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Sudden loach death

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2015 4:55 pm
by Jacqui
Hi, I've just joined and am desperate for some advice. I have a 3 ft community tank with cardinal tetras, 2 rams, rummy nose tetras and my 4 beloved khuli loaches. On Saturday I did my usual water change, I also topped up my sand substrate with pewter sand from pets at home. I washed the sand thoroughly. Within a hour one khuli was dead and I lost another two died overnight. All 3 were really healthy with no signs of disease. I have tested the water and all seems fine, nitrit 0, ammonia 0, nitrate 4, ph 7. I only have 1 guy left. DI'd a 50% water change, and touch wood, he seems ok. All I can think of is 2 things, could the pewter sand contain copper?? I can't find much info online at all. The other thing I'm worried about, my daughter has just got a bearded dragon, after handling them you're supposed to use hand sanatizer. I think I may have had this on my hands when I did the water change. Any ideas, advice would be greatly appreciated. Feeling totally gutted!!!

Re: Sudden loach death

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2015 8:12 pm
by Sarcasm Included
After doing a brief research of the gravel, there is nothing to indicate that anyone else had any harm from the product.
The lizard secretes its venom and unless he bit you, there is little chance that it was on your hands when you put them in the tank. If it was a contaminate, it was more likely soap or lotion, but it would leave a residue on the surface of the tank.

Was the water temperatures similar, or was the water replaced colder than the tank and did you use dechlorinator, if so, possible overdose(takes a considerable overdose to actually kill a fish)? Are you using tap water or well water, does it taste off? Just throwing out possibilities.

Re: Sudden loach death

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2015 1:16 am
by Jacqui
Thanks for your reply, my water change was with the same temperature and I used the right amount of tapsafe. Sorry, my post was unclear on the bearded dragon, what I meant was I used a gel sanitizer on my hands, alchohol based. I've not used anything like it before. I've been on goggle and apparently it can be toxic to fish, although all my other fish are absolutely fine. Whatever happened it seems to have only affected the loaches. I didn't notice any residue on the water surface but do you think it could have been the gel??

Re: Sudden loach death

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2015 10:26 am
by mikev
Is the sand sharp? '

Kuhlis may filter sand through the gills, and it is possible that sharp sand damages the gills.