Dying Cyprichromis fry :(

[eitakppurk]

Hey all,

When I got back from the Arctic I had 30 fry from three separate clutches. About a week after I got back they started dying off at a rate of about two per day until there were only five left. Those five stuck around for a month and then three died within a couple days. My final two seemed like the biggest and strongest of their clutches so I figured whatever was going on escaped them, but now, two months later, I lost one of them. Anyone have any idea what they could have? From my observations it seems like they start out just swimming sort of sideways, but it's really subtle. Then they get very dark and their body gets a kink in the middle and they die. I want to figure out what's going on because I have another female holding right now and she's about to spit.

Anyone else have this happen and figure it out? Are fry too sensitive for antibiotic treatments?

Thanks!

[jcunningham0295]

Sorry to hear that.  I have this happen with them from time to time.  What are you feeding the fry and how often?

[Regalblue]

What kind of parameters?  Did you test the water?
 

[eitakppurk]

Parameters are good.  0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 5.0ppm nitrate. I forgot to mention that when I got back, I emptied out an old guppy tank and dropped all the guppies off at the pet shop, but when I got back I noticed two tiny fry in the tank that I was breaking down and I just threw them in with the cyp fry. Die off started probably a week after this, so I was thinking the guppies brought something with them, but they're still alive and totally fine (aside from being heavily inbred...). I think I'm going to raise the new batch in an external breeder box and see what goes on.

[Marty]

Cyprochromis are a sensitive fish, so abrupt changes in water conditions (ph, nitrites, ammonia,temperature) would be enough to stress them out and kill them.  If you did a water change that was too large, that could've caused it, or if you waited too long to do a water change.

Have you tried raising them with the parents, or are you moving them to a fry tank?  If you are moving them to a fry tank, are you using water from the tank the parents spawned in, or fresh water?

[eitakppurk]

I was moving the holding cyp into the fry tank, letting her spit and then moving her back. It's a community tank so I can't let her spit there. The fry tank is ten gallons and I do 25% change per week...

[Ava333]

Sorry your having problems. I just lost half my fry in the past week. I would find one or two dead and a few looking weird every morning. They seemed to be turning darker, swimming like they didn't have much energy when they did swim, find a corner to hide on the bottom, not eat, and sometimes stay at the surface for hours at a time. They hadn't been exposed to any diseases, toxins, or poor water quality. I was at a lose. Then I noticed something. I had separated all the fry that were acting strangely, then did a water change. Within 20 minutes, I had 3 more fry acting weird. Apon serious inspection, I saw a tiney bit of water in the heater. It must have been throwing stray current when it turned on. Sucks to loose so many fry to a new piece of equipment! As soon as the heater was removed, everything went back to normal. Loosing fish can be frustrating. Hope you get it figured out soon.

[eitakppurk]

Does anyone know if I can treat the fry with a broad spectrum anti-parasite anti-biotic type treatment? I'm thinking it's too small (~1 inch)

[Ava333]

I'm not sure if this is the direction your looking in but I have used API Genreal Cure as a Dip for eggs and on one month old fry, full strength. (The mother and the rest of the tank was being treated for Hexamita when I found her holding.) I kept about 20 of those fry and they're now juveniles living happy/healthy in my 125 tank. I don't remember what all it kills except Hex and Bacteria, but Google is your friend. 😁

[eitakppurk]

good to know, thank you!

[Ava333]

Your welcome. If you ever need to use it as a Dip for eggs....try half strength for 3 hours per day. I used a 5 gallon bucket, matched it to the tank temp, and set the egg tumbler in it. Repeat up to 5 dips in 5 days if your worried about Hexamita. Would only do 2 or 3 dips if your worried about Bacteria. For a healthily holding female, I don't dip at all. It sounds like your letting the mothers hold till they spit, so hopefully you won't need this.

I'm fairly new to Africans and my experience lies with Mbuna and Peacocks. I can't give you solid advice on your fish for lack of experience with those kind. But I'm getting much better on identifying Bloat and how to get them pooping again. Hit me up if I can help.