Advice Needed

[Tory]

I have been having issues with my tank for a while now - I regularly take samples to my very trusted LFS who have said my water is within the right parameters. Since I moved Nearly 2 years ago, my tank was never the same. I lost A LOT of fish which I was obviously very sad about, as it was fishies I had had for year - which in a mo when I say whats in the tank, is the reason certain shoalers/group fish are in smaller numbers. What my issue is now, is I am trying to work out if another fish/fish is killing them as I cant see another reason why im losing them.

A few mths ago, I treated myself to a shoal of 8 Rummy Nosed Tetras, I have never kept them before but thought they were lush. Two days after I bought them, I thought...ey up, there are some missing..... water change in case, water test in case....nothing....then on night 8, I didnt want to turn my lights off because by that point, I had one left - I had been losing one a day. I almost put him in the fry tank, but I was worried it would eat the fry, so left it to nature, get up in the morning, and hey presto, he was gone. Now before they all mysteriously dissappeared, I observed their behaviour - now I know any internal problems my not show outwardly, but I had no signs of ill health, all were very active like I would expect. I have done my weekly water change today, and ive just noticed my lonesome hatchett bobbing a bit - and noticed something has munched his tail - he has been in with his tank mates and never been bothered for over a year by anyone Sooooo now war and peace is over, I am going to list my fish, I usually research my fish first, but am wondering if I have missed something

2 Bosemani Rainbows
1 Tiger Barb (Yes I know - but surprisingly peaceful - he shoals with....)
2 Phantoms
2 glass cats
2 Harlequin tetras
1 "Doctor Fish" (aka surgeon/physio fish)
2 BN's
1 Whiptail
1 Bumblebee Cat
1 Yo yo loach
1 Soon to be dead hatchett

Again, I KNOW my numbers are really bad, but im soon to be taking some to lfs. Any advice would be really appreciated - and please dont immediately jump on the tiger

Thanks in advance

 

[laura120381]

hi there,

how big is your yo yo loach? have your tetras become a snack perhaps??

L

 

[Tory]

hi there,

how big is your yo yo loach? have your tetras become a snack perhaps??

L

Hmm he is about 3.5 - 4 inches , I could be wrong, he could be a little bigger - I did think of him but his mouth doesnt look big enough to have swallowed the rummy noses!!! I even considered the rainbows after what I just saw - I also thought their mushes werent big enough, but just before I caught my poor hatchet, one of them obv knows it is sick/dying and tried to suck it in - thank god for its triangular shape, he spat it back out as could only get his head in Nearly had a coronary, ive only ever seen momma livebearers eating fry before, not the big uns' !!

 

[laura120381]

mmm...yeah you are probably right! when you say your lfs tested your water and it was ok, do you know the exact readings??

L

ps - that must have been shocking with your hatchet and your rainbow!!

 

[creeker]

What is a "Doctor Fish?" And, how big is the Bumblebee Cat? Is it a Siamese or South American?

 

[Tory]

mmm...yeah you are probably right! when you say your lfs tested your water and it was ok, do you know the exact readings??

L

ps - that must have been shocking with your hatchet and your rainbow!!

To be honest - and I know this is naughty, but I dont bother asking anymore, because ive been going there for everything for about 6yrs now, and they are awesome. Think I will go in tomorrow - Nelly mentionned Ph levels so will get everything done tomorrow when theyre open,

Re the rainbow and hatchet, my kids thought Id hurt myself and panicked because of the rather loud gasp that came outta my mouth lol!!! It got me all shaken up lol - the poor little man

 

[Tory]

What is a "Doctor Fish?" And, how big is the Bumblebee Cat? Is it a Siamese or South American?

Garra Rufa - its the fish the (IMO) idiot salons use to give people pedicures. Re the Bumblebee, in all honesty I dont know (Im feeling like a terrible fish keeper now lol) - I bought it on a trip to an out of town fs about a year and a half ago and it was just marked as a "Bumblebee Catfish", just had a look on google images but am none the wiser, I will do my damndest to get a picture of the shy little blighter to see if you - or anyone else knows - now I did have him down as a possible contender... He is about 6/7 inches ..

 

[laura120381]

lol i can imagine!! sit down and have a nice cup of tea!! if you want to post your readings on here tomorrow we can have a look but its all a bit of a mystery if your lfs is reliable and say that everything is fine!! perhaps the hatchet and the tetras are unrelated? maybe you got a 'bad batch' of tetras and they died and were then eaten?? am grasping at straws now i think!!

L

 

[creeker]

What is a "Doctor Fish?" And, how big is the Bumblebee Cat? Is it a Siamese or South American?

Garra Rufa - its the fish the (IMO) idiot salons use to give people pedicures. Re the Bumblebee, in all honesty I dont know (Im feeling like a terrible fish keeper now lol) - I bought it on a trip to an out of town fs about a year and a half ago and it was just marked as a "Bumblebee Catfish", just had a look on google images but am none the wiser, I will do my damndest to get a picture of the shy little blighter to see if you - or anyone else knows - now I did have him down as a possible contender... He is about 6/7 inches ..

That big it would have to be a Siamese, or some other misnamed species. It could definitely be the culprit, especially since he would strike at night, when the lights are off. I googled the Garra Rufa.....Yuck!

 

[Tory]

lol i can imagine!! sit down and have a nice cup of tea!! if you want to post your readings on here tomorrow we can have a look but its all a bit of a mystery if your lfs is reliable and say that everything is fine!! perhaps the hatchet and the tetras are unrelated? maybe you got a 'bad batch' of tetras and they died and were then eaten?? am grasping at straws now i think!!

L

Hahaha lol! I think I needed something stronger!! I will do - it certainly is a mystery - and getting to be very expensive too!! Id just like to get to the bottom of it!