C. cervinus.......died! Help!

[Cory Lover 1]

Heya everyone,

It was a sad day yesterday, my favourite Cory died. I got him (C. cervinus) about 1.5 months ago and since last night he was doing great (I named him Keatoo ). Keatoo was growing and he was always so busy.

Last night I fed my fish bloodworms and I realised he never came out to eat, so I looked behind a piece of slate and there he was, on his back dead. I picked him up and saw that his whiskers and fins were mostly eaten, I've never seen that on any other Cory that has died. I assume my Convicts ate his fins and barbels after he died. Thats why I am concerned. I've had my Convicts for now well over four years and they have been very peaceful for Cichlids, only eating a few small Danios. I hope they had nothing to do with Keatoo's death, and I don't think they did but I'm watching them very closely. If I suspect they did it I know of a place that would take them very happily.

Any ideas on why he died? Water is fine, nothing added recently, my other fish are fine, and I have good filteration.

Thanks

CL1

[Freshman]

Convict
That's one of worst tankmates you can get for your cories. Sadz.

IMO, your cories are constantly living under stress, as there is a predator/aggressor lurking around. Any wounds/injuries/infections will be greatly worsen in stressed state, leading to death eventually.

Qns:
How do you know he was doing great?
Any signs/symptoms of sickness before he was found dead?
Could he have been sick before joining u?
Why was he always so busy? (escaping from the harassment from the convict?)
Was he the only corydoras in your tank?(they are social fish and thrive better in group)

And since your convicts are in your tank for almost four years, I believe they must have established their own territories and will be aggressive towards any ignorant fishes that trespass their home. I suspect your newly bought cory might be the unlucky fellow targeted.

* maybe you would like to read the sticky first when posting on health topic.

[apistomaster]

I agree, I wouldn't even consider trying to keep Corydoras and Convicts together. They may turn on any fish without warning although they regularly do so during a spawning.

[Cory Lover 1]

Convict
That's one of worst tankmates you can get for your cories. Sadz.

IMO, your cories are constantly living under stress, as there is a predator/aggressor lurking around. Any wounds/injuries/infections will be greatly worsen in stressed state, leading to death eventually.

Qns:
How do you know he was doing great?
Any signs/symptoms of sickness before he was found dead?
Could he have been sick before joining u?
Why was he always so busy? (escaping from the harassment from the convict?)
Was he the only corydoras in your tank?(they are social fish and thrive better in group)

And since your convicts are in your tank for almost four years, I believe they must have established their own territories and will be aggressive towards any ignorant fishes that trespass their home. I suspect your newly bought cory might be the unlucky fellow targeted.

* maybe you would like to read the sticky first when posting on health topic.

Ok......I know the easy and in most cases right answer would be the Convict Cichlids......but I really have a feeling it wasn't them after thinking about the situation longer. I've had then for well over four years (I've had Corydoras with them for over 1.5 years)and (I know this may sound the starngest thing I can possibley say) but they are mostly peaceful. My Biggest Cory, Big Mama, goes onto the Con's special rock and she plays games with them, going back and forth on the rock. She even, not meaning to, chased the male Con and he swam away fast lol (he is a wimp, and a infertile one and that ).

Ok, now to your questions.(1) I know he was doing great since he was growing, gaining color (he was very dull at the pet store), and was eating well and loved his tubifex worms. I guess IMO, that means a Cory is doing great.(2)No, nothing major.(3)Yeah, I was thinking about that, I assume he was wild caught and could have been carrying a disease.(4) No, the Convicts did not chase him. He never went on their third of the tank (its a 54 gallon). He was busy because he was a Corydoras, Cories are busy, always digging in the gravel, playing with each other, ect.(5)He had 15 other Corydoras friends.

Don't alot of wild Cories die?

CL1

[Freshman]

Don't alot of wild Cories die?

CL1

I'm not sure whether a lot of wild cories die as I have very little experience with them. But I do read that proper quarantine will greatly increased the chances of survival.

Anyway, I believe there are many wild ones that survive and even manage to reproduce successfully in farm/tank. That's why we can get some species at very affordable price

Back to your case
I still think convict is the one of the cause. Fish behavior can sometimes be unpredictable. So, IMO it will be safer to keep away from those aggressive type.

May Keatoo RIP.

[Cory Lover 1]

Don't alot of wild Cories die?

CL1

I'm not sure whether a lot of wild cories die as I have very little experience with them. But I do read that proper quarantine will greatly increased the chances of survival.

Anyway, I believe there are many wild ones that survive and even manage to reproduce successfully in farm/tank. That's why we can get some species at very affordable price

Back to your case
I still think convict is the one of the cause. Fish behavior can sometimes be unpredictable. So, IMO it will be safer to keep away from those aggressive type.

May Keatoo RIP.

Yeah, I just heard some where thst about 25% of wild caught Cories die.....maybe thats wrong.

Yeah, like I said I'm watching them very closely and if I see any unwanted behaviour I'll give them away.

Thanks for your help

CL1