Cory has suddenly died

[Fiori]

I have just removed my female bandit cory from the main tank, after watching her struggle to swim. She was upside down and all over the place. I gave her a quick salt bath, but it was obviously too late and she died within 10 minutes of being out of the main tank. I think it may be the one who spawned a few days ago and I wondered if there was any connection. I have checked my water which is spot on, so no problems there. One of her gills had a very red patch on it though, the only potential external sign of something wrong.

Can anyone help diagnose what the problem may have been? I have other corys in that tank and I don't want to lose them or any of my other fish.

 

[WILDER]

Sorry, you shouldn't of given a cory a salt bath as they don't tolerate salt, the red patch, red inflamed gills, and heavy breathing and flicking and rubbing on objects can be gill parasites, sorry for your loss.

 

[Fiori]

I know that usually corys and salt don't mix, but I thought I'd read here some time that Inchworm had given her corys one in extremis. Maybe I misread My fish was on her last fins and basically just lying on her back and moving now and agin, which is why I took her out the tank. I wanted to try something and it was a very quick one. Obviously did'nt work. I'm currently trying to see if there is anything up with my other corys. Are gill parasites infectious?

 

[WILDER]

I'm afraid so, look for inflamed gills and heavy breathing and if they flick and rub on objects also they can have pale gills.

 

[Fiori]

Thanks Wilder

 

[Fiori]

Well - I've solved the problem - or rather I've worked out what it is just in time to see 4 out of my 6 corys die! It's hemorrhagic septicemia, caused by goodness knows what as my water checks out A1. And I did my usual weekly water change only 5 days ago. Maybe stress from 2 new loaches but..... my fishies that were spawning only a few days ago are now nearly all gone. This hobby can be a right b****r at times.

 

[WILDER]

Or poor things that hard to cure if it has progressed, how did you find out.

 

[Fiori]

Basically when I found my second dead one I had a good look and poke at it. That one was'nt red at the gills but on its sides. Their swimming becomes very erratic and they dash up to the surface for air much more. The third one did a nose dive head first down from the surface straight into some sagitarria natans - and stayed there, head down. Then I scoured the internet and hey presto - all the symptoms were there. Red patches on flanks, breathing difficulties, swiming erratic.

Problem is - I'm really not sure what caused it and although treating it may help in the short term, maybe not in the longterm unless I find out why. I checked all my water parameters, cause I thought I might have had an ammonia spike, but everything is perfect. pH 6.8 ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 2. Did notice that the temp had crept up to 28 degrees as its mild outside, so I turned the heater down a bit as well. The symptoms seem to have appeared so fast, I had no warning anything was wrong, until they started to keel over.

Just can't think of anything else to try now, except the Interpet medication. Oh - and I added some Melafix as well.

 

[WILDER]

Here is some more info for you.
Aeromonas hydrophila (Bacterial Hemorrhagic Septicemia)



A) Gram negative motile rods



B) Effects many freshwater species and usually is associated with stress and overcrowding.



C) The clinical signs and lesions are variable.



The most common finding is hemorrhage in skin, fins, oral cavity and muscles with superficial ulceration of the epidermis. Occasionally cavitary ulcers (similar to A. salmonicida) are observed. Exophthalmus and ascites are commonly observed. Splenomegaly and swollen kidneys are common. Histologically, multifocal areas of necrosis in the spleen, liver, kidney and heart with numerous rod shaped bacteria are observed.



D) Diagnosis is rendered by culturing the organism from affected animals: Remember this is a common water saprophyte with a great variation in virulence in serotypes.



E) Disease is transmitted via contaminated water or diseased fish.

 

[Fiori]

Does that mean my other fish are in danger? AS my hospital tank is being used as a QT at the moment - bloody typical! Well, I'm treating the whole tank now anyway.

Great info - thanks Wilder. It may just be the stress of the loaches after all. When I take the baby angels out of the QT, the loaches will be moved there for a bit before going into my new tank, just in case

 

[WILDER]

Just plenty of water changes and keep adding the med back when you replace the water, good luck.

 

[Fiori]

Thanks for all your help - much appreciated.