Harlequin Rasboara Dying One By One...

[Meeko2690]

Tank size: 200L
pH: 7.2
ammonia: 0 (tested twice daily)
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 10-20ppm
kH: N/A
gH: N/A
tank temp: 26 celsius

One died overnight on the first night. The other 5 were fine yesterday, good colour swimming well until last night.

Very noticeable Red gills, mouth permanently open, keeps going to surface, stays away from the rest.

Tank inhabitants: Nothing else apart from snails brought in off plants

Recent additions: Added 1 plastic plant purchased from Amazon as the tank was bare and I felt bad for the Rasbora. Silk material.


One thing I did notice on my last water change was a small white worm squiggling up the water. but I only seen one.

I am going to do 50% change right now, and hope that is the problem. I will clean the gravel also and remove the 2 dead leaves that are lying there.
It looks like I am going to lose them one by one

 

[Gypsy13]

Did they start dying before or after the plant?

 

[Meeko2690]

Did they start dying before or after the plant?

The one that died overnight was before the plant was added.

 

[Gypsy13]

Ok. Tell me how the water smells. Also do you have a container you can use to give the red gilled one a bath in? Do you have methylene blue?

Can you post a pic?

 

[Meeko2690]

Sadly the red gilled one was just found belly up. I am doing a water change right now in the hope that things improve.

Pics of the others here, although looking at them right now as I am doing this water change they do look slightly more red gilled too.

hww
https://.ibb.co/iJiQx8/12345.jpg

 

[Gypsy13]

Sadly the red gilled one was just found belly up. I am doing a water change right now in the hope that things improve.

Pics of the others here, although looking at them right now as I am doing this water change they do look slightly more red gilled too.

hww
https://.ibb.co/iJiQx8/12345.jpg

Can you take a pic of the one that died? Lifting its gill plate?
Do you have methylene blue or aquarium salt on hand?

What does the water smell like? The water you removed. Which water conditioner are you using?
Fake or real driftwood and where did it come from?

 

[Meeko2690]

Can you take a pic of the one that died? Lifting its gill plate?
Do you have methylene blue or aquarium salt on hand?

I don't have either of those on hand.

I'll try get a pic.

The water smelled okay, it looked a little dirty when I was pouring it down the sink.

It is real wood purchased from LFS.

 

[Gypsy13]

How long was the driftwood in the tank?
Also which test kit do you use?
How are the other fish this morning?

 

[Meeko2690]

Been in the tank since the first day I set it up.

API Kit- I just done a test and its been about 6 hours since the water change and I have 0 ammonia 0 nitrite and 0 nitrate (I am assuming this will rise as the week continues but obviously my tank is very understocked at the minute) Test yesterday had 10-20ppm nitrate so obviously the water change has zeroed the nitrates.

They do have a slightly redness around the eyes/gills to me but then I could just be worrying and this is coming from the guy that couldn't tell the difference between pink and purple on a test kit They still seem really active. There is only 4 now and they will go off in pairs or the 4 will do laps of the tank. They do swim up and down the glass a bit especially in the corners and sometimes will split off on there own too. but none of them are going to the surface unlike the deceased one was and they seem to be going to lower in the water column since the water change and exploring a bit more but that could just be part of them settling in. I'll keep an eye on them very closely and look out for signs of anything. I've been reading up on all sorts of disease/sickness all day today so have a fairly basic knowledge of what to look for. I feel slightly more relaxed about the situation now.

Also I have a bunch of plants arriving in the post on Tuesday, so will give them some hiding spots and places for them to explore.
Here is a pic of the fish this was pre-water change today:

 

[Gypsy13]

They sound so cute! Get some aquarium salt, mblue, 3% hydrogen peroxide to have on hand. Keep us posted? Please?
And keep checking out the fish diseases. You never know when you’ll need that info.

 

[Meeko2690]

Either they were fine from the beginning or the water change has helped significantly as all 4 are alive and kicking this morning. I was sort of fearing the worst!

 

[Gypsy13]

Either they were fine from the beginning or the water change has helped significantly as all 4 are alive and kicking this morning. I was sort of fearing the worst!

Great news but stay vigilant. Keep doing water changes. Keep us posted? Please do, cause they sound precious!

 

[Meeko2690]

Great news but stay vigilant. Keep doing water changes. Keep us posted? Please do, cause they sound precious!

