Sudden Death

[Whiterabbitrage]

Last night at 1 am I heard frantic splashing in the tank. The fish had been asleep for hours, so I knew there was a big problem if one was awake. I turned on a lamp in the room and went over to investigate. The splashing stopped, and I saw the Peacock Flasher Wrasse spiraling down from the top of the tank. He landed upside down and lay there. After a few seconds he righted himself. I grabbed the iPad and turned it on and pointed it at him so I could get more light to see what was happening. I did not want to turn the tank light on and shock him. He rolled his eye, then slowly his colors began to change. He had died as I was looking at him. The only thing I can figure, is that he must have gotton tangled in the jery rigged netting at the top on the tank. That is where the splashing sounds had come from. why he was at the top in the middle of the night, I don't know. Low oxygen maybe. I tested and it looked like 7 but barely.
maybe the shock of the light finished him off. Anyway, I am sad.

 

[Coelli]

Oh man, sorry to hear that. Are you using bird netting? I had to stop using it in my garden after it caught several lizards (some I was able to cut out in time, some died in situ) and I had to cut a bird out once. The stuff is evil and I could easily see it snagging a gill or fin.

 

[Whiterabbitrage]

Thanks. Yup, using bird netting. I'll be switching to nylon stockings until we can get moved over into the new tank. But geez, never heard of this issue before.
So sad. Good to hear you rescued some of your back yard creatures. This stuff really does sound evil. I was going to put it over my pond and a future aviary, but after hearing your story, I'll find something safer. Thank you!

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Sorry to hear that Morgan. Do you have any crabs in the tank? Something must have spooked the wrasse.

 

[Whiterabbitrage]

Thank you, Sugar. I was pretty sad when it happened. I dont have crabs. ( that sounds so wrong) but a fish of bird netting had fallen into the tank. The mesh is a big size, so I didn't think it would be a problem. Stupid. Stupid. I'll have to post this on the Dumb Disasters You Could Have Avioded thread.

 

[ca1ore]

Maybe just a bit of bad luck too? I've used the black nylon bird netting with 1/2" squares for years and never had a casualty.