I came home from work and ran downstairs to feed my fish. My smaller Mbu was not swimming frantically back and forth in his tank to greet me like usual. He was upside down on the bottom of the tank, still alive -- barely. He had one side slightly bloated out more than another, that was pointed upwards. I held him under the air stone and swished him back and forth for 30 minutes. I tried to burp him many times to no avail. I don't think it was air. He was so lifeless I don't even know when he died during the whole process. I have no idea what killed him or caused that very small lump on his side. He looked immaculate otherwise. I sliced him open to see if there was a chunk of shell or anything like that, that had got lodged in him but I couldn't see anything wrong at all. Nothing inflamed or off color. He was completely fine last night when I fell asleep. I watched him as I fell asleep every night (he's at the foot of my bed).
They are insanely tough skinned. A scalpel was very difficult to slice him with due to how much skin they have, and thick the skin was. Their skin is maybe the softest and smoothest thing I've ever touched. Not even very slimey or smelly after touching compared to most fish.
He was easily my favorite fish of all time and I don't think anything will ever replace him. He had a much "friendlier" personality than the larger one I own. Words can't describe how hard that was watching him die not knowing what to do. I haven't been this sad in a very long time.
Does anyone know what may have been the cause of death? He's never shown any signs of being sick or anything of the sort. He's fed mostly mussels, shrimp about once a week, and occasionally bits of other seafood if someone is eating that for dinner. I tested his water and everything came back 0's across the board with < 5ppm nitrates. I really don't want whatever happened to this one happen to my other one. I would be devastated. Any ideas?
They are insanely tough skinned. A scalpel was very difficult to slice him with due to how much skin they have, and thick the skin was. Their skin is maybe the softest and smoothest thing I've ever touched. Not even very slimey or smelly after touching compared to most fish.
He was easily my favorite fish of all time and I don't think anything will ever replace him. He had a much "friendlier" personality than the larger one I own. Words can't describe how hard that was watching him die not knowing what to do. I haven't been this sad in a very long time.
Does anyone know what may have been the cause of death? He's never shown any signs of being sick or anything of the sort. He's fed mostly mussels, shrimp about once a week, and occasionally bits of other seafood if someone is eating that for dinner. I tested his water and everything came back 0's across the board with < 5ppm nitrates. I really don't want whatever happened to this one happen to my other one. I would be devastated. Any ideas?