Hey Gypsy, I have just attached my black background to the tank, and noticed this: (How on earth I never noticed this growth before I have no idea and I feel brutal for even putting the fish in not knowing this was there) Incase it wasn't obvious its the white stuff growing on the glass.
To my eyes it sort of moves around with the current, is very very small almost fluffly like. It feels slimy to touch and easily rubs off ( I rubbed a bit off with my finger no problem).

 

[83jase]

Do they look like few to several little white spikes with little ball on the end of each one all seem to be Individually clusters the blow around with the current? Bit hard see in the pic

 

[Meeko2690]

To my naked eye I want to say no, I am struggling to get a decent picture. There are also tiny white worms albeit not as many

 

[83jase]

Ah OK I has similar to my description on one only decoration that wreaked havoc but it never spread anywhere else stuck it in boiling water gone for good was wondering if it was similar and had a name yea it's very tiny to the eye sorry can't offer anymore help wish you with the best of luck with it all

Only thing I can think of use a clean microfiber cloths and wipe upwards to remove what ever it is and monitor it from there

 

[Meeko2690]

I think one of the remaining 4 is starting to get sick too, he has lost a bit of colour and is hanging out on his own, looks more lethargic and gills look more red.

Going to do an immediate large water change, scrub all this **** off the glass right down to the substrate and then hope for the best. If that doesn't work and I have to do everything again from the beginning including the cycle I will probably just give up at this point. I don't have the patience to sit through another cycle fish-in or fishless.

 

[Meeko2690]

Yup, he is gone now too. I am going to inspect him closely and take some pics see if we can get to bottom of issue.

 

[Meeko2690]

dead1
dead2
dead3

Some pictures of the latest deceased one if anyone would like to take a look.

 

[Gypsy13]

Hey. Sorry late. Can you take short video of white stuff?

 

[Gypsy13]

I think one of the remaining 4 is starting to get sick too, he has lost a bit of colour and is hanging out on his own, looks more lethargic and gills look more red.

Going to do an immediate large water change, scrub all this off the glass right down to the substrate and then hope for the best. If that doesn't work and I have to do everything again from the beginning including the cycle I will probably just give up at this point. I don't have the patience to sit through another cycle fish-in or fishless.

Did you try the aquarium salt? Don’t give up. We’ve all been where you are. Having a beautiful aquarium and pretty fish. You do your best and bad stuff happens. We’ve all lost one or most of a tank before. With each experience you learn. It’s hard yes. Give up kind of hard. But the reward of getting one going right is well worth it.

 

[Gypsy13]

dead1
dead2
dead3

Some pictures of the latest deceased one if anyone would like to take a look.

Hubby asks if you cut to show the gill?

 

[Meeko2690]

I am not sure if a video would show anything different. I got advice on a facebook group (I know I know) who thinks they have been poisoned somehow or something is poisoning them. The store I purchased them from has asked me to take in a water sample and a couple of pictures. I know my readings are fine as I have been doing the tests myself with the API kit so I'm not sure what the LFS are going to do when they come out exactly the same. They may well offer to replace the fish but there is no point me adding more if they are just going to die again obviously.

I can try cut to show the gill but it will be very difficult. I'll report back if I can.

 

[Gypsy13]

I am not sure if a video would show anything different. I got advice on a facebook group (I know I know) who thinks they have been poisoned somehow or something is poisoning them. The store I purchased them from has asked me to take in a water sample and a couple of pictures. I know my readings are fine as I have been doing the tests myself with the API kit so I'm not sure what the LFS are going to do when they come out exactly the same. They may well offer to replace the fish but there is no point me adding more if they are just going to die again obviously.

I can try cut to show the gill but it will be very difficult. I'll report back if I can.

That’s ok. Don’t cut the gill. It may very well be your test kit isn’t accurate for some reason. It happens. But it does sound like ammonia or nitrite poisoning. This is why I asked you to try the aquarium salt. Take a sample of water and a scraping of your white stuff. I was hoping a video would show if it was hydra or not. LFS can look and see.

 

[Meeko2690]

That’s ok. Don’t cut the gill. It may very well be your test kit isn’t accurate for some reason. It happens. But it does sound like ammonia or nitrite poisoning. This is why I asked you to try the aquarium salt. Take a sample of water and a scraping of your white stuff. I was hoping a video would show if it was hydra or not. LFS can look and see.

Yeah I will report back once I've been, hopefully I can make it today. If not I'll provide any updates on the 3 remaining.

