gold nugget dying without any known reason

caril · Post by **caril** » 13 Feb 2003, 09:12

looking listness at the bottom, not even moving when i touched it.
it is breathing though, but i doubt it wil make it through.
waiting for miracle to happen.
nothing wrong with the other occupants. no sign of dieseases.

Atlas · Post by **Atlas** » 13 Feb 2003, 14:30

Hi,
I would suggest you moving it to a quarantine tank using as 50% water from the old tank so as not to stress it further.

Check water parameters like ph, nitrte and ammonia level etc of main tank.

No sign of disease is usually an indication of an internal problem.
Medicate with internal parasite medication if necessary.
Keep us posted of the progress.
Cheers

caril · Post by **caril** » 13 Feb 2003, 16:59

i realised the problem now!!!

there is a high content of ammonia in the tank and the ph is abt 5 after taking the tests.
but i change 20-30% of water every 3 days. how did the ammonia level get so high???

YouTube · Post by **Jools** » 13 Feb 2003, 23:14

Have you tested your water source?

Jools

S. Allen · Post by **S. Allen** » 14 Feb 2003, 01:17

also, check the filter, if it conked out, that would explain it.

if your water source isn't showing any ammonia, repeat the test... be sure to wash the tube really well beforehand. I've had a few different tests really fouled up by the test tube having a small amount of the testing chemicals from the previous test in there.

polkadot · Post by **polkadot** » 14 Feb 2003, 03:43

Hi Caril, did you do anything to the filter recently? eg, wash everything inside the filter? The ammonia buildup will cause pH to drop. And with the peats and blackwater, its going to be even lower.

caril · Post by **caril** » 14 Feb 2003, 14:16

bad news...
the tail of the pleco is starting to rot away though its still breathing.
what to do.
the ammonia and ph level is normal now.
what can i do to help now???

Post by **Barbie** » 14 Feb 2003, 17:22

Caril have you tested for nitrite? That's going to be the second stage for that tank, if something has interfered with the biobed at some point. The nitrite levels will be even harder on the fish than the ammonia was. Do you have another existing tank? Or just the one? Are you still doing daily water changes?

Barbie

caril · Post by **caril** » 15 Feb 2003, 19:35

i dun have a test kit for nitrite.
going to do daily water change...
any suggestions???

noki · Post by **noki** » 15 Feb 2003, 20:41

Caril... how long has your Gold Nugget been established in the tank, did it have a heathy period, or is it new? sometimes the imports seem in pretty bad shape to me when they get to the dealers tanks

well, on the subject of Gold nugget type health (big spot, little spot, Vampire, Goldie sunshine)... for all you pros...
i've noticed that sometimes they "pale out", when stressed (being moved, tank being rearranged), often other times also... how much is this a sympton of stress and ill health, and how much of it is just "mood"?

Nermal · Post by **Nermal** » 15 Feb 2003, 21:34

There is a medication called "melflix" or something to that effect I have read about on the various boards used to treat damaged fins. You probably need this. With the amonia level stable (gone) the gold nugget will likely recover, but the nitrogen cycle is still out of kilter in the main tank. I'd keep the pleco in quarantine until the tail is healing visually. The tail will grow back.

I don't know what kind of filter you have but I have a strong preference to use a UGF (with powerhead) in congunction with any other filter system. The UGF in my tank is the sole source of Ammonia control and prevention of stagnant water anywhere in my tank.

Read this article. I refer to it as "Why UGF filters?" http://petsforum.com/cis-fishnet/afm/G29063.htm

caril · Post by **caril** » 16 Feb 2003, 05:09

bought medication for fin rot.. hope that its effective.

Nermal · Post by **Nermal** » 16 Feb 2003, 05:30

Good, let us know what it is called and what the ingredients are in it.

how's the GN doing and are the water parameters fixed?

caril · Post by **caril** » 16 Feb 2003, 06:07

the fin rot is bad, but he's breathing fine.
have not notice it feeding yet...

caril · Post by **caril** » 17 Feb 2003, 10:21

it died yesterday.

good in a sense that its suffering has ended.

polkadot · Post by **polkadot** » 17 Feb 2003, 10:24

Lesson learnt?????