New Fish Death - Red Gills, Oxygen Oversatuation?

I just purchased new fish - 2 platy, 2 koi swordtails, 2 small frogs and 1 glass cat. As soon as I added the fish, all four livebearer showed signs of distress: sinking, rapid gill movement, fins slammed back. The two swordtails were the worst. The male fell over and had bright red gills, then died in about 15 minutes. The female is still (1 hour later) sitting at the bottom of the tank. The platies are recovering, but have small bubbles all over their bodies, particularly on the fins. The glass cat also has bubbles.

My water parameters are all normal (and the test kits are good, used them during the tank cycle):
Tank size: 40g
pH:7.2
ammonia:0
nitrite:0
nitrate:0-1
kH:2
gH:1
tank temp:77
I have a penquin 330 (dual) biowheel filter, one air stone (fairly powerfull) and two bright flor. lights on for 12 hours plus natural sunlight hits the tank slightly (hoping to grow green algae for the otos)

The tank was set up 3 months ago and cycled normally (if slowly). I have 3 zebras, four cory cats, one glass cat and 3 otocinclus in the tank that were added slowly. The amonia/nitrites never spiked with the addition of the fish. They appear healthy. I did loose one glass cat that I could not get to eat anything and an Oto to a swollon abdomin. The existing fish do not have bubbles on their fins. The zebras are acting fine, but looked slighty "off" the other day. Unfortunately, I can't explain why I think they look that way. The water was changed (1/4) about 3 weeks ago.

The tank does have tons of tiny bubbles in the water. One of the new plants, a hornwort, is growing like CRAZY. I've never seen anything like it, especiallly because I expected it to die with the soft water (little co2). Is it pumping out oxygen?

The only answer I could come up with is that the tank is oversaturated with oxygen and the fish died of gas bubble disease. However, I don't understand why my existing fish are OK. Does anyone have an idea? I'd like to replace the swords, but not if they will drop dead again. Would slowing adding tank water to the new fish bag help? I'm kicking myself for not doing it this time (the fish were floated for 50 min to match the temperature.

Help!!
Bellatrix

bellatrix said:

View attachment 40148

I just purchased new fish - 2 platy, 2 koi swordtails, 2 small frogs and 1 glass cat. As soon as I added the fish, all four livebearer showed signs of distress: sinking, rapid gill movement, fins slammed back. The two swordtails were the worst. The male fell over and had bright red gills, then died in about 15 minutes. The female is still (1 hour later) sitting at the bottom of the tank. The platies are recovering, but have small bubbles all over their bodies, particularly on the fins. The glass cat also has bubbles.

My water parameters are all normal (and the test kits are good, used them during the tank cycle):
Tank size: 40g
pH:7.2
ammonia:0
nitrite:0
nitrate:0-1
kH:2
gH:1
tank temp:77
I have a penquin 330 (dual) biowheel filter, one air stone (fairly powerfull) and two bright flor. lights on for 12 hours plus natural sunlight hits the tank slightly (hoping to grow green algae for the otos)

The tank was set up 3 months ago and cycled normally (if slowly). I have 3 zebras, four cory cats, one glass cat and 3 otocinclus in the tank that were added slowly. The amonia/nitrites never spiked with the addition of the fish. They appear healthy. I did loose one glass cat that I could not get to eat anything and an Oto to a swollon abdomin. The existing fish do not have bubbles on their fins. The zebras are acting fine, but looked slighty "off" the other day. Unfortunately, I can't explain why I think they look that way. The water was changed (1/4) about 3 weeks ago.

The tank does have tons of tiny bubbles in the water. One of the new plants, a hornwort, is growing like CRAZY. I've never seen anything like it, especiallly because I expected it to die with the soft water (little co2). Is it pumping out oxygen?

