Purple Fire fish Suddenly dying?

[atp0726]

Picked up a Purple Fire Fish a week ago from lfs. Already had the quarantine set up with a Watchman Goby and piece of live rock with a ton a life (coral, tube worms, halimeda, etc). Fire Fish was doing great all week eating mysis, pellets, getting along great with the Goby. Mixed up a batch of water this morning and did a change on my DT and QT and noticed the fire fish seemed to be fine. Left for the afternoon, came home and fire fish laying on side, with no gill movement, completely dead. Watchman Goby was perfectly fine.

Ran some quick tests thinking maybe there was an ammonia spike which came back 0. Salinity was 1.025, PH 8.3. Didnt test nitrite or trate yet but I dont think either of those would have caused a fish to die in a matter of hours.

Does this make sense? I don't even remember the last time I lost a fish.

He seemed to be eating really well all week. I did notice mysis were almost to big so I switched to the mini pellets which he devoured all week.

I examined him post mortem and I would say he looked thin with a shrunken belly.

Any ideas what may have happened?

 

[Mishri]

could have been internal parasites.. Prazipro might have helped.. but you should do it in a bare tank otherwise you'd kill off the worms..

 

[atp0726]

could have been internal parasites.. Prazipro might have helped.. but you should do it in a bare tank otherwise you'd kill off the worms..

Unless that is the recommendation to treat all new fish with Prazipro, there was really no sign of the fish being ill. It was active and eating well. The live rock was added early on to help establish the nitrifying bacteria, i would have been fine treating the tank.

I am starting to wonder if this had been a cyanide caught fish? I would have to imagine the firefish being difficult to net and diving into the rocks to avoid capture. They are from the Indo-Pacific, however I have no idea if that is an area known for using cyanide to capture fish.

 

[atp0726]

Update: Yellow Watchman Goby has now died aprox a week from the firefish the same way. Fine earlier today and then dead 3-4 hrs later. Goby ate fine last night. I do remember thinking his mouth seemed a bit weird almost partially open but not convinced it was really anything. Always, quarantine fish and very rarely lose anything so a bit confused what is happening. Guess, I should break down the QT and sterilize. Not sure what to do with the live rock covered in life and a trochus snail in the QT.

 

[Flaring Afro]

I am curious about the collection method. How long did you have the watchman? Do you know how long the lfs had those fish before you got them?

It also could be disease as well as a parasite and we just don't know much about it.

 

[atp0726]

I am curious about the collection method. How long did you have the watchman? Do you know how long the lfs had those fish before you got them?

It also could be disease as well as a parasite and we just don't know much about it.

I had the Watchman for about 3-1/2 weeks. Introduced the Firefish about 2weeks after adding the Watchman. I was thinking collection method when the Firefish died, however, it seems the Watchman contracted whatever the Firefish had. I believe they were both new arrival at the lfs. The lfs does run copper in their fish systems so they were each exposed to that for a couple days.

 

[Deinonych]

What is your quarantine protocol? Timeline is consistent with possible velvet infection.

 

[atp0726]

What is your quarantine protocol? Timeline is consistent with possible velvet infection.

I use a 20 gallon long aquarium with HOB filter and power head. I dont proactively medicate just if fish start showing symptoms. I may change that plan in the future. This is my 4th reef tank and I dont think I have ever lost a fish in quarantine, so this has made me realize I may need to change my protocol.

I would still like to be able to pinpoint what killed the 2 fish because there is a chance my main display could have had some cross contamination and would like to know how to treat my dt fish if they come down with any symptoms.

Velvet would be possible, however, there were none of the physical symptoms associated with it except for some possible lethargy the night before the watchman died. He was still eating right up to the daybefore I found him dead.

 

[Deinonych]

I use a 20 gallon long aquarium with HOB filter and power head. I dont proactively medicate just if fish start showing symptoms. I may change that plan in the future. This is my 4th reef tank and I dont think I have ever lost a fish in quarantine, so this has made me realize I may need to change my protocol.

How long do you keep fish in QT?

 

[atp0726]

Probably not long enough. Usually 3-4 weeks. Just getting back into the hobby so these were my first lfs bought fish. I only have a clown pair in my dt right now that I got from a friend that had them alone in an aquarium for over a year.


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