Illness/Sickness: Sad day, Lost

[achiinto]

Today is a bad day. I lost three caecilians. I know I should not have kept them, but I didn't know when I purchased them a year ago. Lot of things going on at home, major renovation and it required me to move many of my aquariums. I also have 4 axolotls arriving, so I had to move my collection around. I also took the opportunity to do a major clean up of the caecilian tank.

It turned out that the nitrogen cycle was disturbed and it killed the caecilians. I was surprised about the ammonia level b/c I only changed the tank setup 2 days ago. I have always this impression and from experience that if I am using the original gravels and stones (without any cleaning on them), the nitrogen cycle should do fine. I have been using the Python water changing system and pour tap water right into the tank and I add the conditioner in right after. I have been doing that for years and have never experienced problem.

However, I tested that even my C.O. tank and the Fuzong Warty Newt tank also have extremely high ammonia due to the major change in the aquarium setup. Luckily, the Caecilians' death warned me and I immediately completed the water change.

I have to confess that I should have paid more attention to the my collection, my recent attention went to the amphibian and wildlife in the local nature and into nature photography, and also to the busy lifestyle I have acquired. I feel sorry to my caecilians....

Anyway, anyone with experience in major setup change and water quality? Anyone have experience that the nitrogen cycle get disturbed?

 

[fuzzy]

I don't have any advice, but I wanted to offer my condolences to you. It must have been very tough to lose 3 pets so suddenly. Best wishes to you in the future!

 

[achiinto]

I don't have any advice, but I wanted to offer my condolences to you. It must have been very tough to lose 3 pets so suddenly. Best wishes to you in the future!

Thanks for your kindness. I guess I blame myself for the mistakes I made. I which there is a heaven for all amphibians in the world.

 

[suiean]

I can never figure out why whenever the stones are moved from 1 tank to another.... the plants on the stone died ...

 

[Jennewt]

I'm very sorry to hear it. Is there any chance that you water contains chloramine? That could also explain the sudden rise in ammonia in such a short time.

 

[achiinto]

I'm very sorry to hear it. Is there any chance that you water contains chloramine? That could also explain the sudden rise in ammonia in such a short time.

Hum... I remembered that the water conditioner I am using also take care of Chloramine. But I might have used an older bottle than the one I am using before. Or perhaps it is a seasonal things, an aquarium owner local to where I am warned me that the water plants like to add additional chlorine and/or chloramine in spring and fall. Maybe just that I am changing more water than I used to and also disturbed the nitrogen cycle and the addtional chemical from the water plants all add up to a crazy bloom of Ammonia.

I checked last night, the Ammonia went up again i most of tank and I have too change water for them one more time. I guess I have to keep an eye on the parameters in the next few days until it is stable. i will try to find out why this is the case and hopefully report back to you all.

 

[achiinto]

So, the fourth and last caecilian died this morning. I just changed water last night, but I guess that stressed the already stressed caecilian further and it died. I checked the parameters this morning and everything seem okay. But I guess the previous ammonia poison already hurt it badly.

Lesson learned is that every spring and fall have to watch for increased chloride in the water. Another lesson is that a big disturbance in the tank can really disturb the nitrogen cycle. No matter how many stones are untouched. Better safe than sorry.

It looks like the warty newts are pretty stressed as well. They are all rejecting food. I hope things will turn out better. Anyhow, now that all the aquariums are relocated to better location in the house and most to the colder basement, I can spend more time/opportunities to observe them. I guess spending time to observe the animals help ensure their health.