Two Dead Polypterus in 2 Days...

[Madding]

I lost one of my two Palmas and one of my two Delhezi's in the last two days. There was nothing wrong with them that I could see, other than the Del looking a bit bloated in the throat area. I was thinking it might have choked, but the bigger Palma went the next day and now I'm a little worried. The Palma just turned nearly white and died.

I have four other polypterus in the tank (150g) as well as some small gars.

Water parameters are stable and the other fish are all fine and eating.

There is a large Ornate poly in the tank who has been aggressive in the past... I wonder if it is involved? Other than that... random poly deaths, maybe? Bad food? I am concerned-

 

[Deep Blue Sea]

first thing to do is check your water params

 

[Madding]

first thing to do is check your water params

I did, and do often. I did not notice any note-worthy fluctuations from between last night and the prior test. I have the exact numbers written down somewhere in the fish room.

 

[Laticauda]

Are you showing any ammonia or nitrIte? Are your nitrAte levels higher than 30?

If all these things check out, then I would suspect the ornate. Do you have somewhere you could house him separately? Bullying causes stress which can lead to "IDS" Instant Death Syndrome.

 

[africanman]

If the other fish in the tank are still alive i would not consider water parameters at this point as the cause of death. Bichirs can tolerate worse water conditions than most fish.

If the fins did not appear ragged or frayed it's unlikely cause of death is as a result of aggression. Do you have any pleco or algae eater in the tank ?
I'm suspecting bacterial infection....

 

[msjinkzd]

when was the most recent addition? Was it wc or cb? Did you qt? Any redness or streaking to the fins or underbelly?

 

[lix.ma14]

Sad. The delhezis are so rare. I'm waiting for one for about 2 months!!!

 

[GarNiac]

sorry for the lost man, It could be bacteria infections, got any pics of the tank?

 

[NCStateFisher]

dang :\ sorry to hear about that

 

[Divasen]

Sorry for your loss, i no that you keep ur tanks in really good condition, the numbers say that water is k, so i guess it has to random poly deaths. It happens in the hobby.