A horrible thing happened!

[freshy]

Hi,
I lost one of my male guppys today. I'm very sad because he was my very first fish and when I checked on my tank this morning I found him already dead, stuck in the powerhead "sucking orifice" . When I got home last night it was rather late so I didn't want to turn the lights on, but he was just fine yesterday evening.

Has anybody gone through something like this?
I'm scared for my other fish now. I don't know if the sucking thing killed him or if he was already dead from something else. What that something else might be, I don't know. I had done a 20% waterchange the day before after finishing treatment for columnaris on my female guppy. I wouldn't have been surprised to find this one dead since she has been ill for almost 2 weeks now, but this male guppy was very smart and lively This is totally unexpected.

I know I should post my water params but I can't test right now. Well, I can test, it's just that the water is all orange from the medication and I would get wrong readings. Today I did a 10% waterchange.

Any thoughts?

 

[Kerryk]

Hi Freshy, sorry to hear about your guppy

How are your other guppys in the tank doing? How long has the tank been set up with fish in it?

I've had a mysertious death before, it could have been old age since he was OK the day before, I've had a fish go from OK to stone cold dead within an hour, when all the other fish are doing great it's hard to tell the age of a fish (especially when you dont' know how old he is when you get him), or diagnose certain internal problems with out sending him to a lab.

Id do a couple water changes, keep a close eye on your other fish, and when you have a chance test the water for Ammonia, nitrite & nitrate to be on the safe side. Keep your chin up!!

 

[freshy]

Hi! Thanks for your reply!

My other fish seem to be doing fine, they all had their breakfast this morning and look healthy! (well, except for my female guppy who can't move her tail well, but even she shows an appetite)

I don't think he was that old. He was not even 1 inch long (maybe 3/4 on an inch). He was colorful and active. I got him as an "opening gift" two months ago right after cycling my tank and since then I have tried to be carfeul with ammonia, nitrites and nitrates levels, as well as weekly water changes.

I have 2 theories now:
theory 1: he had a "sudden death" and then his corpse was sucked by the powerhead (this one seems the more benevolent of the two)

or

grosser theory 2: he was chasing after some of the fry that my other female guppy gave birth to and accidentaly got stuck in the "nasty sucking hole".

Poor Benny! I know there was not much I could have done but I feel horrible for him

Thanks for the encouragement though!

 

[maestro]

hey freshy, this powerhead, what does it do, does it run a filter? i cant understand why you just have a powerhead that doesnt seem to be attached to anything

 

[freshy]

Oh no, no, it IS attached to the undergravel filter! It's an Aquaclear 201, by Hagen. For more details go to:
Aquaclear 201 Powerhead, by Hagen
I've had it running since I set up my tank, around mid August.

I had had a similar "incident" with my sick female guppy before, about 2 weeks ago. She got sucked in too, but I assumed it was due to her weakened status and fortunately I saw her right after it happened so I could rescue her on time. I just never thought it would be dangerous to healthy stronger fish. For the moment I put a bent paper clip in the "sucking hole" (without completely blocking it) so no one else will suffer the same misfortune. *sniff*

Has anybody gone through something like this with a powerhead?

 

[enchanted]

Theory 1 is the most likely. I keep guppys in my 125 Gallon with a Fluval 404 and a Penguin 330. Both of these filters are over double what the 201 is for GPH and my guppys going swimming by the intakes all the time. My otos, who are smaller than my guppys actually spend time cleaning it.

I'm sorry for your lose.

Personally, if all others are fine, I believe it may have been old age or another problem. Just hope one of your fry groes up to replace him.

 

[freshy]

Really? Oh boy! That makes me feel a LITTLE better. (combination of + ) I couldn't stand the idea of the poor little fella struggling for his life against the "evil current". If he was already dead, then I guess he didn't suffer.