Help diagnosing cause of death :(

[OTp1144]

So I came down this morning to find my 14" teugelsi belly up on the bottom with her head floating above her body, an air pocket trapped in her mouth.

Tank is 125 gallon, 2 fx6 filters and a u2 filter which is basically circulation. 2 air stones pumping tons of bubbles. Temp is 82. Has a bunch of swords and floating water sprite.

Did a water change 3 days ago, fed massivore the day of before the water change and fed tilapia the day after and yesterday. She ate both times. Usually a bit more than I'd expect, but always passed all her food and even when super full had no problems swimming.

Tank mates:
Pair of oscars (9")
Peacock bass (7")
Bluegill (6")
Warmouth (6")
Tire track eel (18")
2 congicus (16")
2 ornate (9")
Palmas polli (9")

Before you say the tank is too small, it's a grow out for all those fish but the oscars, Palmas and sunfish. The rest are going to the 300.

She was wild caught, bought from Jurassic aquatics many years ago by the previous owner. I'd had her for a year in this tank.

I'm at a loss guys....She was my favorite poly by far. Does anyone have any ideas what happened?

Full tank shot


Teugelsi

 

[tlindsey]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[jaws7777]

That sucks man. Beautiful tank.

 

[Vancouver_98683]

Don't think it has anything to do with the care or tank mates. No visible trauma. Unexplained death happens. Sorry for the loss.

 

[convict360]

Stunning tank

 

[Polyaddict86]

Sorry for the loss bro.

 

[Zilch]

Sorry for your loss

 

[KabobSoldier]

Sorry for the loss

 

[moe214]

Sorry to hear, maybe she couldn't breath, you said she had an air pocket in her mouth, sounds like drowning.

 

[OTp1144]

Sorry to hear, maybe she couldn't breath, you said she had an air pocket in her mouth, sounds like drowning.

What would cause her to drown? There's an air gap at the top, the bigger polys have been using it which is why I know it's big enough for her. Possibly a blockage you think? Maybe she over ate too much this time? She didn't seem super full.

With my very very very limited understanding of biology, I thought the air pocket was caused by the release of air from the lungs getting trapped by the closed mouth, which is stuck closed by rigor. I've seen it in other fish that definitely didn't die of drowning, but again very very very very limited knowledge