Starting to get fed up with Cardinal deaths...need advice!

Good morning......I am starting to get discouraged about not only my Cardinals but the tank as a whole.

I started with 15 Cardinals about a month ago and now I am down to 9.
First of all I hate having to go on a dead Tetra hunt throughout all the plants, driftwood and rocks in the 90 gallon.

My parameters have been pretty darn steady at 7.6 pH, 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrites and 10-20 Nitrates. I have also had a few Emerald catfish deaths over the last 2 weeks I cannot explain.

I am just getting discouraged.

My optimal stocking would be 8 Emeralds, 8 Panda Cory's, 10-12 Cherry Barbs, 15 Cardinal Tetras and 2-3 Pearl Gouramis.

Is there any advice on the Cardinals? Should I replace those that died or would you suggest another species to go with the Cherry Barbs and Cory's?

Thanks

 

Just a thought here; could it be the nitrate flux? Some fish like GBRs really need to have that in check- not sure if cardinals are like them in that aspect. What is your temperature? And no symptoms?

 

No symptoms....water is pretty constant at 78 degrees

 

I don't know the answer to your stocking question - but wanted to say hang in there.

 

Thanks :-\

 

Doing a lot of researching for this question. Cardinals are in fact very sensitive to nitrates, same with cories. So if you think your water may have ever hit 30, I would say that's your culprit.

 

Went home at lunch and measured Nitrates....I got 10-20 (the difference on the API test makes it difficult to distinguish the two).

 

I have the same problem have been trying to have a school of Cardinals and right now I have one. I got up to 5 I kept replacing them and now have given up for awhile. Water quality is good according to API test kit and the Petsmart store. I have gone back 4 times for replacements. I can't stand to keep killing them.

 

How hard is your water? I've found it necessary to cut our water with 50% RO as our is really hard. I can't keep tetras and otos alive otherwise.

 

I don't think ours is that hard. That's a good thought. Its just frustrating because they were doing fine for a month and then 5-6 of them are dead in a week.

 

Just looking up this question seems to pull up a lot of similar results with the breed. Although they list them to have longer lifespans in captivity and only one year in the wild perhaps it's incorrect with the number of people having them up and suddenly die in perfect water parameters.

Just thinking aloud. Maybe like the guppy, this particular breed only lasts a few months to a year minus the length of time at the LFS before you get them home.

But regardless of what you find out,
Hang in there

 

Can anyone think of a good replacement if I decide not to replace the lost Cardinals?

I would like to get some Pearl Gourami's to go with the Cherry Barbs and Cory's

 

A Pearl sounds good to me- he most likely wouldn't mess with you cories or barbs.

 

I'd have to agree, they look great. If you didn't want a center piece but wanted more schooling fish, I love Denison barbs too,they stay mid to bottom tank. peaceful, they school with my penguin tetras on and off. I want a tank full Mine are really showing off their colors.

 

I really like the look of the Penguins and Emperors.

Do you think Penguin or Emporer Tetras may bother the Pearl Gouramis if I give up on the Cardinals?

 

My penguins don't bother any other fish in the tank, every so often, they'll give chase to one another. Never at the danios,corys,barbs or George

 

Yeah I have penguin's and they're real sweet and I couldn't picture them being mean. And IME pearls do best in a trio.

 

Can anyone think of a good replacement if I decide not to replace the lost Cardinals?

I would like to get some Pearl Gourami's to go with the Cherry Barbs and Cory's

Congo Tetra. The males are some of the most beautiful tetra I've ever seen. Not bias at all though.

 

Congo Tetra. The males are some of the most beautiful tetra I've ever seen. Not bias at all though.

Mamajin, do you think they are peaceful enough to leave the Cherry Barbs and Pearl Gouramis alone?

 

Mamajin, do you think they are peaceful enough to leave the Cherry Barbs and Pearl Gouramis alone?

I would think they'd be just fine. I have the correct female to male ratio for mine, and they're very peaceful with their other tank mates. They tend to stay at the top of the tank, the Serpae stay in the middle, and the Panda Garra stay on the bottom. Everyone seems to get along well.

 

Good....I am starting to believe all the different posts of how Cardinals and Neons are not very hardy.

 

I seem to of had this same issue, hence why I'm down to just one cardinal now. I'm blaming them getting stressed from betta chasing them however... worst part is, no lfs EVER has any in!! I've even tried to order some or be there when they get them in, but nope. Never any. Only ever have neon tetras... they have to be acclimated 'just right' or they just die off!! Just got a gbr today so I'm hoping he makes it all my other fish- including oto, cories and last cardinal seem fine! Bettas not in same tank now as he actually ate the eye of 3 of them, one survived but he eventually got it...

 

I would be really surprised if they did. Though tetras can be nippy, I would think it'd be more likely (but not very likely) that the pearl(s) would dish out attitude to the tetras.