F
Faunya
Guest
I recently lost a pair of taeniatus "wouri" and a pair of albino pulchers for reasons I am still unsure of.
After purchasing my taeniatus pair, they were brought home and placed in their own 20gallon tank (quarantine). At the time, the female was very fat, and I expected that she was ready to spawn. Unfortunately, she must not have taken well to the move, for she refused to eat, and subsequently died about 3 weeks later. There were absolutely no physical signs of distress, though. After losing the female, I thought it was best to leave the male in quarantine for an additional few weeks, even though he ate heartily and showed no physical signs of distress. His behavior seemed appropriate as well. Finally, after being in quarantine for a total of 6 weeks, he was moved to the 55 gallon tank.
Three weeks after moving him into the tank, I found him dead (without any prior warning). Of course, I checked water parameters and found no change in PH or hardness, and no signs of ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate.
All other fish looked fine.
One week later, I lost both of my albino pulchers, again, without reason.
I went back to my lfs and asked the owner if he had any ideas, and he suggested that live foods may be to blame. He told me that west african cichlids should never be given live worms (tubifex or black), even as a treat, for they are toxic for these types of fish.
I understand that these types of live foods can carry parasites and some chance of disease, but I had never had any problems before, and I have kept a pair of pulchers for nearly a year on suppliments of live foods (it's particularly necessary in my case since I also have a pair of discus in this tank).
Has anyone else heard of live worms being toxic to all types of kribs, or is this just an old wive's tale?
After purchasing my taeniatus pair, they were brought home and placed in their own 20gallon tank (quarantine). At the time, the female was very fat, and I expected that she was ready to spawn. Unfortunately, she must not have taken well to the move, for she refused to eat, and subsequently died about 3 weeks later. There were absolutely no physical signs of distress, though. After losing the female, I thought it was best to leave the male in quarantine for an additional few weeks, even though he ate heartily and showed no physical signs of distress. His behavior seemed appropriate as well. Finally, after being in quarantine for a total of 6 weeks, he was moved to the 55 gallon tank.
Three weeks after moving him into the tank, I found him dead (without any prior warning). Of course, I checked water parameters and found no change in PH or hardness, and no signs of ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate.
All other fish looked fine.
One week later, I lost both of my albino pulchers, again, without reason.
I went back to my lfs and asked the owner if he had any ideas, and he suggested that live foods may be to blame. He told me that west african cichlids should never be given live worms (tubifex or black), even as a treat, for they are toxic for these types of fish.
I understand that these types of live foods can carry parasites and some chance of disease, but I had never had any problems before, and I have kept a pair of pulchers for nearly a year on suppliments of live foods (it's particularly necessary in my case since I also have a pair of discus in this tank).
Has anyone else heard of live worms being toxic to all types of kribs, or is this just an old wive's tale?