Did have a chuckle when I read the 'scraping of your white stuff', not that I am immature or anything

 

[Algonquin]

Just want to put this out there... I had a similar experience recently in my tank, it was gill flukes. A bit of a tank apocalypse. Treated with Prazipro with success. I certainly can't diagnose your fish, but you might want to look into that as a possible reason for your fish deaths... good luck!

Oh and my water parameters were fine the whole time, sigh.

 

[Gypsy13]

Just want to put this out there... I had a similar experience recently in my tank, it was gill flukes. A bit of a tank apocalypse. Treated with Prazipro with success. I certainly can't diagnose your fish, but you might want to look into that as a possible reason for your fish deaths... good luck!

Oh and my water parameters were fine the whole time, sigh.

With gill flukes there should be some flashing and the gills usually pale rather than become dark red. Also, the slime coat gets icky. Hubby didn’t see any of that on the dead fish. I’m sorry you had to deal with gill flukes.

 

[Algonquin]

finnipper59 are you online to have a look at the pics OP posted? Your take on this?
thank you

 

[Meeko2690]

Just want to put this out there... I had a similar experience recently in my tank, it was gill flukes. A bit of a tank apocalypse. Treated with Prazipro with success. I certainly can't diagnose your fish, but you might want to look into that as a possible reason for your fish deaths... good luck!

Oh and my water parameters were fine the whole time, sigh.

Sorry for your losses. I am so perplexed as nobody seems to know what's going on. Very strange. FWIW, I realised earlier I didn't have carbon media in my filter, which I have now added. Whether that makes a difference or not who knows but if something is contaminating the water it might help.

I was going to scrub all the white stuff off the glass, but I don't have time today, so I am going to scrub a side, and see if it grows back tomorrow.

Also just one last note, I haven't really seen algae in my tank up until now where I just noticed some growing on the back of the lavarock. Some sort of positive news at least.

 

[finnipper59]

I am not sure if a video would show anything different. I got advice on a facebook group (I know I know) who thinks they have been poisoned somehow or something is poisoning them. The store I purchased them from has asked me to take in a water sample and a couple of pictures. I know my readings are fine as I have been doing the tests myself with the API kit so I'm not sure what the LFS are going to do when they come out exactly the same. They may well offer to replace the fish but there is no point me adding more if they are just going to die again obviously.

I can try cut to show the gill but it will be very difficult. I'll report back if I can.

I have to insist that it's gill flukes if your perameters are good. You should have been advised to treat them with PraziPro long ago. You only need 1 tsp per 20 gallons of water only 1 time and leave it in for 5 days and then resume water changes. The white stuff in your tank is cyanobacteria and is completely harmless, just ugly. Treat with Prazipro or API GENERAL CURE. All paracites in the tank will be killed any can then get more fish. Salt doesn't help everything. You need an antiparacitic.

 

[Meeko2690]

I have to insist that it's gill flukes if your perameters are good. You should have been advised to treat them with PraziPro long ago. You only need 1 tsp per 20 gallons of water only 1 time and leave it in for 5 days and then resume water changes. The white stuff in your tank is cyanobacteria and is completely harmless, just ugly. Treat with Prazipro or API GENERAL CURE. All paracites in the tank will be killed any can then get more fish. Salt doesn't help everything. You need an antiparacitic.

First question, with regrards to the cyanobacteria, does it ever disappear? It a one time clean and gone type thing or am I gonna need to keep on top of it constantly?

Second question, if it is gill flukes, would this have been from the fish store or is it my tank? I don't think I can get PraziPro here so will need to be API GC. Are you pretty certain?

 

[Algonquin]

Meeko, can you please clarify when the fish were added to the tank? I can't seem to see that in this thread.
thx

 

[Gypsy13]

I have to insist that it's gill flukes if your perameters are good. You should have been advised to treat them with PraziPro long ago. You only need 1 tsp per 20 gallons of water only 1 time and leave it in for 5 days and then resume water changes. The white stuff in your tank is cyanobacteria and is completely harmless, just ugly. Treat with Prazipro or API GENERAL CURE. All paracites in the tank will be killed any can then get more fish. Salt doesn't help everything. You need an antiparacitic.

Thank you for looking. I hope you’re right and the OP does try the antiparacitic. True salt isn’t a cureall but if all I’ve got to go on is the written word and it makes me think of poisoning, I’ve got to try to get the OP to do something to help. And even with gill flukes, salt would’ve bought time until eyes could come on and decide for me. Oh, and thank you for putting things so nicely.

