Fish breathing fast and dying within 2-3 days

[microrobot]

Hi everyone so for past 2 months every new fish I have added into my tank has died with in 1-3 days my fish would breathe fast and some later on when they are closing to dying they would get some type of spot on there body my ammonia and nitrite are 0 corals and inverts are fine I’m not sure what it’s I would appreciate it if anyone could help me out what could it be I have lost over 10 fish I thought it was oxygen but I have had a air pump and two wave makers but I’m not sure what it’s inverts seems to be doing fine just fish keeps dying within 1-2 days and I haven’t seen any fish fight each other I think it’s some type of parasites but not sure thanks.

 

[vetteguy53081]

First recommendation- Quarantine in addition, leave display tank without fish for at least 6 weeks to assure any parasites present die off without a host fish
Any pics of fish prior to loss under white light intensity- pics too dark to see

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi everyone so for past 2 months every new fish I have added into my tank has died with in 1-3 days my fish would breathe fast and some later on when they are closing to dying they would get some type of spot on there body my ammonia and nitrite are 0 corals and inverts are fine I’m not sure what it’s I would appreciate it if anyone could help me out what could it be I have lost over 10 fish I thought it was oxygen but I have had a air pump and two wave makers but I’m not sure what it’s inverts seems to be doing fine just fish keeps dying within 1-2 days and I haven’t seen any fish fight each other I think it’s some type of parasites but not sure thanks.

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

There may be multiple issues going on here, but losing ten fish seems to indicate that there is a major disease issue in your tank - from the symptoms, it sounds like Amyloodinium/Velvet, a gill parasite.

It helps if you can video the fish under white lights.

Are there any fish remaining in the tank? What is there status, any symptoms? Again, a video taken under white lights is very helpful.

Going forward, your tank may need to remain fishless for 60 days, to remove the current infection. then, it would be helpful if you buy pre-quarantined fish, or quarantine them yourself.

I asee you are in Canada, you may not have easy access to proper fish medications.

Here is our quarantine protocol:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/current-quarantine-protocol.825055/

 

[microrobot]

Hi everyone so for past 2 months every new fish I have added into my tank has died with in 1-3 days my fish would breathe fast and some later on when they are closing to dying they would get some type of spot on there body my ammonia and nitrite are 0 corals and inverts are fine I’m not sure what it’s I would appreciate it if anyone could help me out what could it be I have lost over 10 fish I thought it was oxygen but I have had a air pump and two wave makers but I’m not sure what it’s inverts seems to be doing fine just fish keeps dying within 1-2 days and I haven’t seen any fish fight each other I think it’s some type of parasites but not sure thanks.

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

There may be multiple issues going on here, but losing ten fish seems to indicate that there is a major disease issue in your tank - from the symptoms, it sounds like Amyloodinium/Velvet, a gill parasite.

It helps if you can video the fish under white lights.

Are there any fish remaining in the tank? What is there status, any symptoms? Again, a video taken under white lights is very helpful.

Going forward, your tank may need to remain fishless for 60 days, to remove the current infection. then, it would be helpful if you buy pre-quarantined fish, or quarantine them yourself.

I asee you are in Canada, you may not have easy access to proper fish medications.

Here is our quarantine protocol:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/current-quarantine-protocol.825055/

Hi I don’t have any fish left they have all died but here’s some of the video I found

View attachment 20260305_151038_8F3126FF-FF3C-411A-9E90-2C248BB1FF3E.mov

View attachment 20260305_151100_DED9A087-6375-4122-9717-C7FCA761FEF6.mov

 

[W31Olds]

The second video is a telltale sign. When your Cleaner Shrimp are working over your Foxface like that there is some sort of Parasite present. I have 2 Cleaner Shrimp and my Fish never queue up to them even though the Shrimp would like them to. You need to Fallow the Tank and enjoy your Corals and Shrimp. When you do get ready to add Fish again, I would setup at the very least an Observation Tank and run everything through it. Even pre QT'd fish.

