My fish are dying, parasites?

[Lars6]

My German blue ram is extremely bloated and has lost all coloration. He never moves or eats now. He started acting like this when I introduced him to a new tank with 13 cardinals (who also don’t eat). As of one week later, 9 cardinals have now died off. I am thinking that it might be an internal parasite. I just started yesterday dosing with Seachem Polyguard and Stress guard every 3 days. The tank is fully cycled. Anybody have any suggestions?

 

[tlindsey]

My German blue ram is extremely bloated and has lost all coloration. He never moves or eats now. He started acting like this when I introduced him to a new tank with 13 cardinals (who also don’t eat). As of one week later, 9 cardinals have now died off. I am thinking that it might be an internal parasite. I just started yesterday dosing with Seachem Polyguard and Stress guard every 3 days. The tank is fully cycled. Anybody have any suggestions?

Have you observed any stringy white poo from any of the fish. What are you feeding them?

 

[Lars6]

Tbh I haven’t seen any of them poop. They all just sit behind a rock. I’ve been attempting to feed them New Life Spectrum pellets, freeze dried blood worms, and frozen brine shrimp but they won’t even acknowledge the food.

 

[tlindsey]

Tbh I haven’t seen any of them poop. They all just sit behind a rock. I’ve been attempting to feed them New Life Spectrum pellets, freeze dried blood worms, and frozen brine shrimp but they won’t even acknowledge the food.

Feed sparingly once a day until hopefully things improve.

 

[kno4te]

Would hold feedings. Add some epsom salt at a 1 tbsp per 5g. Keep an eye on the water and poop.

 

[Drstrangelove]

Sorry that you're having problems with the tank. After reading your posts, I'm guessing it's poison (glue on the object in the tank) or ammonia/ nitrite poisoning.

1) no observable parasites in the tank
2) tank is new (started less than 3 weeks before fish were dying)
3) glue was used in the tank and may not have sufficiently dried before leeching
4) mass die off of otherwise visually healthy fish
5) measurable ammonia still is being found in the tank
6) all of the fish lack appetite

You can correct the observations above, but if I had to guess, I lean towards poison or ammonia.

If it were me, I'd test and post the readings, remove the objects that were glued, do a couple large water changes, use some charcoal to adsorb any residual poisons, then cross my fingers.

 

[Drstrangelove]

Also, per the maker, Loctite Super Glue takes 24 hours, not 2 minutes to fully cure, although I've read of some caulks and adhesives that will never fully cure if placed under water before they are fully cured.

Of course, people can and do use super glue safely in tanks, but there are many variables that might cause it not to cure as rapidly in one case or another. Just a thought.

http://www.loctiteproducts.com/p/sg_ug_cntrl/directions/Loctite-Super-Glue-ULTRA-Gel-Control.htm

 

[pacu mom]

What are your water parameters, specifically for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

 

[Lars6]

Update:
There are 2 cardinal tetras left. The German blue ram has dropsy and is on the brink of death. If it was the rock that was leeching poison into the water, wouldn’t it kill the plants. I’ve heard people say that the health of the plants in your tank are an indicator of water quality. My plants look pretty good. If I were to take it out, would the glue cure or will I just never be able to use the rock ever again. (Ammonia and nitrite zero, nitrate is around 20).

 

[Fat Homer]

Plants can thrive on the extra nutrients but not so much with certain fish / inverts... so wouldnt necessarily say the health of plants are a good indicator of a healthy tank for fish personally...

But if your levels are on point then i agree something else is killing off livestock... what are your water change schedules like and how much do you change since i guess you have a planted tank???