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Corydoras "Mystery Death"

10K views 4 replies 3 participants last post by  Byron 
#1 ·
We frequently hear of corys that die in the shipping bag on the way home from the store, or shortly after arrival. I and many others have suggested that this could be ammonia poisoning, since corys are highly sensitive to ammonia and all other toxins. But in an article in the current issue of Amazonas magazine, the UK author and aquarist Ian Fuller, an acknowledged authority on the Corydoradinae, offers what is likely the actual cause.

All species in the genus exude a white milky substance from below the gill area, possibly connected to the pectoral spine. This substance is extremely toxic to all fish, and kills within minutes. The release of the substance is triggered by severe stress, such as often occurs during netting and capture. Mr. Fuller includes a photograph in the article of this substance on a C. sterbai, and he notes that it is the only existing record as far as he is aware. In the confines of a bag of water, the substance kills the cory quickly. Small bubbles will appear at the water surface, and if the cory is taken out of the bag of water immediately and placed in fresh water, it may recover.

Mr. Fuller presents the view that this is likely a defense strategy on the part of the cory; if the fish is caught be another fish or bird, the automatic release of this toxin could result in the predator releasing the cory. The release of the substance is probably triggered by stress, and not controlled; thus, the cory releases it in the bag, even though its own imminent death will follow.

Mr. Fuller suggests that the frantic chasing of the cory around the tank during capture might cause the fish to release the toxin in the tank, rather than the bag. He also recommends taking home a second bag of the tank water, taken out prior to any capture attempts, in case the fish needs to be transferred en route. Once the toxin is released--and unless one actually sees the release when it occurs this will be un-noticed--the only remedy to save the fish is an immediate 100% water change of the container.

Byron.

P.S. Yet another reason for those regular partial water changes; nothing else can handle this.;-)
 
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#2 ·
It is a fantastic picture of the Sterbai releasing the toxin. I wonder if it was just luck that it was caught by camera. I have not seen the article but it sounds like the same information that is in Ian Fuller's book "Breeding Corydoradinae Catfish" 2nd ed..

I have never had Cories die in the bag but I did once have them in a specimen cup and it appeared that they were dying. I quickly changed the water and they were fine.


- The solution is dilution
 
#3 ·
I just came across an online source for Ian Fuller's article, so thought I would post it. This is basically the same as the article in Amazonas from what I can remember. It also includes the photo mentioned by Thoth.

Self-poisoning Corys
 
#5 ·
This "mystery death" is much less likely to be relevant in an established tank--unless the corys are under severe stress. It is the severe stress that triggers the toxin.

Corys however are sensitive fish. And in spite of being tank-raised for a while now, the panda cory is still very much so. I have had much less trouble with my many wild caught species than I have with the pandas. Check their profile, click the shaded name Corydoras panda.

Byron.
 
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