Sudden, random, violent death

[tnyr5]

So I had this little dactyliophorus for a little over a month. [IMG][/IMG] I picked him from a tank of 15 because he was actively chasing & eating mysis like a champ. He settled in without a hitch, ate with gusto & was totally fearless with the other fish. About an hour ago, as I was watching him in his favorite cave and he suddenly began thrashing about violently in circles. This lasted about 10 seconds, then he lost all control of his body and began to float around the tank. I've never seen a fish go from fine to dead in less than a minute. It's almost like he had a heart attack or a stroke.

Anyway, I was curious if this has ever happened to anyone else. I'd love to try another one, but only if this was one of those things that just happen to me ( I have extraordinarily bad luck and bad things just sort of happen to me. God told me why one time, something about everything happens for a reason blah blah serial killer in past life blah blah blah universe would collapse blah dee blah blah.) Anyone have similar experiences?

[mtc1966]

wow how sad . hopefully someone has the answer.

[coralnut99]

I've never actually witnessed it. But Having just bought a trio of pyramid butterflies that ALL went from eating like horses one night, to dead as a doornail the next night; each one exactly 24 hours apart, I can envision that they perished in a similar fashion. None of the other 9 fish in the tank were affected in the least.

My best guess: Cyanide poisoning manifesting itself.

[novahobbies]

Wow, I'm so sorry to hear that. I can't really guess what it might have been, but I don't think it would be cyanide.....first, because cyanide poisoning would have manifested sooner, and second, because cyanide poisoning has the same effect on fish as, say, carbon monoxide. It keeps Oxygen from binding to the hemoglobin, so the fish essentially asphyxiate and "go to sleep."

You're SURE there wasn't something in the cave with him? A young mantis shrimp, possibly??

[coralnut99]

I know this may derail this thread to some extent, but this may be worth noting:

Cyanide is a powerful poison that affects the respiratory system of organisms and causes death through organ damage (liver spleen central nerve system) even after weeks.

Importers in the United States and Europe complained about the low quality of cyanide caught fish and high mortality rates even weeks after receiving the shipments. The unusually high losses discouraged importers from ordering and the Philippine ornamental trade has become the focus of conservationists and coral reef protection groups. They were even considering an import ban if no substantial quality improvements will be achieved in time.

That's an excerpt from: http://www.marinefauna-cebu.com/cyn.html

Liver damage and death weeks after capture is what I've read on the effects of Cyanide pretty much across the board.

[tnyr5]

Novahobbies, I don't think I could ever be completely sure, but I would say probably not. When I examined him there were no bite or claw marks.
Sorry to hear about your pyramids Coralnut, mine is still doing well *knocks on tank*

[Tucson Reef]

Cyanide would show signs that are pretty obvious, it screws up thier digestive system amongst other things, loss of appitite, stringy, mucusy waste, gills going at fast panicy rate. My guess is it ate something bad or it went down the wrong way.

[Bluemon]

just out of curiosity- did you deworm him?