Problems with my Cardinals??? Please Help

[Klaive]

Hey everyone...

We have slowly lost our school of Cardinals (only 1 left now )... They have all seemed to give up, just lay down on the sand bed and die slowly... we remove and quaratine them as soon as this happens. What we have noticed is a long white strand between the first and second set of fins on the underside of its body. I would say it is just waste but it stays for a day or so before disappearing almost like the fish is constipated. What do you think? Possible a disease of some sort. This is only effecting the Cardinals and nothing else.

I will also try to uplaod a photo but my camera doesn't take the best Marco photos.

Klaive

[Triggerjay]

Sorry to hear this... I'm sure someone more knowledgable than me will chime in soon!

Jason

[leebca]

WELCOME TO REEF SANCTUARY!

Fish often waste away form either poor nutrition or internal parasites or a combination of the two (assuming the fish has properly acclimated and not poisoned). A large percentage of fishes come through the system and share their intestinal parasites with each other. In the wild these parasites are not that lethal. The fish eats enough good food to feed both itself and the parasites.

In captivity where nutrition is restricted, the parasite can slowly manage to rob the fish of its nutrition and the fish starves to death.

I can't tell from your description what is going on, but the above being as common as it is, is a good place to start.

I advocate that all newly acquired fishes be de-wormed. I am also a strong advocate of feeding natural foods -- marine fishes eat seafood -- of the right kind and quantity.

Here are some posts that may help you out:

First, about proper nutrition:
Feeding Marine Fish and Marine Fish Nutrition
and the form of foods to serve:
Different Forms of Marine Fish Foods

Then, 'de-worming' as I call it:
Strange Excrement from Fish -or- How to be a Super Pooper Snooper

De-worming is easy. It can be done while the fish is still in the display. It is a food additive.

[blue_eyes53813]

Im so sorry to hear this. I hope you can figure it out soon. How long did you have the fish? May have been sick when you got them. Cardinals are shy fish so if you have other aggressive fish they wont eat or go for the food offered to them.

[Klaive]

Thanks for your help...