 

[mattgirl]

First question, with regrards to the cyanobacteria, does it ever disappear? It a one time clean and gone type thing or am I gonna need to keep on top of it constantly?

Second question, if it is gill flukes, would this have been from the fish store or is it my tank? I don't think I can get PraziPro here so will need to be API GC. Are you pretty certain?

If it is in fact gill flukes I would have to think they already had them when you got them since this is a newly cycled tank.

 

[Meeko2690]

Meeko, can you please clarify when the fish were added to the tank? I can't seem to see that in this thread.
thx

Tank was finished cycling Thursday morning, Fish added Thursday evening. Parameters have been good since. I even have 0 nitrates at the moment after a water change.

 

[mattgirl]

Tank was finished cycling Thursday morning, Fish added Thursday evening. Parameters have been good since. I even have 0 nitrates at the moment after a water change.

Personally I would have waited at least a week before adding fish even after the tests showed 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites but I do understand how anxious you were to get some fish in there. I would never be able to do a fishless cycle so I do applaud your restraint.

I really feel bad for you though. I know how hard you have worked to get their home perfect and I can just imagine how bad you are feeling right now. I understand your temptation to just give up but once all this gets worked out (and it will) I feel sure you are going to get to finally enjoy a stress free tank.

 

[Meeko2690]

I woke up early this morning thanks to the cat sitting on my face so I've sat and just watched them from bed for the past hour and a half. The cat also decided to sit and watch. I don't think he really cares though he is the type of cat that only cares about getting treats. But anyway..

Some things I noticed.
- None of the fish pooped. Not once. Every chance I missed it I suppose but even then. They have been fed twice since I got them.
- They are very active, and I noticed this before even the ones who died were still until they passed.
- I think another one may be showing early signs of whatever this is. Losing colour - goes almost see through. The life of this parasite or whatever it is seems to be following the same pattern:
Takes over fish, 12-24 hours passes, fish starts to lose colour, seperates from the others, gills go red, dies then repeat.


I am going to the store first thing after breakfast and I will buy General Cure but I feel it may be too late for them all at that point. If they all die before I can treat them does this mean the parasite is still in the water or is it gone with the fish? Should I still treat the tank even with no fish? Probably a silly question.

Other thing I have noticed, I got rid of a patch of the white stuff on the tank glass and it hasn't thus far grew back although it has only been 12 hours or roundabouts.

 

[Meeko2690]

Just managed to capture this video of a worm; probably harmles but no harm in posting;

 

[Meeko2690]

Plants have came and I planted. I'm told that worm is actually a leech. So here's an update in video and picture form;

Please note the water is still a little cloud as I've just finshed the plants it is usally crystal clear.



Note there is only 3 that is just the reflection lol

 

[finnipper59]

Plants have came and I planted. I'm told that worm is actually a leech. So here's an update in video and picture form;

Please note the water is still a little cloud as I've just finshed the plants it is usally crystal clear.

View attachment 450365

Note there is only 3 that is just the reflection lol

That worm is definitely a leach...that's not good. They will attach themselves to anything they cand dwaw blood from, including you. Leeches need to be gotton rid of.

 

[Meeko2690]

That worm is definitely a leach...that's not good. They will attach themselves to anything they cand dwaw blood from, including you. Leeches need to be gotton rid of.

I will remove any I see (obviously not with my hands ) and look into treatments. In the meantime..

Just back from the LFS...

I relayed the info, showed the pics etc. Basically they had no idea why they died which could be fair enough. They tested my water and got the same results as I did. I went and had a look at the tank they were housed in and there was barely any left! When I got them on Thursday the tank was jam packed with them today at a guess there was about 10. Of course it could just be sales but it may not be. I took a picture on the sly which I will post up after dinner. Food for thought....maybe there was an issue..or they are in quarantine.. who knows but it has made me slightly suspiscous(sic).
They offered to replace the value of the fish, I said I didn't want to add anymore at the minute so they gave me store credit on a card.

The 3 are still happy and healthy at least for now, its been well over 24 hours since the last one died, so hopefully given a week or two they will still be good.

 

[mattgirl]

That does sound like there could have been a problem with this specific shipment and sadly you started you fishkeeping journey with sick fish.

I am wondering how in the world you ended up with a leach in your tank. If I understand correctly it showed up even before you added plants. If it was after the plants went in though it could have hitchhiked in on them.

 

[Meeko2690]

That does sound like there could have been a problem with this specific shipment and sadly you started you fishkeeping journey with sick fish.

