corydoras ornatus dying

chrisinha · Post by **chrisinha** » 08 Mar 2005, 03:46

i just got what i think is some corydoras ornatus (the guy at the LFS called "dwarf cories"), but when i was still at the store i noticed that one of the four i was buying was swimming upside down. the owner said it was in "shock" because their water is cold and asked me if i had a heater in my tank.
to make a long story short i brought the cories home (the owner of the store told me to let her know if something bad happens...), but, now 3 of them are swimming upside down. they can barely control their own bodies...

is there anything that can be done? i hope someone sees this asap.

thanks!

chrisinha · Post by **chrisinha** » 08 Mar 2005, 04:06

nah, three already died...

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 08 Mar 2005, 09:35

Sorry to hear that you lost the cories.

It seems to me that they got shocked. I've seen somewhere that some cories emit some sort of toxin that causes problems like this. I can't find the thread at the moment.

Either way, I'd take them back... If a fish dies within 24 hour of purchasing, it should be "under warranty".

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Mats

chrisinha · Post by **chrisinha** » 08 Mar 2005, 14:43

i found the last one dead this morning.

i'll take them all back.
should i do a water change in my tank?

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 08 Mar 2005, 14:48

chrisinha wrote:i found the last one dead this morning.
i'll take them all back.
should i do a water change in my tank?

If all the other inhabitants are OK, I wouldn't worry too much. It's probably more related to some sort of shock being moved. But if it makes you feel better, replace 30% of the water. Of course, if it's a bacterial or viral infection that caused them to die, that won't help much.

Are there any visible signs on the fish to indicate what's wrong with them, or do they just look like they've fallen asleep?

Most shops like to see a water sample from your tank before replacing/refunding the fish...

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Mats

chrisinha · Post by **chrisinha** » 08 Mar 2005, 22:56

the guy at the lfs didnt even ask me for water sample. the few ones he had left died as well. he gave me $12.86 credit.

the other fish in my tank look fine

i'll try again next time...

thanks!

bronzefry · Post by **bronzefry** » 08 Mar 2005, 23:03

I had the same thing happen to me with Pygmies. A dozen died in a span of a week. No apparent reason. I did read that they are very sensitive to even minor changes in water chemistry.

chrisinha · Post by **chrisinha** » 09 Mar 2005, 05:19

i just noticed one of my albino cories has a red spot on her side!! what is it??

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 09 Mar 2005, 10:25

chrisinha wrote:the guy at the lfs didnt even ask me for water sample. the few ones he had left died as well. he gave me $12.86 credit.

the other fish in my tank look fine

i'll try again next time...

thanks!

As a rule, it's a good idea to let the fish be at the shop for a few days to figure out if they survive into the new water environment, as the shop will have more similar water to yours than the distributor, in most cases.

Obviously, if the fishes are dying in the shop tank, you didn't do anything wrong...

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Mats

chrisinha · Post by **chrisinha** » 09 Mar 2005, 15:39

sorry, mats, but did you take a look at the pictures i posted?

i added 2 teaspoons of melafix last night to see if it helps, but i'd really like to know what it is... anyone, any ideas??

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 09 Mar 2005, 15:50

chrisinha wrote:sorry, mats, but did you take a look at the pictures i posted?

i added 2 teaspoons of melafix last night to see if it helps, but i'd really like to know what it is... anyone, any ideas??

I saw the pictures. Can't say I know what it is tho'. Melafix is a good "just in case" medication, sort of like the doctor saying "Probably just a common cold. Take two aspirin, and come back in two days if it's not better then".

Is it looking better, worse or the same today?

What's your water like (Nitrate, Nitrite, etc?)

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Mats

chrisinha · Post by **chrisinha** » 09 Mar 2005, 16:17

it's the same
water's fine ammonia 0, nitrite 0
i'll keep putting melafix.
thanks!