Peacock Gudgeon death... Wondering how??

Rocky998

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So we recently went on a trip and were away for about 3 and a half days, but I did a very large 75-80% water change and made sure they ate plenty before leaving...
I didn't see it yesterday when we came home but today I saw her. So I don't know if she died over night or during the trip...
I'll test later for water params... But really sad I lost one of my gudgeons... I love those guys
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CSI is in the house - I would say about a day ago for that poor fish.

Why did it happen?

You may never know.
 
CSI is in the house - I would say about a day ago for that poor fish.

Why did it happen?

You may never know.
Yah, seems about the right time...

Here's some pictures of it our of the water from different sides/angles

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And here's where she lays now
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I really hope that the one who died isn't firecracker... She had a lot of personality
 
Sorry about your loss hon. Sadly in this hobby we often don't know the cause of death when we lose fish. They have can have the same internal issues as any living creature, she could have had a heart attack or liver failure or something, and we'd never know without a fish necropsy, and that's rarely worth doing unless dealing with very expensive or rare fish.

So sadly, we usually have to accept that we'll never know the cause of death.

But we can say that it's highly, highly unlikely that you did anything, or didn't do anything, that caused it. You did the right things, by doing the large water change before you left, 3-4 days without food for fish is nothing to worry about at all, so being away didn't cause starvation or anything, I promise - and without food going into the tank from a defective auto feeder or something, an ammonia spike is unlikely, and I don't see redness on the body that is often seen with ammonia and nitrite poisoning either.

Do another large water change simply because there's been a death and a decomposing body in the tank for a day or so, and test some of that old water once you're done, but even if there are traces of ammonia or nitrites when you test, that may be as a result of the death, and not the cause. But I'm predicting your water tests will come back fine.

Sorry hon. It sucks, but it happens, and we've all been there and empathise with you!
 
Sorry about your loss hon. Sadly in this hobby we often don't know the cause of death when we lose fish. They have can have the same internal issues as any living creature, she could have had a heart attack or liver failure or something, and we'd never know without a fish necropsy, and that's rarely worth doing unless dealing with very expensive or rare fish.

So sadly, we usually have to accept that we'll never know the cause of death.

But we can say that it's highly, highly unlikely that you did anything, or didn't do anything, that caused it. You did the right things, by doing the large water change before you left, 3-4 days without food for fish is nothing to worry about at all, so being away didn't cause starvation or anything, I promise - and without food going into the tank from a defective auto feeder or something, an ammonia spike is unlikely, and I don't see redness on the body that is often seen with ammonia and nitrite poisoning either.

Do another large water change simply because there's been a death and a decomposing body in the tank for a day or so, and test some of that old water once you're done, but even if there are traces of ammonia or nitrites when you test, that may be as a result of the death, and not the cause. But I'm predicting your water tests will come back fine.

Sorry hon. It sucks, but it happens, and we've all been there and empathise with you!
Thank you Belle. I really appreciate that.
Sadly I'll probably never know the cause, you're right... But I hope whatever the cause, it was painless and not long...

I tested the water and the nitrites and ammonia were 0, so that's good...

I'm really tired after coming home from my trip and I'll be busy all up until my normal water change day which is Wednesday... So I can't really.
But I'm going to do a large water change that day
 

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