 

[microrobot]

The second video is a telltale sign. When your Cleaner Shrimp are working over your Foxface like that there is some sort of Parasite present. I have 2 Cleaner Shrimp and my Fish never queue up to them even though the Shrimp would like them to. You need to Fallow the Tank and enjoy your Corals and Shrimp. When you do get ready to add Fish again, I would setup at the very least an Observation Tank and run everything through it. Even pre QT'd fish.

Thank you so much, i have lost all my fish I have nothing left everyone is saying leave the tank fish less for 6 weeks so thats what im going to do the fishes used to breathe crazy and die fast within 2 days.

 

[MnFish1]

Thank you so much, i have lost all my fish I have nothing left everyone is saying leave the tank fish less for 6 weeks so thats what im going to do the fishes used to breathe crazy and die fast within 2 days.

I assume your invertebrates are doing well - suggesting an illness rather than a toxin in the tank. I would leave it fallow as already recommended. Also, are you using the same source for all of your fish? If so I might change it?

 

[microrobot]

Thank you so much, i have lost all my fish I have nothing left everyone is saying leave the tank fish less for 6 weeks so thats what im going to do the fishes used to breathe crazy and die fast within 2 days.

I assume your invertebrates are doing well - suggesting an illness rather than a toxin in the tank. I would leave it fallow as already recommended. Also, are you using the same source for all of your fish? If so I might change it?

Hi, no I’m not using the same store I buy from different stores I usually shop around and buy something that’s better price

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi I don’t have any fish left they have all died but here’s some of the video I found

The fish were breathing too fast, but with no skin lesions really are visible. That means this is either gill flukes or velvet. The way I tell these apart is: fish not eating, with all fish dying within a few days = velvet. Fish breathing fast, but eating ok up until a few days before they die, and fish dying over weeks = gill flukes.

Luckily, letting your tank go fishless for 60 days will cause both of those diseases to die out.

 

[ExSoldier]

Have you resolved this problem? Do you know the cause?

 

[microrobot]

Have you resolved this problem? Do you know the cause?

I just have left the tank fallow I’m on the 4th week I will update you once I finish week 6 are you experiencing the same thing?

 

[MasterClassReefs]

Hi everyone so for past 2 months every new fish I have added into my tank has died with in 1-3 days my fish would breathe fast and some later on when they are closing to dying they would get some type of spot on there body my ammonia and nitrite are 0 corals and inverts are fine I’m not sure what it’s I would appreciate it if anyone could help me out what could it be I have lost over 10 fish I thought it was oxygen but I have had a air pump and two wave makers but I’m not sure what it’s inverts seems to be doing fine just fish keeps dying within 1-2 days and I haven’t seen any fish fight each other I think it’s some type of parasites but not sure thanks.

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

There may be multiple issues going on here, but losing ten fish seems to indicate that there is a major disease issue in your tank - from the symptoms, it sounds like Amyloodinium/Velvet, a gill parasite.

It helps if you can video the fish under white lights.

Are there any fish remaining in the tank? What is there status, any symptoms? Again, a video taken under white lights is very helpful.

Going forward, your tank may need to remain fishless for 60 days, to remove the current infection. then, it would be helpful if you buy pre-quarantined fish, or quarantine them yourself.

I asee you are in Canada, you may not have easy access to proper fish medications.

Here is our quarantine protocol:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/current-quarantine-protocol.825055/

Solid advice.

 

[MasterClassReefs]

Hi I don’t have any fish left they have all died but here’s some of the video I found

The fish were breathing too fast, but with no skin lesions really are visible. That means this is either gill flukes or velvet. The way I tell these apart is: fish not eating, with all fish dying within a few days = velvet. Fish breathing fast, but eating ok up until a few days before they die, and fish dying over weeks = gill flukes.

Luckily, letting your tank go fishless for 60 days will cause both of those diseases to die out.

A small scraping or sample of gill tissue and a microscope could end the guessing fast.

 

[MasterClassReefs]

Have you resolved this problem? Do you know the cause?

I just have left the tank fallow I’m on the 4th week I will update you once I finish week 6 are you experiencing the same thing?

