Lost my Leo

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
As this is the uk the temp could have dropped very quickly but does seem odd, maybe the tank was in a cold garage?

I think every tank should have 2 heaters, I run 3 but have one about 3 degrees lower so it only comes on if one fails. I also have all 3 on different plug bars in case a fuse goes.

I I built a house now I would have at least 3 different circuits for the tank
 
awful to hear.

my tank once went from near 80 down to 68 in 30min-1hr. i was doing a 50% water change and my hot water cut out so only freezing cold was coming out (colder since it was the middle of winter). i didn't realize at first, but noticed my rays had buried themselves which they never do, so i checked the temp and it was really cold to the touch so i looked at the temp gauge, sure enough 68. i freaked.

started bucketing out water as fast as i could and turning on the warm water (making sure it was coming out this time) to reheat the tank a little. got it back up to 72ish, which it could then raise itself.

rays both survived, no problems at all.
 
the tank sits in the lounge but that room does get cold (and the heatings not on duing the day). The temp was OK the night before (78-80) but i was heading to do some DIY on the new house the next morning so i suppose it could have dropped overnight (he fed that morning so i didnt notice the temp).
Whilst i appreciate the price of leos is dropping (and i will look once moved now) it was gutting to have lost a tank bred male with such beautiful colours.
I can only presume the temp killed him as the other water perameters were fine (nitrite/ammonia 0 nitrate lower than 20ppm) pH was the standard 6.5 and no water change was done prior to the sunday (tuesdays religiously since the local water authority Chlorinate on wednesdays).
Still gutted and it didnt help that pulling him from the water showed that he was starting to mature and his colours were wonderful.

Thanks for the support everyone (even the better halfs been supportive!)
 
I assume that you were still dechlorinating...I think your comment meant that it is higher chlorine after Wednesday's? We have to assume that chlorine and now chloramine are always present as getting it wrong would lead to the fast or slow death of a ray.
 
I agree with the majority,70 deg isnt going to kill a healthy ray,however if this ray had been feeding heavily previously then a prolonged spell at this temp could cause the gut to malfunction,undigested food rots in the stomach and can kill a fish.
Sorry for your loss,most ray keepers experience it at some stage,don't let it get you down.
All the best!
 
thanks everyone....yes i use declorinator (and rather expensivly a poly filter in my water storage sump) ...still gutted today. I buried him at my new house last night...gutted
 
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