The only answer I could come up with is that the tank is oversaturated with oxygen and the fish died of gas bubble disease. However, I don't understand why my existing fish are OK. Does anyone have an idea? I'd like to replace the swords, but not if they will drop dead again. Would slowing adding tank water to the new fish bag help? I'm kicking myself for not doing it this time (the fish were floated for 50 min to match the temperature.

Help!!
Bellatrix

Click to expand...

Gas bubble disease? You mean like the bends?

im not sure what happened to your fish but on a tangent i know that glass cat are best kept in small groups etc

How did you acclimatise them m8 ?? did you test the ph in bag water before you added the fish??

I'm no expert m8 just wondering if the parameters of the bag water were way off from what you have in your tank ..

Kev

I believe gas bubble disease is similar to the bends. The more I think about it, the less I think it's the problem.

Unfortunately, I didn't check the fish store pH, but I'd be surprised if the pH was that different. The fish store uses the same water that I do for their tanks, but I will ask them tonight what their pH is. It's a possibility. I'm having them test my water, too, just in case one of my test kits is not working.

I only acclimatized the fish by floating for 40 minutes - so it was just temperature. I'm really annoyed at myself for not having slowly added some of my tank water to the bag. Next time.

As for the glass cats - that's why I bought the new one. I'm trying to slowly get a group of three. I want to buy them from a source that actually has them eating. The new one is eating, so I may get another tonight.

This morning, everyone else looks good, so we shall see

And on a strange note, is this a European website?? Otherwise, what are you people doing up so early???
Thanks from overseas,
Bellatrix

I agree it was something within the acclimation process. Your water stats look great, but it could be they were used to much higher nitrates or harder water at the LPS.

WHen acclimating new fish, it is best to do it with both temperature, then slowly add more water into the bag, so they have a chance to adjust to your water conditions as well.

Gas bubble desease it bubbles beneath the skin not on top.
What was the ph of the store to your tank.
Bubbles on skin can be a sign of parasite.

Look under gas bubble desease.
And I would watch out for a whitespot break out.
http/www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm

even if your lfs is on the same street as your house they can still have different water parameters, they can even have different water parameters per tank

i bought 2 blue rams and 3 panda Cory's from a place that wasn't local, the bag the rams were in the pH was 7 and the bag the pandas were in was 6 or below (test kit doesn't go any lower), on Saturday i bought 4 neon's 2 red spotted shrimp and 5 dwarf pencil fish from my lfs , the bag the neon's and shrimp were in was 7.2 and the bag the pencil fish were in was 6.4 , just goes to show that its a good idea to check before you add your fish

Kev

I agree kev always best to test the bag ph and temp, this way you know how long to climatise, this is what I do.

Acclimating fish goes beyond pH and temperature. It really deals with all chemicals, minerals, ect. in the water. Even with identicle pH, it can still have different chemical and mineral balances. Even with identical KH and GH, there can still be different mineral and chemical concentrations. Its best to always treat the water as if it is very different, and slowly acclimate. Just safer that way.

The gill area looks bruised to me, could also be not enough 02 getting to the gills.
Something went wrong if that many fish were acting strange, I don't think you climatised them properly.
Also I would look out for whitespot, stress and bubbles on the skin can be a sign of a break out in a few days.

Osmotic Shock:


Symptoms: Fish gasps for air at the water's surface, gills open and close rapidly, or have purple gills. Also, fish may become inactive.

Fish actively maintain a natural balance of electrolytes in their body fluids. Electrolytes such as potassium, sodium, chloride, calcium, and magnesium are removed from the water by chloride cells located in the gills. These electrolytes are essential for the uptake of oxygen and release of carbon dioxide and ammonium across gill membranes. The lack of electrolytes can cause serious health problems to the fish. Osmotic shock interrupts healthy gill function by reducing the intake of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide and ammonium from the fish. This can lead to the loss of electrolytes through the gills. Also, a fish who has had their slime coat disturbed can lose electrolytes through their skin increasing the possibility of a fish contracting Osmotic Shock.