Need Ideas, Mysterious Deaths

[Gwynhidwy]

In the last three days I have had three coral beauties (Centropyge bispinosus) die. I had them all for about six weeks. They were all quarantined and showed no physical signs of disease prior to death or upon visual/external inspection after death. I did notice the same behavior change in all three approximately 24 hours prior to death. They all were still eating and picking at the rock, but doing so lethargically instead of actively as they had done previously. They would hover above the same spot for a minute or so before moving to a new spot where normally they would look and move, look and move, never staying in one place too long.

All three came from the same source, were eating well, in good condition and not being harassed by tank mates. They were in three different display tanks that were up and running for 6 months, 18 months and 2 years respectively, all with substantial live rock and nori offered daily, which they all ate, along with frozen foods and pellets. The only difference in water quality between the tanks was 10 nitrate reading in one with 0 in the other two, Ca 460, 400, and 480, and one had a salinity of 1.024 instead of 1.025 which the other two had. Nitrite and ammonia undetectable, pH 8.2, and temp 80F. All readings were taken with Salifert tests or Hanna instruments.

All of the fish in the tanks, including a flame angel in one and two potters in another, seem to be behaving normally and are hopefully unaffected. All corals and invertebrates also still appear healthy.

Any ideas?

 

[cthetoy]

Could be flukes. Check out my mysterious fish death thread
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1260067

 

[toaster77]

interesting - I had a coral beauty from liveaquaria suddenly die after about 8-9 weeks. It seemed to be doing great, then suddenly one morning I found it dead. All other inhabitants seem to be doing fine. I did not observe it particularly carefully the day before death, but I don't recall seeing cloudy eye or signs of flukes. Very strange.

 

[jda]

Cyanide collection? Was this a trustworthy source that would guarantee net-caught fish?

 

[Gwynhidwy]

Thanks very much for the replies!

Cthetoy, thanks for the great link, that's a wonderful thread. These guys were all treated with Prazipro in quarantine, but I'm going to treat again as so far flukes are the only thing that fits and I don't want to lose anymore fish.

Toaster77, some flukes are microscopic so could still have been the problem. I could not see anything on these fish nor did they have cloudy eyes. However, from what I have read microscopic examination of gill and skin scrapings are needed to rule out flukes and I did not do that.

Jda, I thought that cyanide collection caused death sooner than six weeks, but if that isn't the case then it is a possibility. I had thought the source was reliable, but the fish were not guaranteed net caught.