Lazarus Fish

Atm in my Q tank I have four Hatchetfish, an Oto, two shrimp and I just added a new Plec on Sunday - still waiting for confirmation on its id. Anyway, whenever I add new fish to a tank, I always test the water for a couple of days afterwards just to make sure things are ok while the filter bacteria are adjusting to the new bioload. Everything was fine yesterday but today the ammonia was 0 but the nitrite was 0.5.

So out came the water change buckets and during the course of this, I noticed that one of the hatchetfish was missing. "Oh great", says I, "another dead fish - decomposing and messing with water quality". I did a visual check of the tank and carefully moved around the floating plants so as not to spook the other three hatchetfish but no sign of the missing fish.

Tonight, I decided to check the nitrite level again - it was down to 0.25 but the fact that it was still registering a reading, I decided to do another water change and this time I took everything out of the tank (bar the occupants) so I could give it a good gravel clean. I also rinsed out the filter sponge which was minging - still no sign of the missing fish. So I just gave up, resigned to the fact that it would probably be eaten by the shrimp...

So back went everything - filter, plants, decor, bogwood - filled up the tank with clean water and turned on the equipment again. A few moments ago, I went in to turn off the tank lights and what did I see? FOUR Hatchetfish merrily shoaling...I have no idea how the missing fish escaped my notice not once, but TWICE during the water changes. Goodness only knows where he was hiding but I'm just happy that he's alive. Long story...but a happy ending. :lol:

Wow Mary, how very strange

Isn't it though? I'd say something if it was a small guppy or Oto but the Hatchetfish are large enough plus they spend 90% of the time at the top of the tank so I'm baffled as to how I missed it...

Glad it all turned out ok Mary, you've had more than your share of bad luck with fish

Indeed. I've lost three of the original four Hatchetfish but added four more, one of which also died so just these four now in the Q tank. On a positive note, my Betta is thriving in his alternate tank and the BiORb now has six male guppies, all of which are doing well also so fingers crossed, the Tank Of Death is no more.

could he have been hiding in one of the ornaments??

Mary wrote:

Indeed. I've lost three of the original four Hatchetfish but added four more, one of which also died so just these four now in the Q tank. On a positive note, my Betta is thriving in his alternate tank and the BiORb now has six male guppies, all of which are doing well also so fingers crossed, the Tank Of Death is no more.

Oh I didnt know some of the hatchetfish had kicked the bucket Mary, that's a shame. Good news though about the betta

Yeah, very strange. Just...died. No symptoms, no marks on the body, nothing. Wierd.

Mary wrote:

Atm in my Q tank I have four Hatchetfish, an Oto, two shrimp and I just added a new Plec on Sunday - still waiting for confirmation on its id. Anyway, whenever I add new fish to a tank, I always test the water for a couple of days afterwards just to make sure things are ok while the filter bacteria are adjusting to the new bioload. Everything was fine yesterday but today the ammonia was 0 but the nitrite was 0.5.

So out came the water change buckets and during the course of this, I noticed that one of the hatchetfish was missing. "Oh great", says I, "another dead fish - decomposing and messing with water quality". I did a visual check of the tank and carefully moved around the floating plants so as not to spook the other three hatchetfish but no sign of the missing fish.

Tonight, I decided to check the nitrite level again - it was down to 0.25 but the fact that it was still registering a reading, I decided to do another water change and this time I took everything out of the tank (bar the occupants) so I could give it a good gravel clean. I also rinsed out the filter sponge which was minging - still no sign of the missing fish. So I just gave up, resigned to the fact that it would probably be eaten by the shrimp...

So back went everything - filter, plants, decor, bogwood - filled up the tank with clean water and turned on the equipment again. A few moments ago, I went in to turn off the tank lights and what did I see? FOUR Hatchetfish merrily shoaling...I have no idea how the missing fish escaped my notice not once, but TWICE during the water changes. Goodness only knows where he was hiding but I'm just happy that he's alive. Long story...but a happy ending. :lol:

Excuse my ignorance Mary (glad yor little fish was found safe and well by he way), but would the addition of a single, presumably small fish make such a difference to the bioload? I would have thought that it was qite a safe thing to do, or is this what usually happens?

Fishfan wrote:

Excuse my ignorance Mary (glad yor little fish was found safe and well by he way), but would the addition of a single, presumably small fish make such a difference to the bioload? I would have thought that it was qite a safe thing to do, or is this what usually happens?

In general, one fish wouldn't make much of a difference Fishfan but plecs are notorious poop machines plus the new one is about 5cm in length so would have an impact alright.

good news that everything seems to be settling down with your tanks and fish Mary - i bet the betta breathes a sigh of relief when you walked past the orb with him in his little bag! :lol: .

Can just imagine the guppies going though :lol:

driver wrote:

i bet the betta breathes a sigh of relief when you walked past the orb with him in his little bag!

Well I'm happy to report that the Betta and the Guppies are thriving in their respective homes.