My case of disappearing cardinal tetras

[NikkiY]

Hi guys,

I brought back 12 cardinal tetras from a store. The trip was on the plane that took less than two hours. Everything went very smooth and 12 of the survived the trip initially. When I put them in to the aquarium, I took extra time to ensure the temperature in the bag has reach the temperature in the tank. I also take extra time to slowly introduce the tank water into the bag. After 2 hrs, the cardinals moved to the tank. After about 2 hours in the tank. I found 1 dead and one in half I thought it was just the stress. Overnight, anohter 2 floating in the water and two missing. I then separate (but within the same tank) the remaining cardinals from the other fish in the tank. For about one week, there was no additional lost of the cardinals. Yesterday, I let the cardinals to join the community again. Overnight, two more missing cardinals Now I have only 4 cardinals left. Will cardinals fit with the other fish in my tank? I have some platies, some tiger barbs, some rosy barbs and serpae tetras in the tank. My tank is well planted and there are plenty of hiding places. I wonder if the remaining four will survive at all

Nikki

 

[WILDER]

What was the ph of the store to your tank ph.

 

[NikkiY]

Hmmm...that I did not check. My tank is around pH7.4

Nikki

 

[steelhealr]

Hi...check your filter. I tried cardinals in my early phase of 'inexperience'. They slowly disappeared and I thought the fish were eating them. At my first routine filter change...that's where I found them. Hope you have better luck than I did as a 'newbie'. SH

 

[NikkiY]

I have a sponge at the end of the intake tube so I don't think the fish could have sucked into the filter.

I am hoping that the remaining 4 will survive. I am crossig my fingers now for not finding any more missing cardinal tomorrow morning.

Nikki

 

[boom-sage]

what fish are in your tank with them

 

[NikkiY]

what fish are in your tank with them

I have some platies, some tiger barbs, some rosy barbs and serpae tetras in the tank. My tank is well planted and there are plenty of hiding places.

Nikki

 

[NikkiY]

OMG, I just woke up and I found another cardinal missing

Nikki

 

[WILDER]

Could be ph shock they are dying and the fish are eating them, if there was a big gap in ph it can take hours to acclimatise them properly.

 

[NikkiY]

Could be ph shock they are dying and the fish are eating them, if there was a big gap in ph it can take hours to acclimatise them properly.

No, it can't be pH shock. As I said previosuly, I have separate the 6 cardinal tetras from the other fish within the same tank. So they have alreayd gotten used to the pH.

Nikki

 

[NikkiY]

Hi folks, here is another one for you. I bought 6 neons last night. I took extra time (total 4 hrs) to let the neons get used to the water. Before the lights were off, all of them were accounted for. However, this morning, all 5 of the 6 neons were gone!!! No bodies found!!

I think I should give up on the neon tetra and cardinal tetra until I get another new tank

Nikki

 

[NikkiY]

I am down to just 2 cardinals What really bugs me is none of the missing tetra's body can be found. Do you think I have an agressive mix of fish in my community tank?

Nikki

 

[ccg]

Hey Nikki,

How big are your tiger barbs?

 

[NikkiY]

Hey Nikki,

How big are your tiger barbs?

It is at most 1.5" long. The cardinals were around 1" long. My last count, I have just 1 cardinal left.

Nikki

 

[lopeva]

I had eight neons and eight glow tetras in a community tank. My neons disappeared slowly, until all I had left was one. One night I came home from work, and he was half eaten. So while they appear to be gentle little fish, they do live, if you will, by the law of the tank.

Good luck.....