Rummynose Sudden Death

[fire4ice]

On Sunday, I bought four rummynose tetras. I set up a 10 gallon quarantine tank with a fully cycled extra filter from my other tank, and acclimated them slowly. They seemed a little shy, but their noses were red and they were eating, and everything seemed fine.

This morning, I found one of them dead. It didn't have any marks on it and it still had a red nose. I tested the water, and everything tested fine. I did a 30% water change just in case. The other tetras might be slightly less red that usual, but I'm not sure if it's just my imagination. They are still acting normally.

Water stats:
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
pH: 7.7-7.8 (normal for my house)
Temp: 78'F

The only thing I can think of that's changed is the weather; it's gotten a lot cooler the past couple of days, but the tank is heated and the water temperature hasn't really changed. I'm trying to figure out what could have happened to the fish. Should I be worried about the others? Is there anything I can do to protect them further?

 

[WILDER]

Rummynose tetra are very sensitive to ph swings.
What was the ph of the lfs to your tank.

Any symtoms to go on.
It could of just been stress.

 

[fire4ice]

Unfortunately, I don't know the pH of the water at the LFS. It might be a good deal lower than mine, but I gradually acclimated them over an hour. Next time, I'll be sure to test the water they came in. Would it be normal for it to not show for 4 days? I had a rummynose die from pH shock once before, but in that case it was almost immediate and it lost all of its color.

I use Seachem Neutral Regulator as a water conditioner, but that only gets my water down to 7.6-7.8 at the recommended dosage, and I'm afraid to mess around with any more chemicals since I know these are sensitive fish.

I've seen no additional symptoms.

Is there anything that you would recommend to reduce stress?

 

[WILDER]

it can take up to two weeks for fish to die of ph shock.
It might not of been ph shock. Always test lfs bag water in ph and temp so you know how long to climatise the fish for.
it could of been the stress that finished the fish off. The journey and a new enviroment.

Salt in good for stress but that depends on which fish you keep.

 

[fire4ice]

Salt in good for stress but that depends on which fish you keep.

Right now, I just have the 3 rummynose tetras by themselves in a 10-gallon tank. I'll try finding information on tetras + salt.

Thank you for your help. I feel a lot better about this now. I don't think I could handle another Mysterious Fish Disease.

 

[WILDER]

I wouldn't add the salt they don't take to it towell.
http/badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile38.html

Taken from the link provided.


The rummy-nose tetra is an excellent fish for the community tank once it is adjusted to its surroundings, but this initial adaptive phase can be a bit longer than for some fish. In the meantime, it tends to be sensitive to water quality, so test this frequently. It does not take well to addition of salt and many chemical additives, and pH fluctuations can kill it. It must be kept with at least 3 members of its own species, or else it will sulk in the corner and show signs of stress. Healthy species will adapt eventually to a well-planted tank and school actively in and out of every corner of the aquarium, their noses glowing brightly.

 

[fire4ice]

Okay, sounds like I should just leave them alone and try not to startle them until I can move them into the main tank.

 

[WILDER]

Let me know how they get on.
Good Luck.

 

[fire4ice]

I moved them into my main tank a few days ago, and they were doing great, but one jumped out of the gap in the lid during the night and now the smallest one keeps getting "lost" from the school

 

[WILDER]

I lost a rummynose to jumping out of the tank too.
Mine must of jumpted out during a water change and never noticed. Learnt me to check all fish after a water change.
R.I.P.