Weird fish death...

[Mikedbom]

My big firemouth died a few weeks ago and I took a picture of him before he got flushed because there was some weird stuff on him that i've never seen before. I've lost quite a few fish in my years and I have never seen this before.



direct link if thumb doesnt work for you...
http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/qq324/mikedbom/fish.jpg

If anyone has an idea of what that thing is on his side, please let me know. His mouth was also full of the same stuff. Other than him not eating and just chasing other tankmates around, he was perfectly healthy and very pretty. There is another female firemouth in the with him, a catfish and two other unknown cichlids. tank water has always been good although i'm having a bit of an algae problem. btw, he smelled really bad too.

 

[Angela1108]

I am not sure if it is the same for other people but even when I click on the picture and zoom in it is really tiny? I am ok my phone do maybe it is better for computer users


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[Mikedbom]

it works on my computer but i added a direct link to the image as well. thanks.

 

[mikem691]

I would suspect the UNKNOWN cichlids. He looks like he was attacked. Post some pics of the others. Unless he died then got torn up from the catfish.

 

[mikem691]

If the catfish is a pleco that would explain the flesh looking sucked out. The pleco would do this right after he died.

 

[Mikedbom]

the unknowns are the two in the front.


http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/qq324/mikedbom/IMG_1252.jpg

the big firemouth was the boss of the tank. even though one of these unknown cichlids has become very dark with purple flecks and is now the aggressor, i cant imagine one of them killing the FM. i guess its possible but the female still remains untouched.

also, he was found floating at the top of the tank upside down. the catfish is a Pictus cat. stays mostly at the bottom and under rocks.

 

[mikem691]

I'm on my phone now but the unknowns look like jack dempsy

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[Rnord12]

Looks like a heater burn from the picture.

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[mikem691]

He may have died first then the others were picking at him.

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[Mikedbom]

@Rnord - unlikely to be a heater burn...heater is composite and never gets very hot.

@mikem - JD's are what someone else said but i swore the fish store told me they were something else when i bought them. perhaps they were using the scientific name.

no doubt was someone picking at him. i was most concerned with that thing on his side which looks like a growth or a parasite bursting out of him. like i said his mouth was full of the same gelatin looking substance. I also find it strange for a fish to look perfectly healthy, chase fish around, be active, and the next day dead...unless he was attacked but i find that hard to believe.

anyways, i appreciate the responses.

 

[mikem691]

Ask for an I'd in the cichlid section. If they are JDS I think they may be a little to aggressive for the fire mouths. Back when I didn't know better I had a salvini that would hide during the day and go on a killing spree at night.

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[mikem691]

The gelatin thing is strange though

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[mikem691]

Were they possibly sold to you as blue acaras or Aequidens Pulcher ? Could also be that

 

[Mikedbom]

No it was a scientific name. Kinda weird. I thought it was salvini but the ones that store carries are yellow. I should have written it down but I didn't. Lesson learned.


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[mattcham]

Its lymphocystis, caused by a virus. It's highly contagious but immunity is possible for those that survive.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/m/#publication?id=FA181

 

[Mikedbom]

Its lymphocystis, caused by a virus. It's highly contagious but immunity is possible for those that survive.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/m/#publication?id=FA181

I don't think that is what this fish had. He never had any warts or anomalies on his fins or body. In fact, he was impeccable.


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[mattcham]

The virus can selectively affect the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract and lips. Fish can appear healthy externally with normal behavior especially if the virus is incubating or dormant. Think of it like shingles, potentially debilitating during outbreak but asymptomatic at other times.