium, because they'll have been bred in the local water. This is one reason why local bred stock of any species tends to attract a premium price in the UK, because there's a much better guarantee that it will survive once rehoused.

Another alternative is to see if anyone local is giving up fish for some reason (e.g., long distance move to a new job) and see if they have Pandas among the stock.

There but for 5,000 miles go we, Kitten. I'd happily let you have Lady Emma Hamilton and the Three Musketeers, but I don't think they'll survive a 5,000 mile air journey even if I had the funds to ship them.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

That same thing happened to me. when my heater went crazy and killed almost all my fish. the two pandas that were left just didn't act like they used to. One died, but the other hung on. I was finally able to get enough pandas that i have 6 now. they all seem to be very happy, though not as active as i thought they would be. I guess i need more.

hmmm, this Aeromanas makes me wonder.

How do you get rid of it in a planted tank?

you can't just overturn the substrate every 20 minutes!