Author Topic: Dead Cardinal - Sick Sterbai Cory (Read 390 times)

woodworm · « **on:** February 08, 2016, 06:01:27 pm »

Water test results are 0ppm Ammonia, 0ppm Nitrite and somewhere between 5 & 10ppm Nitrate.

Hello everyone

Sadly I came home today to find one of my cardinal's had passed away. Looking at him I can't see anything wrong with him at all, I'd guess he'd not long gone as he was still bright and colourful?

Looking closely at everyone else I can see one of my Sterbai Corydora's has what looks like algae or a film across his face, it's very fine and can only see it in certain lights so not obvious. To me it looks as though he's swam through it and it's covered him, he looks to be acting normally. We have had some brown algae which has mostly cleared up. I will try to get a picture but the Cory's have always been shy when I get my camera out.

The other tetra's and cory's all seem to be fine. It may be my imagination but I notice the red in the cardinals more tonight - this could be because I got round to installing a black background over the weekend but maybe it's a sign of something.

The only recent change has been to install a heater guard, this seems to have had the effect of dropping tank temperature a degree to 24'C.

I've done a 20% water change tonight and turned the heater up a little.

Any advice is very welcome. Thanks.

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Mol_PMB · « **Reply #1 on:** February 08, 2016, 10:11:43 pm »

Sorry to hear this

How confident are you in the thermometer reading? Might be worth checking. Cardinals do like it warmer but I wouldn't expect 24C to be a problem.

The cory I'm more concerned about, though a photo would help. Could it be velvet disease? Have a google and see what you think.

woodworm · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2016, 07:30:55 am »

Hi Mol

I'm not 100% sure about the temperature reading as I only have a single thermometer, I will pick up another on the way home tonight.

I can't say it is Velvet disease for sure but the description sounds similar, though the cory isn't rubbing himself against things, etc - at present he is just acting normally. According to what I've read I should raise the tank temperature, leave the lights off and add aquarium salt - should I do this as a precaution if I'm unsure?

Will try and get a photo tonight.

Thanks

Mol_PMB · « **Reply #3 on:** February 09, 2016, 08:34:14 am »

Don't try and treat a disease until you're sure what it is - most treatments will stress the fish and if it's not the right treatment that will make it worse. Catfish don't like salt.

You could check your thermometer by putting it in iced water to see if it reads 0 degrees, or just take it to the shop and see if it reads the same temperature as the ones on the shelf. (Give it time to equalise and don't hold it in your hand as that will affect the reading).

It's possible the Cory is creating extra slime coat in response to some irritation, may not be a disease as such but rather something in the water or an injury?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

woodworm · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2016, 08:40:38 am »

Thanks Mol.

My wife is off work this morning so she is attempting to get a pic. Also going to test thermometer as suggested.

woodworm · « **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2016, 09:52:53 am »

Not a great picture and but hopefully will give you an idea.

Thanks

plankton · « **Reply #6 on:** February 09, 2016, 10:34:08 am »

I've seen this before, but can't for the life of me remember what to do, or what it is.....
I think it was a salt bath followed by Esha 2000, but I can't find it.
It was another sterbai as well.....

What conditioner do you use, as overdosing aloe vera can cause something similar?

woodworm · « **Reply #7 on:** February 09, 2016, 11:10:22 am »

We use Seachem Prime. Not sure what's in it?

Thank you

Mol_PMB · « **Reply #8 on:** February 09, 2016, 11:47:29 am »

Seachem Prime doesn't have Aloe Vera, so that won't be the problem.
(Prime is my preferred water conditioner too).

I've not seen that effect on Cories before.

plankton · « **Reply #9 on:** February 09, 2016, 01:25:27 pm »

I wish I could find that thread, I think Aad made a comment as to what it could be and treatment.....

DoubleDutch · « **Reply #10 on:** February 09, 2016, 02:41:22 pm »

Quote from: plankton on February 09, 2016, 01:25:27 pm

I wish I could find that thread, I think Aad made a comment as to what it could be and treatment.....

It could be Chilodonella or Costia to my believe. Both parasites can be treated with anti Ich meds as Paraguard / Esha exit to my knowledge.

Or Trichodina !!!

woodworm · « **Reply #11 on:** February 09, 2016, 02:55:09 pm »

Thanks for the advice everyone, will update later tonight.

woodworm · « **Reply #12 on:** February 09, 2016, 04:39:45 pm »

Just got home and took a couple more pictures. It's more obvious today.

Watching him he's not rubbing himself on anything and seems to be acting normally.

DoubleDutch · « **Reply #13 on:** February 09, 2016, 05:34:47 pm »

Is it eating ???

woodworm · « **Reply #14 on:** February 09, 2016, 05:53:16 pm »

Yes, seems quite happy.

I think I may have a second Cory starting with similar symptoms. My wife went back to LFS to ask their advice and they weren't sure either, he did suggest that we take them back and he will quarantine them for a week and keep an eye on them, which sounds good but I'm concerned about stressing out the rest of the tank attempting to catch them.

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Author Topic: Dead Cardinal - Sick Sterbai Cory (Read 390 times)

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