I am wondering how in the world you ended up with a leach in your tank. If I understand correctly it showed up even before you added plants. If it was after the plants went in though it could have hitchhiked in on them.

Yeah the tank was very bare, it was actually the first thing I noticed. I fully expected the tank still to be fairly busy or more or less the same as it was when I was there the first time.
Yeah the more I think about it the more it seems likely, he explained how they got the deliveries in etc and how they go into quarantine for 3 days but from the sounds of things the quarantine is just their regular setup and all they do different is stick a different label on the tank to say the fish has just arrived and isn't for sale. Some of the fish come from other countries on planes boats or whatever. They only get deliveries every couple of months so I think it is safe to say they very large deliveries when they do! It's made me think and I am certainly leaning towards the fish being ill on arrival.

I added 4 plants when I first set the tank up. Those plants had snails. Those plants also died mid cycle, so I removed them albeit probably not as quick as I should have. I added all the new plants this morning so there was no other plants in the tank. So I am thinking the leach probably came in with the first plants? Makes more sense.

 

[finnipper59]

Please don't take this question offensively, but did you pour any water from the fish store into your aquarium? Either frI'm the fish or plant bags? And did you rince your plants before placing them in the tank?

Yeah the tank was very bare, it was actually the first thing I noticed. I fully expected the tank still to be fairly busy or more or less the same as it was when I was there the first time.
Yeah the more I think about it the more it seems likely, he explained how they got the deliveries in etc and how they go into quarantine for 3 days but from the sounds of things the quarantine is just their regular setup and all they do different is stick a different label on the tank to say the fish has just arrived and isn't for sale. Some of the fish come from other countries on planes boats or whatever. They only get deliveries every couple of months so I think it is safe to say they very large deliveries when they do! It's made me think and I am certainly leaning towards the fish being ill on arrival.

I added 4 plants when I first set the tank up. Those plants had snails. Those plants also died mid cycle, so I removed them albeit probably not as quick as I should have. I added all the new plants this morning so there was no other plants in the tank. So I am thinking the leach probably came in with the first plants? Makes more sense.

 

[Meeko2690]

Please don't take this question offensively, but did you pour any water from the fish store into your aquarium? Either frI'm the fish or plant bags? And did you rince your plants before placing them in the tank?

No water from the fish store and plants were rinsed.

 

[Meeko2690]

Another wee update...

All 3 of the Harlequin are still doing great and look healthy, now been over 48 hours since the last death..touch wood as it is still early doors but early signs are good

 

[mattgirl]

Another wee update...

All 3 of the Harlequin are still doing great and look healthy, now been over 48 hours since the last death..touch wood as it is still early doors but early signs are good

That is very good news. Hopefully these 3 will be the strong ones and will be with you for a very long time. It would really be nice if the store personnel would be completely honest with you about the health of their stock. Not knowing leaves us thinking we are doing something wrong but I feel sure you did everything just right and the fish weren't healthy when you got them.

 

[Gypsy13]

Thank you for the update. I hope things continue to improve for you.

 

[Meeko2690]

That is very good news. Hopefully these 3 will be the strong ones and will be with you for a very long time. It would really be nice if the store personnel would be completely honest with you about the health of their stock. Not knowing leaves us thinking we are doing something wrong but I feel sure you did everything just right and the fish weren't healthy when you got them.

They obviously want to protect their reputation and give off an impression that there fish are all healthy and magical, I can understand, but I would have appreciated the honesty so much more. I am not sure if I will go back there for fish, maybe other things, but probably not fish now. Will look into ordering online, or even travelling to another store.

 

[bitseriously]

I missed this thread earlier, but does this look like the white stuff you had on your tank:

(there's 2 things going on in my vid, the fuzzy white things, and some white worms).
And here's a still, with a bit more detail:

They look like little palm trees or umbrellas, right? And when there's a current, they sway or bend over like palms in a hurricane.
I had these things in a quarantine tank (everything died, don't ask :|). I searched and searched and came up with nothing definitive. It's definitely not hydra, which I had thought at the time. My best guess is it's some sort of fungus organism. Many posts around the interweb that describe it also describe small white worms. I can't imagine they're directly related or associated, but they may be symptomatic of the same thing, ie a new or dirty tank. I think I was critically overfeeding that quarantine tank, and these things blew up as a result. They did die back over time.
Bottom line, I think they're symptomatic of the same thing that's affecting your fish, but they're not directly involved or implicated.