- Messages
- 429
- Location
- Burlington, Vermont
Hi,
2 of my 6 wild caught macmasteri are now dying. I saw no rubbing or scratching before hand. They are dying very slowly, appear to have trouble breathing, the muscles that work the pectoral fins look red and prehaps inflamed as does the gill area. One just lies on it's side and the other rolls side to side on it's back. Their fins look a little bit tattered, but I'm not sure if it's related to the problem or is caused by lying and rolling on the sand bottom.
I received them late on Tuesday, they were all active and alert. I noticed no problems. I've witnessed no aggression between themselves or against the 10 cardinal tetras that were already in the tank before I got the macmasteri. Everything looked fine and peaceful. But Friday afternoon I came home and found all 10 cardinals dead, floating on the surface, even though everything was fine in the morning.
I noticed 2 of the female macmasteri were brooding so I assumed the cardinals had been killed by the macmasteri. Now earlier this afternoon (after 5 days) I found 1 macmasteri lying on the bottom breathing heavily and a short time ago the second one.
I did a large 50% to 60% water change on Tuesday before I added the macmasteri. I also did a 1/3 water change Friday evening after finding the dead cardinals.
The tank was only setup 3 or 4 weeks ago, but I used 2 sponge filters with one used and active from another tank. The new sponge filter was inoculated with 'dirty' water from another used and active sponge. This is the way I've always done it and it works great. Also the 10 cardinals have been in the tank since it was setup.
This is my first experience with anything more serious than Ick!
Thanks,
Michael
2 of my 6 wild caught macmasteri are now dying. I saw no rubbing or scratching before hand. They are dying very slowly, appear to have trouble breathing, the muscles that work the pectoral fins look red and prehaps inflamed as does the gill area. One just lies on it's side and the other rolls side to side on it's back. Their fins look a little bit tattered, but I'm not sure if it's related to the problem or is caused by lying and rolling on the sand bottom.
I received them late on Tuesday, they were all active and alert. I noticed no problems. I've witnessed no aggression between themselves or against the 10 cardinal tetras that were already in the tank before I got the macmasteri. Everything looked fine and peaceful. But Friday afternoon I came home and found all 10 cardinals dead, floating on the surface, even though everything was fine in the morning.
I noticed 2 of the female macmasteri were brooding so I assumed the cardinals had been killed by the macmasteri. Now earlier this afternoon (after 5 days) I found 1 macmasteri lying on the bottom breathing heavily and a short time ago the second one.
I did a large 50% to 60% water change on Tuesday before I added the macmasteri. I also did a 1/3 water change Friday evening after finding the dead cardinals.
The tank was only setup 3 or 4 weeks ago, but I used 2 sponge filters with one used and active from another tank. The new sponge filter was inoculated with 'dirty' water from another used and active sponge. This is the way I've always done it and it works great. Also the 10 cardinals have been in the tank since it was setup.
This is my first experience with anything more serious than Ick!
Thanks,
Michael