Sudden Purple Firefish death.

[smlacy]

Hey, I got a Purple Firefish exactly one week ago, and I found him suddenly dead in my tank last night, being eaten my a fairly large hermit. I think its very unlikely that the hermit killed him. I'll be testing my water params tonight, but all my other life (hermits, snails) seem fine.

The day before, he looked really great, as usual, was eating well, no signs of stress of sickness at all. On the day of his death, he didn't come out when the lights came on, but I could see him in his hole peering out, which is what he typically does in the morning. I didn't return until the evening, when I found him dead.

He was the only fish in the tank, so it wasn't through the maliciousness of any other fish, and I got him from a reputable shop.

The only other variable that I can think of is that I had been running on actinics only for almost the entire time I've had him -- I'm trying to keep a cyano problem under control. On the day of his death, the Halide was on. I have very little algae (macros or micros) so I don't suspect anything like oxyget poisining. My temperature sensor shows very little temperature variance over the time period (79 min, 80 max).

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

could of been doomed from the get-go.....this just 'happens' to some fish....personally i don't think it was the lighting....BTW to get rid of the cyano you might consider increasing water flow and/or increasing skimmage....usually these 2 factors are the culprits....too many nutrients in the water perhaps...also test your source water!!

 

[smlacy]

Really? I've never heard of a fairly healthy looking fish die after a whole week of feeding, and looking pretty good.

The shop I got him from swears that they're "all net-caught" to the best of their knowledge, and he seemed really serious about it, so I don't think it was cyanide poisining. Oh well, I'll try again in a while.

About the cyano, I know the trick with circulation, and I've got it going pretty good in there. It seems mostly driven by light though.

When you say "increasing skimmage" do you mean essentially lowering the skimmer cup?

Steve

 

[jandree22]

wow, I just recently had the same thing happen to me this past week with a Royal Gramma! Looked healthy as can be, went away for two days, and after I returned I never saw it again!

I got it from That Fish Place in Lancaster, PA, though. (the retail store for http://www.thatpetplace.com ) I dunno why I buy from there... there are always diseased fish here and there in the tanks and they have one HUGE filtration system for all the saltwater. Granted they got a massive UV filter hooked up inline, but still. Here's a 360 shot of "The Fish Room". They've got about 15-20 aisles just like this in there... about 4 for saltwater, 2 for Brackish, 2 for African Chichlids(sp?), about 6 for Freshwater, and maybe 2 more for plants and goldfish. I will admit, however, they've got an impressive Invert room. Extremely powerful lighting systems and the specimens in there usually seem healthy.

Anywho, it was only $7.99 and a good sized specimen, so maybe I should've thought somethin was fishy with that deal.... Maybe it was involved in a bad shipment or cyanide. Ugh, oh well... Wasn't the first to go, won't be the last :roll: RIP buddy!

PS - While the price of dry goods down there are AMAZING, I think I'm gonna start stickin to the LFS around here for live critters :?