As Jay mentioned 6 months is likely needed for the tank to run fishless, not 6 weeks. Many parasites/pathogens will still be present within 2 months. You have entered the pound of cure rather than the ounce of prevention treatment method here by adding fish with no quarantine which would have taken 6-8 weeks done properly.

 

[W31Olds]

As Jay mentioned 6 months is likely needed for the tank to run fishless, not 6 weeks. Many parasites/pathogens will still be present within 2 months. You have entered the pound of cure rather than the ounce of prevention treatment method here by adding fish with no quarantine which would have taken 6-8 weeks done properly.

The Fallow period is 60 Days not 6 months and a skin scape can be inconclusive, and you need to be experienced about what you're looking at under a Microscope. A Gill Biopsy is even harder to do and is more for large fish and can also cause additional problems if not done correctly.
Mr. Fragger, no offense, but please refrain from giving Medical Advice.

 

[MasterClassReefs]

As Jay mentioned 6 months is likely needed for the tank to run fishless, not 6 weeks. Many parasites/pathogens will still be present within 2 months. You have entered the pound of cure rather than the ounce of prevention treatment method here by adding fish with no quarantine which would have taken 6-8 weeks done properly.

The Fallow period is 60 Days not 6 months and a skin scape can be inconclusive, and you need to be experienced about what you're looking at under a Microscope. A Gill Biopsy is even harder to do and is more for large fish and can also cause additional problems if not done correctly.
Mr. Fragger, no offense, but please refrain from giving Medical Advice.

Ah, I just noticed he did mention 60 days. Ime this is a bit short time wise for a fallow run and may not be long enough to starve out parasites 100% but hopefully it works well. 60 days would be just over 8 weeks. Upping temperature to 80°F wouldnt hurt this process.

 

[MasterClassReefs]

As Jay mentioned 6 months is likely needed for the tank to run fishless, not 6 weeks. Many parasites/pathogens will still be present within 2 months. You have entered the pound of cure rather than the ounce of prevention treatment method here by adding fish with no quarantine which would have taken 6-8 weeks done properly.

The Fallow period is 60 Days not 6 months and a skin scape can be inconclusive, and you need to be experienced about what you're looking at under a Microscope. A Gill Biopsy is even harder to do and is more for large fish and can also cause additional problems if not done correctly.
Mr. Fragger, no offense, but please refrain from giving Medical Advice.

I have experience here but no problem. Good luck!

 

[MasterClassReefs]

As Jay mentioned 6 months is likely needed for the tank to run fishless, not 6 weeks. Many parasites/pathogens will still be present within 2 months. You have entered the pound of cure rather than the ounce of prevention treatment method here by adding fish with no quarantine which would have taken 6-8 weeks done properly.

The Fallow period is 60 Days not 6 months and a skin scape can be inconclusive, and you need to be experienced about what you're looking at under a Microscope. A Gill Biopsy is even harder to do and is more for large fish and can also cause additional problems if not done correctly.
Mr. Fragger, no offense, but please refrain from giving Medical Advice.

Just leaving this tid bit behind before I go. Necropsies wouldnt hurt anything and could yield valuable information. The book of fish disease diagnosis and treatment by Edward J Noga could be a handy read for many. This forum seems to have some rude patrons that dont like open discussion. Thats a shame and will likely lead to me spending less time here generally.

 

[ExSoldier]

I have a similar situation. Some species are alive, but all of them were breathing heavily, yawning, and rubbing against each sand, and they died without any other symptoms.Maybe a little mucus appeared on some of them. I quarantined them for six weeks, but it didn't help. Other fish are showing the same symptoms. Only the foxfish is losing color and rapidly flapping its fins. I'm currently treating it with praziquantel. But for now, nothing changes

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I just have left the tank fallow I’m on the 4th week I will update you once I finish week 6 are you experiencing the same thing?

Just a side note - 6 weeks is only 42 days. The minimum fallow period at 81F. is 45 days days, and 60 is safer, especially if the temperature is less than that.

Jay