Fish Serial killer

[smiley=sick.gif]  I'm so sorry to hear that but don't give up yet!  We all go through this kind of thing and it will get better, I promise!  

Did you ever think that maybe the place that you're buying them from is using a "bad" collector?

 

Also might be the one fish syndrome.  Tanks can handle X amount of bioload.  Add one fish over the limit and poof!  Adding fish slowly over time and not overstocking are critical.

 

Hello GraviT.

First:yes almost all fishes coming from the Philippines (where I live) is cyanide caught. 99% i'd say. So please avoid as a source of fish.

Second:it's sad the lionfishes and foxface died. But maybe it's the supplier of the lfs.

Third:you're not alone. My best bet is cyanide but to test you;d have to get the internal organs of the fish, bring it to a lab where they test it. I went through several purchases of fox face before my current one survived.

About fish sources: if you do get them usually the net caught fishes have some damage. cyanide caught fishes, well they have perfect bodies and fins. As you net a lionfish it darts and tries to swim fast and gets it's fins all torn out. But using cyanide they just get knocked out, picked and you have a perfect looking speciment when it wakes up. So called mysterious death can occur from minutes up to weeks.

sorry again....

 

Thanks for the input. I don't think I'm overstocked, and would expect to see some fluctuation in water quality if bio load was the case, but maybe not. I took the dead lion and a water sample to the LFS this morning, and the water checks out great!

To make matters worse, I just got a call from home and my royal gramma is dead too. It usually hangs out where I found the lion (behind my overflow) so I suspect it may have suffered some toxic contact.

The LFS did comment this morning that the lions have been coming from a different distributor for the past 3 weeks...about as long as I've been going through this. At this point, they are beginning to suspect cyanide also.

Days like this make me wonder why I got into such an expensive hobby. I'm adding a poly filter in hopes that it may give an indication of something in the water. I'm also doing a 10% water change tonight. From there, guess I'll go slow and let it grow.

What to do with the 100% credit from the LFS on this guy, who knows.

 

Hang in there!

I don't think it's you! Lionfish was the one of the first fish I got when I got into this hobby and had no probs....I think it is more likely the source. Let the LFS iron stuff out....and try again!!!

Sorry about your troubles! :-/

 

How many, what type, and what size are your current fish?

 

[quote author=Craig_Manoukian link=board=Fish;num=1096058902;start=15#15 date=09/28/04 at 06:24:46]How many, what type, and what size are your current fish?[/quote]

1 small (about 2.5&quot yellow tang, 2 small false percula (about 1.25" & 1.5&quot, 1 oscillated dragonette (about 2&quot, 2 small 4 stripe damsel (about 1.25" each) and a 1.5" fiji devil damsel.

I know I'm getting pretty close, but I thought that the large sump/fuge (running about 20 gals down there) would allow for a bit more than a normal 55.

 

Assuming 60 net gallons and 1" of fish per five gallons, you should be able to support 12" of adult fish.  Your yellow tang alone will achieve 7 - 8" in adult length.

Your current bioload is 11" of fish and the Royal Gramma would have put you over 12" and the Lion well over the general limit.  The adult sizes of these fish probably can't be supported by your system.

 

I understand that the adult size of the fish will push the limit, but this is pretty much a "starter" tank for me. I have plans to upgrade to a larger system down the road, probably after moving early next year. Maybe it's time to get rid of the damsels, as I am going to replace the gramma (not much choice on this one, the kid was all kinds of upset) and have been thinking about trying my luck at a flame angel.

With pushing the limit, wouldn't more frequent water changes help in keeping up with the load? Shouldn't there be an indication of declining water conditions, i.e. nitrates climbing etc.. due to overstocking?

Ack, always something else to learn. Thanks for the info!

 

Sucks to lose fish. But there are somethings you need to know. If a lionfish dies in your tank the release of toxins is a sure bet. You know those beautiful dorsal fins, that's where it comes from, trust me I know. Start with the water changes ASAP. Bioload measures are always on the dime, so unless you're water goes though a super filter count on fish dying as you push the limits.

A word of advice for those poor beings lacking patience in this hobby. If a fish dies, research why, wait 2 months AT LEAST! before introducing any other fish or creature for that matter.

Just a note that predators don't usually do well in community tanks, those percs will soon become fish food.