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Posts: 3
From:ludlow
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 03-18-2004 05:49 PM         

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Hi, I have had an Irridescent Shark for 2 years he grow from under 2 inches to 9 inches. I hand feed him every night, yesterday his skin changed it was like his whole body was shedding. Then his eyes turned white. soon he was on the bottom dying. Three other fish who appeared to have been healthy died. Ones that I have had for months if not years. I changed the water 50% just in case something went wrong in it. Changed the filter pads and cleaned the filter. The rest of the fish look okay and nomore have died now for 24Hours. Anyone have any ideas what went wrong? I can't find anything in any books.
Thanks

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Posts: 501
From:Missouri
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 03-18-2004 09:00 PM         

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What are your water parameters (ammonia, nitrIte, nitrAte)? If you don't have test kits for those already, either buy some or take a sample of your water to the LFS and post the results here (actual #'s, not just "It's fine").

When you changed your filter pads, did you replace them all at once?

What size is the tank and how many & what size are the fish in it (including the ones that have died so far)?

How often and how large are your normal water changes?

-Chelle

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Posts: 3
From:ludlow
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 03-19-2004 04:34 AM         

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Chelle and everyone else!
Hi,
I should have mentioned that the tank has been set up for 3 years, 150 gallons and these are the only fish that have ever died without a reason I can find. every two weeks for the last 3 years the water changed usally 25%. The chemicals are where they always are at the very best readings. water temp is 78%. bettas, neons, 2 clown roahes 5 inches each 1 died, 6 zebras 1 died, guppies, kissing grum. he is 5 inches and 'sharky'who was 8 to 9 inches long. All of the fish have been together for the life of the tank and many the larger ones were in a 55 gallon 3 years ago.
I am just looking for any possible cause for a fishes skin to shed away.
I have 6 other tanks that I care for, so I really am not a rookie. I am just stumped! The water changed did stop the deaths. Even the fish that looked like they were minutes from death, survived. I am tossing around the idea in my head that they may have been "Poisoned". I don't think a spike in the temperature would have caused this and it is working fine now.
thanks
Carolann

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Posts: 57
From:Boston
Registered: May 2003

posted 03-20-2004 06:23 PM         

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The same thing happened to my 2 ID's too. Everything was going fine and then one day I woke up and there "skin" looked weird. I changed the water and put them into a hospitalization tank I always have up. It didn't help though. They died within 24 hours. I have no idea why it happened they had been doing fine. If you find out what it was I would really like to know. Thanks. HCL113083@hotmail.com

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Posts: 501
From:Missouri
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 03-20-2004 08:28 PM         

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What is your pH? If the pH is too high or low or fluctuates, it could cause excessive slime production which might look like the skin is sloughing off.

-Chelle

[This message has been edited by t_chelle16 (edited 03-20-2004).]

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Posts: 3
From:ludlow
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 03-21-2004 09:05 AM         

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wanted to add more on my irridescent shark.

4 days before he and the rest died I added two plants from the local pet store. I have gotten plants there for years. I had a thought that something on or in the plants was the cause. I returned to the pet store Friday 6 days after the plants entered the tank 2 days after the fish died. ALL the fish in the plant tank were DIED! After talking with the manager he agreeded that the plants although I couldn't prove it and he couldn't disprove it, caused my fish to die. He replaced the fish in value amount for store credit. He is sending the plants and water out to a local vet that treats tropical fish illness.
I will let everyone what they find out.
No fish more fish have died.
Carolann

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Posts: 501
From:Missouri
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 03-21-2004 01:57 PM         

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That's interesting. I've never heard of plants causing fish to die, but it sounds like that was the problem. And FWIW, if I were you, I wouldn't buy any more iridescent sharks. They simply get too large (4 feet) for most home aquariums.

-Chelle

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