All sharks and rays randomly stopped eating/lethargic

[eelman]

Hello everyone unfortunately my luck just keeps getting better, maybe the bat Ray passing was not such a coincidence after all, he arrived Thursday and passed that following night following this incident now all of my other sharks and rays have suddenly become lethargic, no one is eating I found my bamboo shark laying on his back this morning and one of my Cal rays looks like he went to war.

Water parameters are

Salinity 1.026
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 10
Ph 7.9

I did a 600 gallon water change using my RODI water Tuesday two days before all of this happened,

There are 10 fish in this tank with them, including puffers, groupers tangs, grasses, eels none of the fish whatsoever are affected by apparently whatever is going on.

I will attach some photos of the two most lethargic animals in the tank, the bamboo shark, and one of the rays

This has all happened at once overnight.

I have just primed the water just in case there are somehow any trace elements of copper or some type of metal in the water

What would be my best plan of action?

I just purchased garlic, fresh food and prazi pro,

I checked the water parameters myself and then just drove up to my local fish shop as well and both parameters matched I even had them test the salinity on multiple units because the bamboo shark will not stop itching the gills,

I haven’t added any new sharks or raised, and none of the fish appeared to have any parasites or acting anyway they would

The new race and sharks that recently got here both are experiencing similar problems to my other sharks and rays

Yet the timing seems too fast to have onset anything, and I don’t know where they would’ve potentially caught a parasite.

I greatly appreciate any input and any type of course of action I can take. Definitely do not want to see my animal suffer.

Thanks

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello everyone unfortunately my luck just keeps getting better, maybe the bat Ray passing was not such a coincidence after all, he arrived Thursday and passed that following night following this incident now all of my other sharks and rays have suddenly become lethargic, no one is eating I found my bamboo shark laying on his back this morning and one of my Cal rays looks like he went to war.

Water parameters are

Salinity 1.026
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 10
Ph 7.9

I did a 600 gallon water change using my RODI water Tuesday two days before all of this happened,

There are 10 fish in this tank with them, including puffers, groupers tangs, grasses, eels none of the fish whatsoever are affected by apparently whatever is going on.

I will attach some photos of the two most lethargic animals in the tank, the bamboo shark, and one of the rays

This has all happened at once overnight.

I have just primed the water just in case there are somehow any trace elements of copper or some type of metal in the water

What would be my best plan of action?

I just purchased garlic, fresh food and prazi pro,

I checked the water parameters myself and then just drove up to my local fish shop as well and both parameters matched I even had them test the salinity on multiple units because the bamboo shark will not stop itching the gills,

I haven’t added any new sharks or raised, and none of the fish appeared to have any parasites or acting anyway they would

The new race and sharks that recently got here both are experiencing similar problems to my other sharks and rays

Yet the timing seems too fast to have onset anything, and I don’t know where they would’ve potentially caught a parasite.

I greatly appreciate any input and any type of course of action I can take. Definitely do not want to see my animal suffer.

Thanks

First thing to do is confirm nitrate, often a root of issues with them. Then confirm salinity and temperature range. I dont see the redness associated with nitrate but confirm anyway and how are you testing levels?
Sudden changes with water often are stressors causing this as is bacterial issues

@Jay Hemdal

 

[eelman]

First thing to do is confirm nitrate, often a root of issues with them. Then confirm salinity and temperature range. I dont see the redness associated with nitrate but confirm anyway and how are you testing levels?
Sudden changes with water often are stressors causing this as is bacterial issues

@Jay Hemdal

Nitrates are 10, I’ve let them get all the way up to 70/80 last year and there were no issues.

we did Hanna checkers, API, and spin test for water parameters.

Salinity, Milwaukee, hanna and a calibrated Refractometer.

Just the sharks/rays are affected, everything else is doing fantastic.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hello everyone unfortunately my luck just keeps getting better, maybe the bat Ray passing was not such a coincidence after all, he arrived Thursday and passed that following night following this incident now all of my other sharks and rays have suddenly become lethargic, no one is eating I found my bamboo shark laying on his back this morning and one of my Cal rays looks like he went to war.

Water parameters are

Salinity 1.026
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 10
Ph 7.9

I did a 600 gallon water change using my RODI water Tuesday two days before all of this happened,

There are 10 fish in this tank with them, including puffers, groupers tangs, grasses, eels none of the fish whatsoever are affected by apparently whatever is going on.

I will attach some photos of the two most lethargic animals in the tank, the bamboo shark, and one of the rays

This has all happened at once overnight.

I have just primed the water just in case there are somehow any trace elements of copper or some type of metal in the water

What would be my best plan of action?

I just purchased garlic, fresh food and prazi pro,

I checked the water parameters myself and then just drove up to my local fish shop as well and both parameters matched I even had them test the salinity on multiple units because the bamboo shark will not stop itching the gills,

I haven’t added any new sharks or raised, and none of the fish appeared to have any parasites or acting anyway they would

The new race and sharks that recently got here both are experiencing similar problems to my other sharks and rays

Yet the timing seems too fast to have onset anything, and I don’t know where they would’ve potentially caught a parasite.

I greatly appreciate any input and any type of course of action I can take. Definitely do not want to see my animal suffer.

Thanks

Both of these fish are very thin (the bamboo shark is worse).

For a sudden reaction in all elasmobranchs, with the bony fish all doing well, I look for either low salinity (not the case here) or heavy metal toxicity (zinc or copper). I wouldn't rely on Prime to help with that - I would use multiple water changes and Poly Filter to pull anything like that out of the water.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Nitrates are 10, I’ve let them get all the way up to 70/80 last year and there were no issues.

we did Hanna checkers, API, and spin test for water parameters.

