looks like im going to lose another scomb

[mos90]

ive had my 3 scombs for about a year. the first 1 that died was about 2 months ago and he was about 6". now it looks like im going to lose another. he is swimming around disorented. and he is also about 6".

all the water looks good.

300 gal. 80gpd drip system w/carbon filters.

ammo-0
nitrite-0
ph-6.5
temp 81
nitrate- 10

i feed them once a week with live minnows. i add about 30 minnows to the tank and they last about 4 days before they are gone.

could it be random death syndrom or am i underfeeding?

personnaly i think im doing a good job keeping the tank healthy.all my other fish seem to be healthy.

 

[fargokid]

do you treat the minnows with any type of medicine before adding to ensure healthy food?

 

[bomber]

Possible parasites from live food?

 

[Otherone]

Sorry for your loses - If Cyprinidaes ( carp-like or minnow family ) is your fishes only diet than they are repeatly being subjected to a vitamin B inhibiting enzyme. I'm not sure that gut loading the cyprinidae changes anything. I'd suspect that the enzyme would still inhibit Vitamin B intake. Some of the symptoms that stick out are stunned growth, depleted immune systems, death. Most of the successful Payara owners I've read have weened their fish from live feeders giving them a varied diet with amble vitamin and protien intake. I'd guess that it might be impossible to grow large fish with such a small amount of protien contained in minnows however I'm no expert.
For me - my Scomb eats non- cyprinidae live foods - basically anything petsmart has for a buck like mollies. I'm not saying thats the answer to sudden death but it is a far healthier diet. API makes a general parasite/bacteria cure thats around 5 bucks. Quaruntining your feeders and treating them 1st might help greatly with reducing the chances of infection. However - Scombs are notorious for having short life spans in an aquarium enviorment. I'm not sure that throwing money at this particular species is really gonna change anything.

 

[mos90]

it could possibly parasites from the feeders and/or a vitamin defitincty.

i have found it nearly immposible to get any of my scombs to accept any type of non-live food. i have tried many time with no luck. krill would be ideal. i know gold fish arent the best choice but would it help with the vitamin b to add some once in a while?

unfortunatly i love scombs but i dont think i will keep any more in the future. maybe armatus instead.

 

[Otherone]

i know gold fish arent the best choice but would it help with the vitamin b to add some once in a while?

No - Goldfish are the worst, containing very high levels of the vitamin b inhibiting enzyme.

 

[Luxauterna]

wow, im glad I saw this thread.. I was seriously considering scombs.. :/ back to the drawing board for toothy fish.. sorry about your loss :/

 

[Luxauterna]

quick question though, is there a lot of current in the tank? i.e. provided by pumps and what not?

 

[mos90]

wow, im glad I saw this thread.. I was seriously considering scombs.. :/ back to the drawing board for toothy fish.. sorry about your loss :/

how big is your tank? i just picked up a nice spotted gar and he is in my 125 right now until growout. very hardy fish and are easy to get on non-live food. they can get 24" though but takes years to get that big. i might get another.

yes my tank has a ton of current. i have 2 fx5's 2-emporor 400's, magnum 5 pump and rio 1000 gph pump for my uv. it has so much circulation i dont even have to vacuum the sand.

 

[mos90]

No - Goldfish are the worst, containing very high levels of the vitamin b inhibiting enzyme.

so your saying that livebearers like mollies,guppies dont have this vitamin b enzyme?