Lost a kuhli and don't know why

[bevans]

Got up this morning and found one of my kuhlis dead. He was twined into the base of one of the plants (I have plastic plants in my 55-thought I'd start small and plant the 10 gallon first, see how it went) close to the intake for the Aqua-tech. He hadn't been dead long, he still had good color. I had to pull the plant up completely to extricate him, he was stuck in there so tight. There wasn't a mark on him, no sign of disease and nothing to indicate what killed him. Much as I'd like to blame the RTS, he simply doesn't ever seem to notice the kuhlis-this morning, when one of them and a guppy were feeding on the sinking wafers, the RTS drove the guppy off, but just drifted over the kuhli to feed and let him share.

Is it possible do you think for them to become caught in these plastic plants? Mine worm into them all the time and seem to be able to worm right out. I'm really not budgetarily ready to get the lights and live plants for the 55, but I might have to step things up if the plastic plants are dangerous.

Can't find my biggest kuhli either-even picked up the Ruins of Numenor and shook it around in the water. Though that doesn't necessarily mean anything-he vanishes for a week at a time and I suspect he could very well have been braced inside of the ruins, determined not to come out.

[LUVaLOACH]

Got up this morning and found one of my kuhlis dead. He was twined into the base of one of the plants (I have plastic plants in my 55-thought I'd start small and plant the 10 gallon first, see how it went) close to the intake for the Aqua-tech. He hadn't been dead long, he still had good color. I had to pull the plant up completely to extricate him, he was stuck in there so tight. There wasn't a mark on him, no sign of disease and nothing to indicate what killed him. Much as I'd like to blame the RTS, he simply doesn't ever seem to notice the kuhlis-this morning, when one of them and a guppy were feeding on the sinking wafers, the RTS drove the guppy off, but just drifted over the kuhli to feed and let him share.

Is it possible do you think for them to become caught in these plastic plants? Mine worm into them all the time and seem to be able to worm right out. I'm really not budgetarily ready to get the lights and live plants for the 55, but I might have to step things up if the plastic plants are dangerous.

Can't find my biggest kuhli either-even picked up the Ruins of Numenor and shook it around in the water. Though that doesn't necessarily mean anything-he vanishes for a week at a time and I suspect he could very well have been braced inside of the ruins, determined not to come out.

Brenda,

Have you tested your water? I would suggest that and if all is well I would be as baffled as you. From what you said, if it was that difficult to remove him from the plant I guess it is possilbe he got stuck but does sound odd. Sorry for you loss and hope you other guy is ok.

Kris

[The Kapenta Kid]

I have no idea what killed your kuhli but I'm as sure as sure can be that it wasn't because he got stuck somewhere. They can squeeze themselves into and out of anywhere. If it was hard to detach that was probably because rigor mortis had started.

[bevans]

Kris wrote:

Have you tested your water? I would suggest that and if all is well I would be as baffled as you. From what you said, if it was that difficult to remove him from the plant I guess it is possilbe he got stuck but does sound odd. Sorry for you loss and hope you other guy is ok.

I'd tested it the night before and it was OK. Everyone else seems to be fine, including the other kuhlis. I guess it's just one of those baffling things that happens every now and again.

The Kapenta Kid wrote:

I have no idea what killed your kuhli but I'm as sure as sure can be that it wasn't because he got stuck somewhere. They can squeeze themselves into and out of anywhere. If it was hard to detach that was probably because rigor mortis had started.

That's good to know, because I just don't feel ready to live plant that big huge tank. Thanks!

[Mark in Vancouver]

Was the kuhli a recent addition? Sometimes new kuhlis arrive at the lfs highly compromised due to (we think) ammonia build-up in the travel bags. There can be high fatality rates among shipments of kuhlis for this reason.

I agree with TKK that you'd be hard-pressed to catch a kuhli in a plastic plant - but have you examined the plastic? Are there any points or barbs or nubs that stick out from it?

[newshound]

sorry about your loss.
I doubt it was the RTS but as always ...YMWV.

[bevans]

Newshound wrote:

sorry about your loss.
I doubt it was the RTS but as always ...YMWV.

Thanks, newshound! As I said, he didn't have any sort of damage I could see, so I really don't think the RTS had anything to do with it. He's just on my bad list because he's been such a bully lately.

Mark in Vancouver wrote:

Was the kuhli a recent addition? Sometimes new kuhlis arrive at the lfs highly compromised due to (we think) ammonia build-up in the travel bags. There can be high fatality rates among shipments of kuhlis for this reason.

One of them was, as of a week ago. I'm not sure this one was it, though he may have been. He came from the snooty lfs and I think they'd had him for a little while-I didn't buy him right after they'd gotten him in, to the best of my knowledge.

If I knew for sure it was the newest one, I would feel better-like you say, sometimes new fish just pop off from delayed stress.

I agree with TKK that you'd be hard-pressed to catch a kuhli in a plastic plant - but have you examined the plastic? Are there any points or barbs or nubs that stick out from it?

I'm not sure exactly what species of plant it depicts, but it has sort of lacy 'foliage' with lots of little individual straight leaves and little stubby pseudo roots. That's why I thought he might have gigged himself in the gill or something, though he wasn't caught by the gill. I'm thinking it could be possible, though I've never heard of fish killing themselves on plastic plants.

[Mark in Vancouver]

No, it's unlikely that a fish would get entangled in a plastic plant - just wanted to rule that out.

Check your water parameters and monitor the other kuhli(s). And consider getting some slowly spreading real plants. I have Cryptocoryne albida in my kuhli tank, which I think is the perfect plant for them. Medium light level, no fussing with plant food, and they grow slowly enough that major pruning is not necessary. All the kuhlis spend most of their time in among the stems, in the shade of the leaves.

Sorry you lost one, for whatever reason.

[bevans]

Mark in Vancouver wrote:

I have Cryptocoryne albida in my kuhli tank, which I think is the perfect plant for them. Medium light level, no fussing with plant food, and they grow slowly enough that major pruning is not necessary. All the kuhlis spend most of their time in among the stems, in the shade of the leaves.

Sorry you lost one, for whatever reason.

Thanks, Mark! I'll look for the cryptocorynes next time I'm out. I've been live planting my goldfish tank bit by bit and I suppose I could do the same for the 55-if my current lights prove to be good enough.