What Is Killing My Bottom Feeders.

[Ridilen]

I have been having a hard time with bottom feeders. Have lost about four Panda Corys and four JullI Corys in about two months, and now I am gonna loose my 3rd Upside Down catfish in two weeks.

I never saw the catfish for the longest time and then they all appeared one day. Now over two weeks I have lost two of them and tonight I expect to loose the third (he is already loosing colour).

I have a 75 gallon with
6 Rummeynose Tetras
6 Bloodfin Tetras
6 Serpae Tetras
2 BN Plecos
6 Albino Corys
Then three, then two and now one Upside Down Catfish.

Tested the water and it is sitting at 0, 0, 10-20. 50% water change every week. Using a canister filter.

Feeding flakes, shrimp pellets, blood worm and algae wafers.

I hate to see them suffer, and don't know what else I should be doing.

Any advice?

 

[A201]

It looks like you are doing a good with water maintenence. Rummies & the other Tetras can be a little touchy with less than pristine water. My guess is that you just had a bad batch of catfish. It happens.
I've kept numerous varieties a catfish & plecos.
A few years ago I tried something new; Botia Loaches. I found them to be better scavengers than any catfish and they are really tough. Might consider trying YoYo or Blue Loaches.

 

[Ridilen]

The USDCF have been around for about 6 months and have been doing great. I have some driftwood for the BNPs, but I don't think that is bothering them. They usually hide in it and seem to enjoy it.

 

[A201]

You have a real mystery going on. Could be a bacterial infection spreading amongst the bottom feeders. Bacteria outbreaks can occur even in well kept tanks. It probably would be a good idea to remove any fish showing any suspicious symptoms.

 

[Ridilen]

Will do. Might get a new piece of driftwood, in case that brought it in. If my BNPs die, I am gonna be so mad.

 

[A201]

Bad bacteria / Columnaris, is just a natural part of the bio environment in all Freshwater aquariums. Its an oportunistic bug and preys on weakened fish. Strong, healthy fish are usually able to shake it off. No need to trash the DW unless you are just tired of it. Plecos are tough, they probably will survive. Good luck.

 

[Ridilen]

Bad bacteria / Columnaris, is just a natural part of the bio environment in all Freshwater aquariums. Its an oportunistic bug and preys on weakened fish. Strong, healthy fish are usually able to shake it off. No need to trash the DW unless you are just tired of it. Plecos are tough, they probably will survive. Good luck.

Anyway to fight Columnaris? This seems about right. When I find a dead fish he is completely bleached of colour.

 

[nikm128]

Lower temperature so the bacteria grows slower, lots of big water changes, UV sterilizer if you can get one, and some meds if none of that seems to help

 

[coralbandit]

The faded color on the cat looks like columnaris to me .
Little chance of saving him but you still need to do something with tank .. It is in there.
Columnaris is one bacterial issue that loves clean warm water . So lowering the temp is step one .
The meds most recommend are just not meant to be used in a display tank even though that is how to deal with it ?
Seems to be hitting only bottom fish as you noted so I would focus on vacuuming the substrate when doing water changes..

 

[Ridilen]

The faded color on the cat looks like columnaris to me .
Little chance of saving him but you still need to do something with tank .. It is in there.
Columnaris is one bacterial issue that loves clean warm water . So lowering the temp is step one .
The meds most recommend are just not meant to be used in a display tank even though that is how to deal with it ?
Seems to be hitting only bottom fish as you noted so I would focus on vacuuming the substrate when doing water changes..

Temp is at 77 currently, always vacuum substrate extremely well. No UV lamp. Will look at picking up meds.

 

[nikm128]

You would be able to safely drop that down two more degrees with the current stock. It may not seem like much, but every little bit matters

 

[Ridilen]

Meds on order. Thanks Amazon Prime. And thanks to you all for the help.