box fish died angel gasping & hiding

[tsturetsky]

My boxfish came down with what seemed to be ick a few days ago. I medicated the tank, but he ended up dying in the tank yesterday. Today my flame angel, who appeared fine yesterday, is acting abnormal by hiding and it is gasping a bit. It does not appear to have ick, but I am continuing to medicate the tank anyway. I know that boxfish can let out a poison when they die, so I wondering if that may be effecting the angel. If anybody has any advice as to what I should do I would appreciate it.

 

[homestar]

well this has never happend to me. but i would try a water change, and be sure to have fresh carbon in you sump to help neutralize any toxins in the tank

 

[Sk8r]

What did you medicate your tank with?

Do a water change, 20%, immediately.

Test your water, the whole battery of tests. List the results, please. I'm hoping you haven't nuked your sandbed with the treatment.

Anyone?

 

[tsturetsky]

I treated with Ich Attack.

I will do the water change and then run tests.

 

[tsturetsky]

I did the 20% water chage.

Tests are:

PH = 8.2
Ammonia = 0
Nitrate = 0
Nitrite = 0
Alkalinity = 8.4
Phosphate = 0
Temperature = 80
Salinity = 1.0225

This is my fish only tank not a reef. I did not test calcium due to thinking I did not need to because this is not a reef tank.

 

[maroonytunes]

Have you sprayed any chemicals or painted near the tank lately?

Just a guess, but it could be decreased oxygen levels.

 

[chase2931]

I would do a 50% water change with 20% changes every other day after that for a week. Most likley when the box fish died it let off some poison and it has caused problems with the Flame. JMO

 

[stykthyn]

most likely it let out all its poison, is your water murky??
even if it's not I would do a 50% immediately and 15-20% for the next 5 days. I would also run activated carbon if you are not doing so already.

 

[jmicky41]

Get a Polyfilter. These are a chemically treated pad that can remove almost anything from the water. Also I would do the largest water change you can manage.

 

[mitzel]

I'm gonna agree 50% water change. 10-20 daily. Run carbon in your filyration and switch that out a few times over the week just to be over cautious Also I'm assuming you have no QT going ? If you have a QT get the FA moved asap. Even if you can set up a bucket or a tub to use for a few days With a cheap filter would be better then leaving it in the tank.


Sorry to hear about your box fish . Cute things I would love to have one but I just hate to take that chance .

 

[Monkeyfish]

As stated above, large water changes and fresh carbon are your best bet for removing the ostracitoxin from the tank water.

 

[Triggerman1964]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7585907#post7585907 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stykthyn
most likely it let out all its poison, is your water murky??
even if it's not I would do a 50% immediately and 15-20% for the next 5 days. I would also run activated carbon if you are not doing so already.

People
boxfish toxin release is voluntary.I've had one disintegrate while I was i hawaii and all of the other fish were fine.
It's probably the chemicals you added.

 

[stykthyn]

well I am glad that your disintegrating fish didnt kill your tank. I had a cowfish die overnight and damn near wipe out the rest of my tank with him. I am simply speaking from my experience

 

[Triggerman1964]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7588102#post7588102 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stykthyn
well I am glad that your disintegrating fish didnt kill your tank. I had a cowfish die overnight and damn near wipe out the rest of my tank with him. I am simply speaking from my experience

disintegrated...
there was only four armour plates left.
Had another one die four years ago without incident either.

 

[Monkeyfish]

Perhaps your experiences with boxfish were due to the species you had, the tank size, filtration and/or resilience of it's tank mates. I too have had a cowfish die with no apparent effect on his tank-mates. However, that does not mean someone else with a different fish from the same species would have the same experience.

It's certainly possible that the "Ich attack" created a problem, but I wouldn't count out the boxfish as a contributing factor at this point. Either way, carbon and water changes are the way to go.

 

[tsturetsky]

The angel fish died this morning. I have a longnose hawkfish and a chocolate chip star in the tank that seem to be doing fine. I will stop the ich attack, use carbon, and continue water changes. Thank you for all of your input, I appreciate it.