Armatus Keepers out there ....

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djaalix

Plecostomus
MFK Member
May 25, 2011
1,198
19
53
Mahopac Falls, NY
Hey guys, i had 1 of my 10.5 inch H. Armatus die on me today, and i would chalk it up to bad luck, s#it happens, but i had 2 Red Tails die on me in the beginning of this year in much the same way. I had the red tails for about a year, they died at about 9 inches and i got them at about 4 inches, however, i was new to the hobby, didnt have much experience, and didnt have enough current in the tank, which led to slime coat issues, also just general lack of fish knowledge i medicated a lot, etc until i realized current was the problem. So i assumed the red tails died, about a month apart, because of all these past problems. However, about 4-5 months ago i bought 2,4- 5 inch Armatus vampires. Tank had plenty of current, water params great, they grew at an incredible pace eating like pigs. Then, with no warning whatsoever, i noticed 1 was swimming oddly. His head was high, but his back end kept on sinking down, and he swam sort of wobbley ... this was yesterday, this morning it progressed and he was bumping into things, which quickly became swimming in loops, on his side, breathing heavily until finally i took him out and put him out of his misery. He was just under 11 inches, and looked completely healthy, perfect fins, scales, teeth, eyes, no wounds, eating great, etc .... And since the red tails showed the same symptoms before dying i dont think this is coincidental. Meanwhile all the fish that were with the red tails were also with the Armatus as well and they are all doing great. My other Armatus, same size as the one that passed, looks healthy as ever and is acting normal, i'm just scared the same thing is going to happen eventually. I do have very hard water, but i'd think that would have caused problems much earlier on. They were eating silversides, then as they got larger smelt. Any ideas, or has anyone else had this happen. I've read that this has happenned to others, just figured i'd throw this out there. Thanks all
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wow that sucks sorry for loss. I hope mine reaches that size,

So how is the smelt(silversides) triggering there sudden death?
 
sashimimaster said:
Did you gut load the smelt? Anything change in your water conditions?
Click to expand...

No gut loading as the smelt are bought as fillet at the supermarket...It is my suspicion that at least some of the smelt must have some kind of preservative or other substance added that is detrimental to our fish.


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not the smelt i get, they are whole except gutted and no head, otherwise they are whole fish, and there are no additives. And i never fed the red tails smelt, only silversides and krill, and i do think its too much of a coincidence for these 3 deaths to not be linked. Just praying my other armatus lives and doesnt suffer the same fate. And there were no changes in water paramaters at all, and i didnt do anything different in the last couple weeks. Not that i'm saying your wrong Krichardson, just dont think that is why mine are dying.

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the foot print of my tank is 6x2, not a small tank, but not enough to house them for life i understand, but he was in no way cramped in the tank, he was very comfortable judging from what i've seen with fish behavior

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Although i may think the tank is large enough, that may not be what the fish thinks .... i guess that is the most plausable explanation thus far, and i appreciate it .... i better get to work on a larger tank ASAP!

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