Random Cory death

[plankton]

It could be something in the water, it would be good if you can get a reply from them.
Otherwise, I wonder if something has been missing from the diet, but then why would it affect the gourami as well?
What and when have you added to the tank in the six months prior to the problems?

[CattyV]

@plankton still waiting for an email from them but I have contacted them.

The last additions were 6th Feb. 3 pandas. The last one passing last night, the other two dying three weeks after adding. My first casualty was 31st January. Prior to that I added 3 sterbai around mid December. Everything was fine until end of January. Then I lost 1 panda.

The rest of the deaths occurred after 6th Feb. My honey was showing illness issues just after, with the rapid breathing. Also not eating. This was around 18th Feb.

So it was either the sterbai that brought something in (if anything).

The speed in which they appear to be dying makes me think virus or parasite or something water based in the tap.... I’ve even bought a new bottle of prime to eliminate it being that!

[CattyV]

Well another one dying. I think I’ve been put off any more catfish for sure.

[Stephen]

Well another one dying. I think I’ve been put off any more catfish for sure.

Corydoras are wonderful.
Sort your filter cleaning routine (clean a lot less often), add high protein food to the diet and keep Corydoras in a group of at least 6 of the same species.
It's all a learning curve when keeping a new fish species.
You're a good caring fish keeper, don't be put off.

All the best

[plankton]

I agree with @Stephen, plus the fact that a lot of the sterbai and panda are weak stock.
I agree that it looks like the sterbai might have brought something in.
I'd finish the course of treatment, then do the biggest water change you can and start again with the remaining fish.
Give it 6 weeks before getting any new ones though.
Did you get the sterbai and pandas from a "reputable" shop?

[CattyV]

Thank you @Stephen and @plankton sorry I would have replied earlier but I couldn’t get on the website. Wouldn’t let me.

I have one sterbai left. I mean are there any hardier corydoras? I won’t be adding anything in for at least 4-6 weeks. The treatment for flukes has been in 7 days today so I think it’s water change day after that.

Other fishes seem ok for now (touching a lot of wood!!!!).

Just feel so disheartened. I loved those peppered corys. Such characters and to see them die one by one is heartbreaking.

What would be a good protein frozen food? And pellet wise I feed 40% proteins or higher. Plus a wafer (hikari). I mean i know new life spectrum are good brand wise?

I got the fish from two different branches of Maidenhead Aquatics. I’ve never really had issues with them but I know the pandas one has in currently are suffering from bacterial infections. So, likely the stock in question and how they were shipped maybe?

Just don’t understand how they’ve survived 4+ months and in the last week died one by one. Never lost 7 fish so quickly.

[Stephen]

These cory should be fine and at your tank water temperature.

Salt and Pepper Cory (Corydoras habrosus)
False Bandit Cory (Corydoras melini)
Bandit Cory (Corydoras metae)
False Adolfo Cory (Corydoras duplicareus)
Black Sail Cory (Corydoras melanistius)
Miguelito Cory (Corydoras virginiae)
Rusty Cory (Corydoras rabauti)
Just to name a few.

Make sure you have at least 6 x of a species as they do better in groups of their own kind.
If the cory appear very small then go back after a few weeks. I bought some Panda cory a few years ago that were about 1cm-1.5cm long (far too small), they didn't survive for long.
My current Gold laser cory were quite small when I bought them but I trusted the LFS (my favourite LFS). On arrival home (some 65 miles) a bag of cory (5) were all dead. The LFS replaced them (free of charge).
Now, as a precaution, I take a bottle of Melafix with me and add 2 drops to each bag of Corydoras.
Corydoras can easily get stressed and will excrete a toxin, this toxin will kill all the other fish in the bag. Melafix will help to reduce the stress.
I do not have a quarantine tank but do place any new fish in a temporary holding tank (with heater and air stone or filter) for at least 24 hours so that I can observe the fish.
I prefer to see the new fish in the flesh at the LFS before buying, just to check that the fish look and act normal.
I have, however, bought fish on-line from reputable stockists and will always place them in a temporary holding tank for at least 24 hours (usually for 3 days) for observation.


As for food, my cory granules are at least 50% protein based so your food at 40% proteins or higher should be fine.

All the best

[CattyV]

Thank you so much for your help Stephen. always appreciated. Needed a boost today.

I have heard back from the water company too and they say increased chlorine has been added to the tap water but no additional chemicals, or increases in these chemicals anyway. I had heard this was the case from my LFS this was the case so was adding a little more Prime to my new water to counter this anyway.

I trust the lady that runs the LFS, so it is more likely to be the stock. Like you, my pandas were minuscule (1cm seems about right). The sterbai were also smaller than imagined and they stayed small? I found that odd.

The peppered corys, however, they grew to max size, which is what upsets me most. Maybe it was ph shock that got to them who knows. I changed the KH so gradually, I thought that wouldn’t harm them but maybe it did.

Am I ok maintaining the KH at 6 now it’s set that way? I have bought a proper buffer rather than using bicarbonate soda. It’s an NT Labs one. Hopefully it’s not the same!!

[plankton]

Have a look at the ingredients for the NT Labs buffer. Sodium shouldn't be present.
I'd still be tempted to stop using a buffer and just do two smaller changes per week.

[Stephen]

Am I ok maintaining the KH at 6 now it’s set that way? I have bought a proper buffer rather than using bicarbonate soda. It’s an NT Labs one. Hopefully it’s not the same!!

Have a look at the ingredients for the NT Labs buffer. Sodium shouldn't be present.
I'd still be tempted to stop using a buffer and just do two smaller changes per week.

I agree with plankton.
I do not add any chemicals or medication to my aquarium water (except dechorinator).

As long as you have dechorinated water, a heater and a good healthy filter then the aquarium should be fine.
Regular water changes with dechorinated water will freshen the water and remove any excess nitrates etc..
When I say "A good, healthy filter" I mean a filter that is able to remove any ammonia and nitrite and therefore loaded with good, beneficial bacteria.
Each of my external filters (I have 2 x external filters on my 550L aquarium) get a clean about once every 2-3 months on rotation despite myself having 2 x wood-eating plecos that really make a mess.
The filter floss in my filters is always filthy, thick with muck and I mean thick with muck, so thick with muck that I throw them away and replace with new.
Before I added the wood-eating plecos the filter floss was only a bit dirty (in comparison) and I would often just give it a rinse in old tank water and re-use.
The biological media in my external filters only get a gentle swish in old tank water to remove any debris. This is where the majority of the beneficial bacteria reside and I am careful not to disturb too much.

On my 125L aquarium I have an internal filter.
I hardly ever touch the biological media and only periodically give the sponges and filter floss a clean in old tank water.
Like yourself, I am not over-stocked with fish in my 125L aquarium and I do not have any messy fish, just a few tetra and corydoras; so the filter only gets a partial clean periodically.
The filter does need a clean but only every few months, this preserves the beneficial bacteria and therefore keeps the aquarium water clean and healthy.
It may be useful to make a note of when you have cleaned the filter, maybe mark on a calendar. I keep a spreadsheet (Ms Excel) of all my aquarium and filter maintenance as this reminds me of which filter has been cleaned and when. I know which filter has been cleaned (especially on my 550L aquarium) and which filter is due a clean. Example: filter #2 on my 550L aquarium is due a clean later this month.

All the best