So frustrated!

[NYfan78]

So i have had a ruby head wraase for over 2 months now. I come home from being gone 2 days and he is dead. My water parameters are all good. Now i haven't done a water change in 3 weeks (i know that bad)due to just being so busy with the holidays and work. He looks fine and free of any diseases that i can see. He was the only fish but planned on getting more this weekend. My question is why!

[smallreef]

If he looked okay, then its most likely internal parasites or other internal issues....did you QT him prior to putting him in your DT?(I'm not a QT'r so no dig here)

[NYfan78]

No I got him from Mr. Coral and he QTs all his fish before selling. He also ate good and was active!

Edited December 27, 2012 by NYfan78

[smallreef]

Awww sorry to hearr that...maybe he was old and just died in his sleep....

[Muddy357]

You could have some electricity in your tank do you have a grounding plug?

[surf&turf]

Sorry for your loss, sometimes it just happens.

[NYfan78]

No grounding prob, but i have gfi plug.

[zygote2k]

he probably died of boredom and loneliness.

[NYfan78]

Haha but seriously. I also can only keep a handful of snails alive too.

[smallreef]

Have you tried some easy fish yet?...I know they may not be what you want but clowns are fairly indestructible....

[NYfan78]

Yeah i had 2 in there for a while but they got aggressive so i sold them. They did fine!

[Cliff Puckstable]

I have a rabbit fish and a six line that I've had for a while that are healthy and ready for a new home. They're pretty hardy and I've never had any health issues with them.

[zygote2k]

If he looked okay, then its most likely internal parasites or other internal issues....did you QT him prior to putting him in your DT?(I'm not a QT'r so no dig here)

This is not good logic to follow. Fish can die from many things. Sometimes they can die from old age, boredom, loneliness, stress.

If the fish didn't have any noticeable signs of death, then it's probably best to chalk it up to a random occurrence. If you get a 2nd fish of the same type, and it mysteriously dies, then you might seek further investigation. QT or lack of doesn't necessarily mean that the fish are more or less likely to survive. QT is really for the purpose of stopping the spread of and quarantining of infectious diseases and parasites or for simple observation before introduction to general population.

[basser9]

Check out DIVERS DEN QT procedures and you will see the difference between just watching a fish for ick and really

addressing long term survivability for reef fish.

[Coral Hind]

Describe the setup and water parameters for us.

[NYfan78]

well nitrates, nitrites and amona are all at 0 and ph is 8.1, salinity is at 1. 26

[Coral Hind]

Are you using a calibrated refractometer? Was the fish being feed while you were gone? Were his mouth or gills spread open? What size tank? What temp is it at?

[NYfan78]

34 gallon red sea max. temp kept at constant 79-80. yes i always calibrate my refractometer. no one was feeding him. i was told they are fine without food for a few days.

[Coral Hind]

That's true, if fish are in good shape they can go days without food. And going three weeks without a water change isn't bad as long as the water parameters are fine. Are you going to try to get another one? They are one of my favorite wrasses.

[NYfan78]

POSSIBLY. I THNK I WILL GET A WATCHMAN GOBY FIRST AND THEN A CLOWN PAIR THEN A PURPLE FIRE FISH. THEN NOT SURE WHAT ELSE CAN FIT. ANY SUGGESTIONS ?