2 Dead Kuhlii Loach In One Week

[Benihana]

We have had our tank stocked now for a fortnight. We had 5 Kuhlii loaches. Last weekend one was showing signs of struggling and just after we'd spotted it he passed away. We put this down to bad luck as they had all had quite a long journey from our LFS. I've just returned from work to find another guy sadly passed away. I'm terrified now that it is something we're doing wrong and our other three are at risk. Both of them have appeared more bloated than the remaining ones. There orange lines appeared almost stretched against their body whereas on our remaning ones they are tighly bunched. This one also had a growth near his mouth. I have tried to attach a photo to this thread but I don't know how.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated, i'm getting really worried for them. We have a lightly planted tank with plenty of hiding spaces, a split sand/gravel substrate and they have been fed on Tetrafin sinking tablets with weekly tubifex worms as a treat. All our water readings are spot on. Our tetra's, BN plecs and pygmy cory's are all thriving.

 

[scooterchick]

How often do you feed them? Maybe I'm cruel but I don't intentionally feed my khuli's, they just vacumn up what they rest of them miss!! Could they be over fed?

 

[Benihana]

How often do you feed them? Maybe I'm cruel but I don't intentionally feed my khuli's, they just vacumn up what they rest of them miss!! Could they be over fed?

I did wonder that. We feed them every 12 hours.I've ben told elsewhere that it sounds like a systemac infection and that amongst other things they have dropsy so I should be treating the whole tank. Does this sound right? As I said, every other breed is thriving

 

[scooterchick]

Dropsy is a very hard thing to treat, usually it's the result of a bacterial infection. As you've not long got the fish it's possible they were already infected. However before starting a course of treatment I'd starve them for a couple of days and keep an eye on them (difficult with khuli's!). If the remaining 3 or any other fish start to show symptoms then treat with an anti internal bacterial med. Whatever happensI'd cut down the feeding, give them a sinking tablet 5 nights out of 7, that is plenty for them.

Hope this helps. xx

 

[-germ-]

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?s=&amp...t&p=1721421

 

[Benihana]

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?s=&amp...t&p=1721421

Looking at that link above, it appears our Neon Tetras and our Pygmy Cory's are showing the early signs of dropsy as well. They are appearing quite bloated although at the moment their fins all appear in good condition. This being the case should I be looking at medication now or still trying the mashed up pea approach? This is our fisrt stocking of our first tank and it looks like we've killed them all. Please let me know what we've done wrong, this is a horrible feeling

 

[scooterchick]

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?s=&amp...t&p=1721421

Looking at that link above, it appears our Neon Tetras and our Pygmy Cory's are showing the early signs of dropsy as well. They are appearing quite bloated although at the moment their fins all appear in good condition. This being the case should I be looking at medication now or still trying the mashed up pea approach? This is our fisrt stocking of our first tank and it looks like we've killed them all. Please let me know what we've done wrong, this is a horrible feeling

Hi,

It sounds like you've done what every new owner does and over feed your fish. Everyone does it, so please don't beat yourself up. I wouldn't go with a med yet, try the boiled peas and see if that gets things moving in the fish. Then you MUST cut down on the food. It won't do them any harm to go without for a couple of days, then you can start feeding them again, I feed my fish a tiny pinch of flakes 3 times a day, substituting it for bloodworm or brineshrimp once every couple of days.

Let us know how it goes!

 

[Benihana]

Thanks for the advice.

To anyone thinking of not doing a fishless cycle.......don't even consider it. We did ours and that gave our fish the best chance we could but coming home to find one of your fish passed away is a horrible feeling, just awful. They rely on you for absolutely everything and I feel like i've let them down. I could never live with myself if I hadn't done the cycle first and had to think of them suffering in all their own waste.

 

[scooterchick]

It's a very steep learning curve and we all think that we'll be the ones who'll manage to sail into the hobbie with no losses. I don't think anyone manages it, learning the theory is one thing but putting it into practice is another.

You obviously care a great deal about your fish and the deaths you've had won't be in vain. I read somewhere for every fish lost is another 10 fish who will benefit from the experience.

 

[Benihana]

Reading through the link Germ provided it mentions just defrosted and chopped up pea, Scooterchick mentioned boiled. What is the best option?

 

[scooterchick]

I've always lightly boiled them, and cooled! Then deshell them and mush them up a bit.

 

[Benihana]

I've always lightly boiled them, and cooled! Then deshell them and mush them up a bit.

Thank you. Wish us luck!

 

[stang1]

As Scooterchick mentioned, you just cook the pea as normal, remove the shell, mush it between your fingers and drop it into the tank.
As for feeding, your fish will be fine only being fed once a day. This will help prevent them from becoming bloated and it won't do them any harm at all. Have one day a week where you don't feed them, they will be fine.
Bloodworm should only be fed once or twice a week as it is high in protein and can cause your fish to become bloated.

 

[BlazeCichlid]

I see a lot of people talking about peas, but not many advising on what type of peas. You should get frozen ones, preferably organic and the LOWEST sodium you can find. I have found the best way to cook them is 30 seconds in the Microwave in a bowl, then just remove the shell with your fingers. I have been feeding peas twice a week for about 2 years now, and found that mashing really really only ends up having more of the pea's disburse in the water and not get eaten. I prefer to leave them halved, (when you deshell them they are in 2 1/2's), the smaller fish just seem to pick at them till they have had their fill, and the larger fish will have a 1/2 or two.