My NGT died

[arkmann]

This sucks... after a day of having a complete datnoid collection, one of them dies. What are the odds...

Anyways I came home from work and went straight to the fridge to thaw some market shrimp. I was done feeding for about 15 minutes when my brother came home and looked at the tank as well. While he was looking at the tank, he told me that the NGT suddenly stopped swimming and went in a vertical fashion with its head in the bottom, tail in the top.

I called eman and jlnguyen for advice on what to do. Jeff came up with the idea of holding the fish against the current. I did that.

To cut to the chase, the NGT still died on me.

What could have happened?

Here are the chronology of events that I did this week.

I installed the wet/dry this Wednesday and did a 50% water change on the same day. I also did a 50% water change on Saturday. Now the 100 gallon has a 30 gallon wet dry, a Jebo canister, and a Penguin 350. All the inhabitants were fine until the NGT died.

I added the widebars yesterday night. I also added a couple of fake plants. I didnt't feed them anything yesterday. I fed them about an hour ago. NGT died half an hour after feeding.

What should I do to prevent any other casualties? All the fish "look" good. They are all stable and swimming freely since the 2 widebars arrived.

 

[Dragon Hunter]

widebar whacked it or chased it and it cracked its head

 

[arkmann]

You think so? I haven't seen the widebars chase anyone yet. Actually, my indo and silver started swimming around more often since the widebars were added. Although I have noticed that the NGT had brighter colors last night when the widebars were added.

Now I'm being paranoid and I'm thinking that the widebars could be next...

Should I do a water change tonight eventhough I just did one 2 days ago?

 

[arkmann]

By the way, its already in the freezer. I'll take photos later.

 

[jlnguyen74]

I'm sorry Noah. Did the NGT eat, and if he did, was it a lot? I lost an NGT, and a widebar a couple of months back, but they didn't have sudden death like yours. Their belly was huge, and they laid on their side for 1-2 weeks before they gone. Your case is something I have not heard yet

 

[jlnguyen74]

You think so? I haven't seen the widebars chase anyone yet. Actually, my indo and silver started swimming around more often since the widebars were added. Although I have noticed that the NGT had brighter colors last night when the widebars were added.

Now I'm being paranoid and I'm thinking that the widebars could be next...

Should I do a water change tonight eventhough I just did one 2 days ago?

You could do w/c, but not more than 50%. 30% is ideal. Is the water temp hot?

 

[arkmann]

Thanks John.

It ate a piece of shrimp yesterday and that's it. It hasn't eaten a lot since I bought it from eman.

When I came home this afternoon, the NGT was swimming around like normal then it just stopped. Literally stopped in its tracks. He was the ruler of the tank until the widebars arrived.

Water temperature is definitely hot. I would say its 86F.

 

[jlnguyen74]

Thanks John.

It ate a piece of shrimp yesterday and that's it. It hasn't eaten a lot since I bought it from eman.

When I came home this afternoon, the NGT was swimming around like normal then it just stopped. Literally stopped in its tracks. He was the ruler of the tank until the widebars arrived.

Water temperature is definitely hot. I would say its 86F.

I would like to see a picture if you have a chance. Does he look decent, or skinny? 86 is hot, but not fatal hot.

 

[Pulcher]

I have had my freshwater moray die on me because the water was 86F but never a datnoide.

Could be a victim of internal parasites or something internal.

 

[arkmann]

I'm going to lower my temperature then. The thing is, I've always had my tank at higher temperatures. He looks decent but not skinny. I've had a super skinny NGT before because it didn't eat for 4 months.

Here's a couple of photos.