Hi guys- long time lurker first time poster.
I have a 20 gallon (tall) planted tank that has been established for 5 years with usually 5 pearl danios, 6 cardinal tetras and 5 cory catfish + 3 nerite snails all happily coexisting. This was my first ever tank- made a lot of mistakes at first but have learned a ton over the past 5 years.
I was down a few fish and I hadn't replaced so went to try out a new, reputable fish store (instead of my normal "petsmart" to restock) about 2 weeks ago- put in 5 tetras and 2 cory cats to restock back to appropriate schooling numbers. I also added a new live plant. Did everything the same as I normally do- continued 15% water changes + addition of live bacteria once weekly, feeding once daily, let the fish acclimate to the water prior to putting them into the tank, clean hands and fish tank-only bucket etc.
One of the tetras died within a few days of putting them in the tank- didn't think much of it.
A week later- I had 5 dead dish all in the same day- all of my tetras including the preexisting one that I've had for well over a year.
All of my other fish seemed totally fine at this point. I did a 50% water change out of panic because I've never lost that many fish at one time before and added a bunch more bacteria. Ordered new parameter test strips because I haven't checked my water parameters in years because my tank has always been stable.
Since that time- I've started losing my cory cats. I lost one that I've had for four years as well as both of the two new ones. They all acted and looked completely fine as far as I can tell in the day leading up to their death. One of my remaining cory cats is acting sick- swimming like its his swim bladder but doesn't look bloated.
Water Parameters:
Ammonia, nitrites, nitrates 0
pH 8.2 and baseline hard water- these have been like this since the beginning, I have peat moss and driftwood in the tank and have never gotten it lower/the fish have usually tolerated it.
Is this a parasite? I don't have a quarantine tank cycled so I don't know what to do or how to save my remaining cory cat and danios. I'm also terrified to restock and have no clue how to move forward.
thanks everyone
I have a 20 gallon (tall) planted tank that has been established for 5 years with usually 5 pearl danios, 6 cardinal tetras and 5 cory catfish + 3 nerite snails all happily coexisting. This was my first ever tank- made a lot of mistakes at first but have learned a ton over the past 5 years.
I was down a few fish and I hadn't replaced so went to try out a new, reputable fish store (instead of my normal "petsmart" to restock) about 2 weeks ago- put in 5 tetras and 2 cory cats to restock back to appropriate schooling numbers. I also added a new live plant. Did everything the same as I normally do- continued 15% water changes + addition of live bacteria once weekly, feeding once daily, let the fish acclimate to the water prior to putting them into the tank, clean hands and fish tank-only bucket etc.
One of the tetras died within a few days of putting them in the tank- didn't think much of it.
A week later- I had 5 dead dish all in the same day- all of my tetras including the preexisting one that I've had for well over a year.
All of my other fish seemed totally fine at this point. I did a 50% water change out of panic because I've never lost that many fish at one time before and added a bunch more bacteria. Ordered new parameter test strips because I haven't checked my water parameters in years because my tank has always been stable.
Since that time- I've started losing my cory cats. I lost one that I've had for four years as well as both of the two new ones. They all acted and looked completely fine as far as I can tell in the day leading up to their death. One of my remaining cory cats is acting sick- swimming like its his swim bladder but doesn't look bloated.
Water Parameters:
Ammonia, nitrites, nitrates 0
pH 8.2 and baseline hard water- these have been like this since the beginning, I have peat moss and driftwood in the tank and have never gotten it lower/the fish have usually tolerated it.
Is this a parasite? I don't have a quarantine tank cycled so I don't know what to do or how to save my remaining cory cat and danios. I'm also terrified to restock and have no clue how to move forward.
thanks everyone