WHY DID MY L010a died just like after 1 day?

**yat6661** · 2nd Aug 2009, 20:13

the very next day, i see them motionless covered with grey residue.

ph- 5 to 6
temp - 30

tank is matured.

but, i just added a dw. only soaked for a few mins.

**bossteck** · 2nd Aug 2009, 20:52

Any other fishes in the tank?
Did you acclimatize them before adding them into the tank? How did you do the acclimatization?

**yat6661** · 2nd Aug 2009, 21:04

no other, strictly them. flaot them for 2 hrs.

**bossteck** · 2nd Aug 2009, 21:43

Based on your brief description, I suspect it might be due to pH shock
Do take some time to read this article.

Sorry about your loss.

**yat6661** · 2nd Aug 2009, 21:58

any other way?

**SCOPE** · 3rd Aug 2009, 12:30

i got the same experience in the past with pleco too when i just "dump in" some of my pleco....next day...some turn to corpse so fast. Later i realized that the water ph from the shop i brought these pleco is at 7 and my tank about 5+. the difference of ph is quite deadly and easily shock the pleco to death. Dipping is the safest way.

**celticfish** · 3rd Aug 2009, 17:34

Originally Posted by SCOPE

i got the same experience in the past with pleco too when i just "dump in" some of my pleco....next day...some turn to corpse so fast. Later i realized that the water ph from the shop i brought these pleco is at 7 and my tank about 5+. the difference of ph is quite deadly and easily shock the pleco to death. Dipping is the safest way.

I think you meant "dripping method" for acclimatization, SCOPE?

**SCOPE** · 3rd Aug 2009, 17:37

Originally Posted by celticfish

I think you meant "dripping method" for acclimatization, SCOPE?

yah!...hehe!...correct...thanks bro

**yat6661** · 3rd Aug 2009, 18:05

thanks bros. i'll do the dripping method next time! but still, why are they covered with grey residue?

**BFG** · 4th Aug 2009, 00:27

Originally Posted by yat6661

thanks bros. i'll do the dripping method nxt time! but still, why are they covered with grey residue?

Bacteria coating?

**yat6661** · 4th Aug 2009, 17:21

should be man. i left them 2 algae wafers(half) and they didnt take it.

**Cup** · 13th Aug 2009, 15:33

Some times these things just happen. I have found them to be a rather delicate fish as well. 30 is a bit high.

**apistomaster** · 26th Aug 2009, 07:49

I find L10a to be fairly resilient species and from what I have read here, I believe the fish were already sick when you bought them. It was probably a bacterial infection since it appeared in an advanced stage soon after you bought them.

It is becoming more widely accepted that slow drip acclimation is not a very good method.
It is almost always best to equalize the temps by floating the bag then removing the fish and place it in the new tank without allowing any of the water in the bag into the tank. The pH in a bag can drop to very acid conditions and this helps because it greatly reduces ammonium toxic effects. When one uses the slow drip acclimation the pH rises as the excess CO2 is released and the ammonium becomes very toxic above a ph of 6.8-7.0. I believe your L10a were burned by the toxic ammonia and that is what really killed them.

L10a are delightful little carnivorous Whiptail catfish which should live for many years. I have received many juvenile specimens little more than 3 cm long and they were easy to acclimate and keep for many years.