What just happened?! Please help...

[Icewall42]

So I just realized today that four loaches (all bought within the past couple months) up and died. Not a mark on their bodies. They were two tiger loaches and two skunk loaches, all in a 72 gallon bow front. Just dead, no warning.

But all of my older fish are just fine (except for the striata, but I've got some medication for him). Why would all my newest fish die like that, after I've had them for about a month with no problems? I do have one oher newish fish, a clown loach, but I bought him from Petsmart. The four dead fish were all bought from the same store, Pets Plus.

I can understand there being a problem if they all died within a week of my buying them, but this is a month+. What could have possibly happened???

I thought maybe I let the pH get too low (it was 6.0, and believe me, I'm now doing a massive water change) but all the other fish (2 huge clowns, 3 modestas, two skunks, a sinibotia pulchra, a histrionics, a striata, and a kuhli) are all FINE.

Please, if anyone has a clue... I really didn't need this to happen amongst all the other crap I have to deal with.

[Ippo456]

Do you know what your water params were?
Even though your pH was 6.0, your other fishies were doing fine.
I don't shop at Pet Supplies Plus because their stock just don't look healthy to me. I just buy their plants & feeder fish.
I have a feeling it could due to internal diseases that your new fish have had since you bought them from Pet Supplies.
Yea, it's good that you're doing water changes.
Test the water again after you're done with water changes.
Sorry for your loss.

[Icewall42]

Thanks for the info... I'm guessing the same thing, that the new fish, even though I bought them at different times, all had some internal parasite that maybe took some time to come to maturation. That's all I can think of, though I don't know any parasites that do that (except certain bug species....)

The water change is now complete, just in case. I changed something like 80% of the water. I hope that helps.

[chris1932]

I always treat fish with PraziPro and TriSulfa, One course of TriSulfa wait two week four days PraziPro, Examine droppings. I just have too many fish that could be put in danger.

[AnneMarie]

This might be a little out there, but I know that some wild caught fish are captured using cyanide. I know that it can take a while for it to show up. Just an idea.

[Icewall42]

Chris, I may have to invest in some fish medication... I've mostly used meds like Super Velvet Plus, Melafix, and now Super Sulfa. Two of those are made by a company that I think went under (Aquatonics?) so hopefully I can order some of this stuff online.

AnneMarie, as out there as that sounds, if that's really what sometimes happens... ! It might be a very distinct possibility. It might explain why all the fish from the same store died, if that store is using one wholesale supplier that's different from the other stores. That's also possible.

I'm just really hoping this isn't my fault, but it doesn't seem like it is if the other, older fish are fine...

[Fear_The_Loach]

If you used a medication that wasn't recommended for soft-bodied fish like cats and loaches, you may have found your problem. Otherwise, it might be water problems.

I've had instances in which my fish have just K.O.A.D out of nowhere, so I did a water exchange and leveled the pH in my tank. Things seem better now. Good luck with your fish!

[Icewall42]

No medications were used in that tank for months, so that can't be it.