Pictus perril

[Scaredycat]

I had two pictus cats about 21/2 inches each. They were shy but otherwise fine for months. I brought two more home and everything seemed fine that night and the next morning but later that day I found the two new ones dead and the two old ones sick. Panting and floating straight up from the bottom. I quarentined them and tested my tank. All my levels were 0. And all myy other fish are acting kind of weird hiding in the corner in groups like they are afraid. I don't know what could have happened.

[naturalart]

Sounds like you didn't quarantine the second pair when you brought them home. I quarantine every fish I bring home no matter where they are from 2=4weeks. Also fish can freak out when another fish dies in the tank. Your culprit may be ich.

Also what other fish do you have in the tank?

[dw1305]

Hi all,

I quarantine every fish I bring home no matter where they are from 2=4weeks.

Agreed you have to quarantine all new fish first, I'd definitely go for the 4 week option, because some really nasty internal parasites (like Camallanus) can take a long time to become apparent.

.....and tested my tank. All my levels were 0.

You honestly, honestly can't test tank water with hobbiest kits, in fact for a lot parameters you can't get repeatable values even with analytical kit.

And all myy other fish are acting kind of weird hiding in the corner in groups like they are afraid. I don't know what could have happened.

Because this was such a quick response, I think it is more likely to have been a water quality issue rather than an infection, and particularly one to do with biological filtration and oxygen levels. I'd change 50% of the water, and add an extra filter if you have one (or as less good option an air pump). I'd also raise the water inlet above the surface if you can to increase surface turbulence.

Oxygen deficiency very frequently relates to biological filtration, because the conversion of NH3 - NO2 - NO3 is an oxygen intensive process. Have a look here at Shane's PC article: <http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesworl ... ved+oxygen> and at this one that I wrote based upon our work on "land-fill leachate", at present hosted by "Plecoplanet" "Aeration and dissolved oxygen in the aquarium" here: <http://plecoplanet.com/?page_id=829>.

cheers Darrel

[Viktor Jarikov]

Welcome, mate!

Camallanus may take up to a few months to start protruding from the anus.

For the lack of any other/better option, hobbyist liquid test kits are fine for a rough/comparative measure, I think. I've read Darrel's informative posts on NO3. IDK what he has against NH3, NO2, pH, and temp.

I also thought this happened way too quickly but the coincidence is also strange that you'd suffer a water quality fallout the same day you introduced two new fish - not impossible at all, that can happen to any one any moment, but strange. ATM, I think it is still 50-50.

NO3 tests never read 0 except in balanced planted tanks and in flow-through tanks.

You might have had a power outage when you slept?

[Viktor Jarikov]

Are you sure it is ich? A photo could be helpful.