[sidluckman]

So what prompted the use of Antibiotic (tetracycline) was the diagnosis of Septicemia by LFS as the result of the death of a fish prior to this one? I think I'd have done a larger water change and tried to lower Nitrate before treating tank with meds. The diagnosis wasn't very conclusive or specific, so possibly no medication was needed. Antibiotics can compromise nitrifying bacteria, so watch for possible ammonia spike and be prepared to use Prime to detoxify should this occur. Any clue as to why there is measurable Nitrite? Make sure your water changes are thorough with respect to removal of detritus. Coarser gravel substrates can trap a lot of debris. Sand would be better for the Cory.

I am uncomfortable with the stocking choices. (Are they Cardinals or Neons, you mention both?) Bettas and Cardinals are okay at 80 degrees, but that's warm for Neons and Cory Cats and White Clouds. It kind of matters which species you have. White Clouds ought to readily tolerate the pH you have, all others would be better off if it were closer to neutral or below. I think there are one or two too many schooling species in the tank. I would go with the Betta and a few Cories or Betta and a few Cardinals. That's it. I don't think the white clouds are a great fit, and I would like to see schoolers used only in larger tanks. . .If you only use one of the three schooling fish you have, you could possibly keep a couple more individuals.

In the future, medications only should be used in a hospital tank if at all possible. I know it seems like an unwelcome expense, and no one wants to think of their fish getting sick, but the downside of in-tank treatment is possible water issues afterwards. If this fish died of nothing more than natural causes, there may have been no point compromising the safety of the tank with medication. It's possible the Tetracycline used after death of the first fish (what kind was that one?) is having negative impact on your water and this may have precipitated the death of this tetra. . .

I don't mean to sound negative, and I have certainly been in this position with nowhere to treat the fish but the one tank. Monitor your remaining tetras and hopefully all will remain well with them when you address the nitrate with water changes. Don't forget to check ammonia and Nitrite and use Prime.

Good Luck

 

[sidluckman]

Morning Josh!

Yeah. Cardinals have a solid bold RED stripe down the length of their somewhat more substantial body, when compared to neons. Neons have less red, are more greenish than blue, and stay smaller. Kept in tiny groups, they often descend into miscreant behavior. The ultra-bright colors of so small a fish is an indication of their source: muddy black and tea-stained Amazonian waters where they live in positively huge groups. The colors allow them to keep visual contact with each other. It would be disadvantageous for such a small morsel to live alone. The bigger tank will help, in that a larger group (10-12) will be a better number with which to start. You should visit a Public Aquarium that houses and displays these as they live in nature. It is a staggering sight to see. And cory cats are the same. Live in schools of thousands. There is no problem with an Alpha fish that has many subordinates. But when there is only Alpha and a couple underlings, things are unnaturally tough for them, and they are always getting clobbered. The loner fish was probably staying clear of the aggression, but these creatures are not at all intended to be loners, and his strategy will not work for long. Once Alpha hassles the other fish to death, it's "game on" for the final two.

So yes, bigger groups are better.

Yes, it is my experience that fish which die decay with amazing speed. I often feel decomposition has even begun in some cases before they "gave up the ghost." And other fish are opportunistic and in the wild as in aquariums will never miss an opportunity for free and easy protein.

Mollies prefer warm water, but also water more similar in chemistry to that preferred by the white cloud mountain minnows. So do not replace the molly with another molly. Yours was just one ten gallon tank trying to be too many things to too may fish all at once.

Buy prime on-line. Very economical, and effective. SW people use it, because of these reasons, plus, it doesn't mess up our Protein Skimmers after use.

Let me know how it goes.

Best,

Randy

 

[sidluckman]

Yeah. Could be aggression killing the tetras, could be something else. Always better to wait to add new fish until after figuring out what the real problem is.

Upgrades are exciting! Keep us posted.

Randy

 

[sidluckman]

Right. Resembles a whitish patch on upper flank just in front of the tail.

Possible.