Salinity, Milwaukee, hanna and a calibrated Refractometer.

Just the sharks/rays are affected, everything else is doing fantastic.

I suspect higher levels that indicated and would trust hanna over spintest and API as both are API often suggesting false readings. Also if able to , calibrate your salinity tester to assure accuracy and I recommend a 20% water change and Daily water changes of 5 gallons for 14 days

 

[eelman]

I suspect higher levels that indicated and would trust hanna over spintest and API as both are API often suggesting false readings. Also if able to , calibrate your salinity tester to assure accuracy and I recommend a 20% water change and Daily water changes of 5 gallons for 14 days

There in 1000 gallons, the nitrate test was ran over 3 different tests, there was a 600 gallon change done last week.

 

[eelman]

Both of these fish are very thin (the bamboo shark is worse).

For a sudden reaction in all elasmobranchs, with the bony fish all doing well, I look for either low salinity (not the case here) or heavy metal toxicity (zinc or copper). I wouldn't rely on Prime to help with that - I would use multiple water changes and Poly Filter to pull anything like that out of the water.

I just got the bamboo shark a few days ago, the stingray I’ve had for 3 years, he eats like a pig 3 days a week, he just died, I literally don’t get it. I don’t know how any types of metal could be in the water.. I don’t even know where to go about it..

On top of that, no way to get that much water that fast and without knowing what it is, what if doing the water change just puts it right back in?

 

[larrysaltisfun]

Just reading through your thread I’m very sorry for your losses. I sincerely hope this turns around for you.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I just got the bamboo shark a few days ago, the stingray I’ve had for 3 years, he eats like a pig 3 days a week, he just died, I literally don’t get it. I don’t know how any types of metal could be in the water.. I don’t even know where to go about it..

On top of that, no way to get that much water that fast and without knowing what it is, what if doing the water change just puts it right back in?

Sorry to hear about the ray especially after 3 years. I see 600 gallon water change was done . I suggest an ICP test to rule out metals and other elements which may have become elevated

 

[jermzisurmom]

Have u tried seeing if there may be a stray electrical current maybe a really small one messing with them I'm no expert or know anything at all so just throwing my two cents out there.

 

[eelman]

Have u tried seeing if there may be a stray electrical current maybe a really small one messing with them I'm no expert or know anything at all so just throwing my two cents out there.

I will, I appreciate the input

 

[eelman]

Sorry to hear about the ray especially after 3 years. I see 600 gallon water change was done . I suggest an ICP test to rule out metals and other elements which may have become elevated

Yes I’m going to do that asap, thank you

 

[eelman]

Update, both of my horn sharks eyes, went from crystal clear to now so hazy I can’t see through them.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Update, both of my horn sharks eyes, went from crystal clear to now so hazy I can’t see through them.

Two reasons will be trauma to eyes, and more likely, bacterial in which the water changes you did should have helped

 

[eelman]

Two reasons will be trauma to eyes, and more likely, bacterial in which the water changes you did should have helped

If I put him in my 210 quarantine and treat with prazi can that help at all?

 

[Tripod1404]

How are you making your saltwater for water changes?

I wonder if there is an issue with the RODI system or the mixing station. If you are mixing your saltwater make sure he slump you use to mix is not corroded.

I would also check every other equipment in water to ensure something did not break.

 

[xzt]

I agree with part of Jay Hemdal's thoughts. I would suggest checking the water's salinity and ammonia nitrogen first, and next possibly looking into heavy metals or some chemical substances in the water. Cartilaginous fish are generally more sensitive to these than bony fish, but nitrate does not cause mortality in cartilaginous fish—the nitrate level in the water where I currently keep sharks is as high as 1000 mg/L.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Do you possibly have a saltwater or exotic vet you could take him to or even a telemedicine consult? I took my porcupine puffer to one and they gave him a prescription for his issue and he is all better. I do believe with expensive, prized, or special fish it is 100% worth it to at least try and find one or take them to one even if you have to drive a little but maybe one would come to you? On top of checking his water quality and get that testing done.

 

[eelman]

I agree with part of Jay Hemdal's thoughts. I would suggest checking the water's salinity and ammonia nitrogen first, and next possibly looking into heavy metals or some chemical substances in the water. Cartilaginous fish are generally more sensitive to these than bony fish, but nitrate does not cause mortality in cartilaginous fish—the nitrate level in the water where I currently keep sharks is as high as 1000 mg/L.

Yes this has been checked and confirmed not the issue from our results, we tried multiple.. definitely need to get the water tested for metals but have proceeded to pull the remaining fish out and put them in a 210 gallon quarantine, even then it’s still progressively getting worse which makes me believe this is bacterial/parasitic of some sort even though the symptoms exploded out of nowhere, at least it seemed that way. Yes I personally have had the nitrates all the way up to 70 for long periods of time, also saw many aquariums letting them sit at 250 so that wasn’t my particular concern here

 

[eelman]

Do you possibly have a saltwater or exotic vet you could take him to or even a telemedicine consult? I took my porcupine puffer to one and they gave him a prescription for his issue and he is all better. I do believe with expensive, prized, or special fish it is 100% worth it to at least try and find one or take them to one even if you have to drive a little but maybe one would come to you? On top of checking his water quality and get that testing done.

Unfortunately out of the question where im
Located, on top of that, they wouldn’t survive the travel. I’m sure today will me the majorities last day unfortunately and some where along the lines this is definitely my fault