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Hi there,
I have 9 C. Aeneus, all about 2 inches or so, of assorted
colors.
Yesterday, I fed them some fresh veggies,(green beans)
which I always do once a week. All 9 of them were fine, happy, wiggly little catfish as usual.
Today, a bronze and albino, both male, are doing the
twirling swim of death.

I have tested the tank:
PH. 7.6
GH >200ppm
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites : 0
NitrAtes: 15

Nothing abnormal or out of the usual.

They are in a tank with a large male angelfish and a
Boesmani rainbow who is recouperating from an injury,
and a stone lapping barb, and 1 otto. It is a medium-heavy
planted tank.

Filtration is : Sponge filter rated for 50g.
Fluval 204 rated for 50g.
Tank size is 25g tall.

Any Ideas?

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Good parameters, just the death dance, that's a tough call. Perhaps something that you don't measure is causing a problem. Try a 30 or 40% water change to see if that will help.

Is it possible that they overdid the beans. I know what beans do to me and once or twice...

Ummm, I guess that's too much information on my own "dance of death". Do try the water change.



__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

Alright Bob, I will try that.
Seems odd, as nothing unusual or different
happened, and tank has been crystal clear
and spotless lately, as ive been doing more
regular water changes now im finished school,
once every 6-7 days now.
Ill let you know how they are after water change.
All the other fish seem fine, and in my other
tanks too all are fine.
I think my Garra Cambodgiensis ate most of the
bean in the 25g tank.
How odd.


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Sometimes renal damage and the associated blood poisoning can cause nervous or brain damage and even whirling due to a pain response or partial paralysis. Causes could be bacterial , parasitic (flukes) , or even dietary (usually excess fat in the liver). Sometimes heavy metals such as lead or mercury can cause it also.

Your fish may have contracted the myxospora protozoan, often known as "whirling disease". Hopefully this isnt the case, but if more fish start to get sick with the same characteristic symptoms ill guess youll know for sure. This will be an infection of both the nervous system and the gut, and so a systemic drug will be needed. The only one I know of that is truly effective is metronidazole, however furazolidone has been known to be effective in halting the progression of the disease if injected into the fish.

If it is myxospora, only a complete tank stripdown will get rid of it guaranteed, combined with treatment for all animals present. Thankfully transmission rates are low, but it can be a pain to get rid of completely.

Hopefully its just a one off incident though. Good luck.

Your fish may have contracted the myxospora protozoan, often known as "whirling disease

How would they have contracted this in a tank
with no new members in about 9 months?
Nothing new has been added, nothing changed.


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They can be brought in on plants,food, inverts, fish, equipment, water,even on your hands. Sometimes protozoan infections can stay at a low level for months, eventually showing severe symptoms in the weaker fish . Fatalities with protozoa only usually occur when numbers become high. Sometimes fish live will low level infestations for years, fighting them off at least partially and subduing the symptoms with their own immune systems, but as the months progress or another infection, maybe bacterial or fungal , or even parasitic takes hold , the symptoms start to kick off, and the fish becomes sick.They are a common cause of surprise deaths. A lot of infections are not as straightforward as the cycle of the organism would have you believe. People assume because they see no visible symptoms because the fish hide their ailments so well, there may be however, a constant cycle of reinfestation happening at a low level that only blossoms when the immune system is compromised by the longevity of the infection or another complicit infection that damages the fish's health further.

Fish diseases can be a tricky business!

Like I said though, time will tell, and hopefully this isnt the problem, but it is possible, and I thought you should be aware of the possibility. Forewarned being forearmed and all that.

Well, I have done a water change, and today
the bronze cory that was affected is back to
normal.
The albino is better, but still having troubles.

They spawned night before last, so wondering if
maybe the 2 males injured themselves during spawning
somehow?


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Well, today I found both of the corys
dead. Poor Corys. Guess I will never know what
did them in.
Wish I knew more about fish microbiology and had
a microscope so I could investigate.
I did another big water change, hopefully whatever
killed them doesnt spread.
I also dropped in a dose of Maracyn 2 just to be
on the safe side.



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