A. elizabethae female diagnosis

[DTM61]

Hi all,

Unfortunately this fish has died. However, I'd really like to understand why, so any suggestions would be much appreciated. I feel awful about this.

The first thing I became aware of was a small white lump on her side about a week ago. She'd been shy, but I actually assumed she was clearing a cave for breeding as I'd seen her trying to flirt with the male. She'd generally be out and about if I was a few feet from the tank, picking at the wood and sand, and eating pretty well (mostly bloodworms which I've recently read are maybe not so good).

Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate are all zero. Tds about 100. PH is 6 or below, kh and GH are very low (~ 1 & 3). Lots of catappa leaves, plants and fine sand.

A picture from a couple of weeks ago, happy

Last night... Fast breathing, open mouth

Today, deceased.

I'm really at a loss, I tried everything to keep them both happy. The male still looks as he did in the first image. I dosed nt labs anti ulcer and finrot two days ago when I saw a white mark on her right side. Looking at the deceased pictures I've noticed the eye on that side is very dark comparatively, never noticed before.

Upset and any help appreciated,
Cheers
Dan

 

[MacZ]

Normally I'd say it is hard to impossible to diagnose something in hindsight.

But that said:
On the last picture of her alive you can see small whitish patches. Two along the dorsal. They look similar to columnaris, but could be from any bacterial infection. Guess there you have it.
Especially species that prefer acidic environments are prone to bacterial infections. The acidity of their environment keeps bacteria down. Seems it is preferrable evolutionary speaking to endure strong acidity when in exchange gaining an environment with little to no bacteria that could destroy whole spawns.

Can't see anything on the dead specimen that not could also be marks from scavenging.