[RML] Sad Story from a beginner

Glenn Pruitt (gpruitt at fgm.com)
Tue, 07 Jun 2005 15:19:07 -0000

I've had a 90 gallon tank setup since late last summer. My favorite
fish in the tank have been my group of 6 Praecox Rainbows. They've
been in there since last september or october. They were adolescents
when I purchased them, and they have grown large with striking
coloration. Truly wonderful and beautiful fish. They have always
looked strong and healthy with one exception. I inadvertantly
pruchased 5 males and 1 female. The female stayed smaller than the
rest and appeared to get mucled around a bit by the males on occasion.

Fast forward to 8 weeks ago, my wife delivered our fourth child. Our
house has been non-stop crazy since, and regrettably the fish tank
maintenance has slipped severly. My nitrate levels have soared, but
I am now trying to get them back under control.

This past Saturday morning I saw four Fork-Tail (P. Furcata)
Rainbowfish mis-labelled as Australian Rainbowfish at the local
Petco. (not my favorite store to say the least) Anyway, the
prospect of getting four fork-tails for $1.50 each was too much. I
bouthg them. Then I really blew it. I added them to my 90 gallon
tank. The next morning, one male fork tail was floating on top, the
other missing in action. I moved the two female fork-tails to my 90
gallon. (I suspect my large angelfish of foul play with regard to
the missing male)

Sunday night, I noticed my feamle praecox behaving sluggishly.
Monday morning she was dead. Monday night I noticed one of my large
male praecox had a whitish cast on his beakheadmoving. Another male
had a slight bit of whitish cast from his beak to just in front of
his eye. This morning, the fish with the glazed eye was dead.

My wife and I were both remarking on Friday night how marvelous those
Praecox's looked and how large they had grown. Now a few days later
two are dead and another likely on the way. It's very dissappointing
to say the least.

ANy thoughts from the experts? Is this Mycobacteria? Will I lose
the entire tank population?

-Glenn