Lost A Hoplo

[JDs4me]

So yesterday I found a hoplo had died, lying on the substrate with virtually no tail fin...

Initially wondered if I had switched the powerhead on without first checking if any fish were inside, but imagine that if that were the case the fish would have been worse for wear - other than the tail virtually missing the fish looked in perfect condition.

A week or so ago I added 6 Lake Kutubu rainbows who changed the behaviour of the other fish in the tank through their territorial behaviour, livening things up quite radically. I am now wondering if the addition of these fish has stressed the hoplos, even though they are not being nipped or chased, in fact largely ignored by the 2 LKR males who tend to chase the Ilyodons and each other. Up until the LKR's were added the hoplos were out and about quite a lot in the daytime, but now less so; only seen two today, so going to closely monitor their behaviour for now.

Water parameters are good, zero ammonia/nitrite; 50% weekly water changes, temp 24C, pH 8.0. All other fish good, feeding well...another worry was that as the surface/mid level swimmers are so greedy, the catfish might be missing out on food, but the raphaels are a pair of very stout-looking fellows; again closely monitoring the hoplos now to see that they get their share...no waste food on the substrate as everything gets eaten....

I feel that given all the above the hoplos might be stressed; I read that they can be quite timid and shy, so perhaps not adjusting well to the LKR's...also added three panchax who have settled in nicely.

Anyone have views on this? Will the other hoplo's settle with time if stress is the issue here?

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

So sorry to read your news, JDs4me, I was wondering how things were going.

Are there any signs that the dead Hoplo was a male? If so, any sign of what sex the other three are? I'm trying to rule out any male-male fighting as they mature that can lead to deaths apparently.

Any possible signs of illness on anybody else?

Being reclusive sounds very odd, my four got a bit that way when I re-introduced my Steatocranus tinanti back to their tank, when slowly but surely the male tinanti started sneaking up on them and fin nipping their fins. The Hoplos quickly settled into the 5x2x2 community and have never hung back at feeding time, besides hoovering the tank floor they often come hunting for the floating pellets I put in for my Bushfish; ABF and Golden Wonder.

 

[JDs4me]

Thanks Steve, bit of a mystery; I think the hoplo was female but still a little juvenile to be sure, the two pectoral plates quite far apart; I have seen no sign of in-fighting for dominance between them at all. All fish looking healthy and all feeding actively to the point of gluttony!

I haven't spotted one of the hoplo's today so I hope to see him/her out tonight at bedtime catfish pellet feeding time...the other two are out and about as normal. Grrr, frustrating as they were fine before the LKR's were added...no nipping apparent from them though, and at nightime they are very settled so hesitate to blame them! The only change recently has been the addition of the LKR's and the three GWP, and a water change on sunday with a first filter sponge rinse (in waste tank water). Maybe just a problem with the individual itself? Concerned now of course as I can only see two of them...

Just found second dead hoplo; again no sign outwardly of any problem, all fins intact...did something get released into the tank from the filter when it was cleaned maybe? Checked water for ammonia and nitrite in different areas of the substrate water level; zero and zero. The other two seem OK...should I check for other water parameters?

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Just read your upsetting update on finding a second dead Hoplo

Even though your readings were OK, I personally would do a ~50% water changes after finding a dead fish. Might be worth checking pH and hardness just before you change any water.

What test kit have you got, out of interest? I sometimes have a nightmare with my API, distinguishing yellow from the lightest shade of green (0.25mg/l).

I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to suggest at the mo, only thing I can think of is to set up some sort of QT for the Hoplos, so you can clearly observe them and see what their appetite is like with some food.

 

[JDs4me]

I'm pretty sure I know what the problem was Steve, and put it down to a lack of attention on my part...

Lost 3 of my 4 hoplo's in consecutive days which was a bit of a shock to say the least; the fourth is fine and feeding. I had noticed that this hoplo was appreciably larger than the others and put this down to the fact that 'he' was possibly male and hence a little larger than the others. I now put it down to the fact that he was probably the only one feeding... the third dead hoplo had only one barbel and was very small, probably no bigger than when delivered a few weeks ago, and along with the other two were smaller than all the other fish with the exception of a couple of the Ilyodons, which have really come on since I had them from you.

Feeding time is hectic with the Ilyodons which have become more active with the competition for food from the LKR's, and I noticed last night that of the two hoplo's left, only the larger was active; I think that the others were not eating due to this as they were perhaps intimidated, and being injured by the other bigger fish (several times saw the hoplo's jerk away from pellets as the Ilyodons pushed for food on the substrate, damaging barbels possibly). What I should have done was recognise this and realise that possibly the smaller hoplos were getting no food; in other words the poor buggers starved.

If the last hoplo shows any signs of loss of appetite or energy as the others did then I will QT him; not yet though as he is showing none of the signs of stress that the others did over the last week - I cannot believe that it didn't register with me that only the one same hoplo was feeding, I saw one and looked no further obviously; that will bug me for some time...a lesson learned the wrong way; I am super-attentive now of course, watching to ensure that the hoplo gets food and takes it without injury.

I'm sure the water is good; all API tests good, all other fish in excellent health and active including my last hoplo; the raphaels are looking excellent and all fish feeding very actively. I will not be adding any more hoplo's until I am sure that the survivor is thriving, and probably won't even then, as I plan a tank devoted predominantly to cats so will possibly move him once thats up and running in the next few months.

Thanks for your advice mate, I think the nightmare is over...touching wood as I type!

 

[Cú Mhara]

I'm just wondering if the last one is still kicking about? I recently went through a similar situation, wherein I had bought two Hoplos, and both of them had died within a few days of their introduction. All water stats were good so my LFS replaced them with two more - they both died within days, as well. I went back and was given another 3, they hung on a bit longer (a few weeks), but all eventually snuffed it. Everything else in the tank is fine, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitate 10. I just don't get it and can't help but think the Hoplos my LFS get are just of bad quality.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

I'm just wondering if the last one is still kicking about? I recently went through a similar situation, wherein I had bought two Hoplos, and both of them had died within a few days of their introduction. All water stats were good so my LFS replaced them with two more - they both died within days, as well. I went back and was given another 3, they hung on a bit longer (a few weeks), but all eventually snuffed it. Everything else in the tank is fine, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitate 10. I just don't get it and can't help but think the Hoplos my LFS get are just of bad quality.

Yes, JDs4me's last Hoplo is still alive and kicking, we came to the conclusion it was their small size and thereby not competing well for food during those vital first few weeks that killed the others. This is another good reason to quarantine new fish, to ensure they can eat well after the small rations they will have experienced through transportation and in teh fish store tanks. A half starved fish is not going to fair well against established tankmates.