Frontosa and Rays = FAIL

[mshill90]

The water gets siphoned out the tank to outside. We then add prime, and attach the python to the spigot. (We do this with ALL the tanks)- so no, we don't use aged water. We have been doing water changes the same for the last few years.

The tap params and tank params are the same. The ph stays the same, we add prime, but our chlorine is almost undetectable. I will check the KH and all that, but we normally don't check that because we never had reason to before. They were fine even when they were severely cramped in their 150. We never had any die.

I thought the rays at first were maybe attacking them, but they are way too strong for the rays to hold them down. Plus, there would be some type of marks on them. Like maybe even some scraping of the slime coat. But nothing. And I haven't seen any of the rays bothering them when they are dead. Which is kinda weird because when we had other fish in there, they tried tackling down those.

I do notice that my Frontosa have ALWAYS been really skiddish. Like, walk past the tank too fast, and they will swim all fast, and sometimes try to jump out, but end up just hitting the top.

Maybe they are having heart attacks? This is ONLY happening at night. Maybe I should keep a light on the tank on at night and see if that helps?

Filtration on the tank is Fx5, Eheim Pro 3, 2 Ac110s.

 

[PeteLockwood]

Fronts presumably 'sleep', unlike the rays. Light all night will presumably also stress the fronts.

 

[mshill90]

Well, the 240 has 3 light strips on it, and the one has a very dim/weak light on it. I was thinking I could turn it and just leave it on in the corner. So essentially the entire tank is dark but one corner.

 

[johno27]

You need an night vision camera, that would figure it out real fast

short of that it may remain a mystery, although I do agree with trev something had to have changed besides being with rays if you see no markings on the fish. I know it seems morbid but post a picture up if you lose any more ( I hope you don't though )

 

[mshill90]

You need an night vision camera, that would figure it out real fast

short of that it may remain a mystery, although I do agree with trev something had to have changed besides being with rays if you see no markings on the fish. I know it seems morbid but post a picture up if you lose any more ( I hope you don't though )

I actually do have a night vision camera. I had to use it at my old place because we had tons of trouble makers.

I however, do think that is something has changed, it would affect the rays as well as all of my other fish. Because essentially, if you test my tanks, I can guarantee that they all have the same parameters. Except the community tank because of the driftwood.

 

[vamptrev]

I have to leave a night light on for my pbass otherwise the rays will get them

 

[mshill90]

I have to leave a night light on for my pbass otherwise the rays will get them

I think maybe because my Fronts are as skiddish as they are, if a ray would actually get one, I could see them dying from fright or whatever.. if that's possible.

 

[hereticlosmorte]

i'm just putting this out there as a possibility, not actual fact.

i'm guessing the fronts sleep at night?
rays hunt during night as well. could it be possible their prowling/possible interactions are scaring the skittish fronts during this time? while they might not do any actual visible damage, you might be right in assuming they're having "heart attacks" from the fright.
only thing i could think of if you're params have been the same ongoing all these years, is watch them yourself, or recording cam, at night and see what takes place. or putting a "night light" on them.

i literally leave a single daylight bulb on over top of my ray tank at all times, whether or not my tank lights are on. i know the rays don't need it, but i think it's nice and they are fine with it as it's dim enough to not cause irritation.

 

[mshuangchao]

i'm just putting this out there as a possibility, not actual fact.

i'm guessing the fronts sleep at night?
rays hunt during night as well. could it be possible their prowling/possible interactions are scaring the skittish fronts during this time? while they might not do any actual visible damage, you might be right in assuming they're having "heart attacks" from the fright.
only thing i could think of if you're params have been the same ongoing all these years, is watch them yourself, or recording cam, at night and see what takes place. or putting a "night light" on them.

i literally leave a single daylight bulb on over top of my ray tank at all times, whether or not my tank lights are on. i know the rays don't need it, but i think it's nice and they are fine with it as it's dim enough to not cause irritation.

Good point, rays prowl at fish small and big at night and though your frontosa are too big for them, the action still stresses them a lot!

 

[mshill90]

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking..

So, I think what I am going to do is move the 2 adult rays into the 180 that I have the pups in.. and move the pups up to the 240.

This is just going to be temporary.. I may move the Fronts to the 180, but I really don't want to have to do that.

This gives me a reason to frame in my 300 gallon drop in liner!