
What are the reasons behind my cory catfish dying?
- 1. Poor water conditions Bad water conditions are the primary reason behind your cory catfish dying. Cory catfish are freshwater fish and prefer to live in clean water conditions. ...
- 2. Inadequate water parameters Inadequate water parameters can also make your cory catfish suffer from critical conditions, and they can pass away. ...
- 3. Aggressive tankmates ...
- 4. Overcrowded tank ...
- 5. Sickness ...
- 6. Bad genetics ...
Why does my cory catfish keep dying?
Cory Catfish that keep dying is a problem that many fish keepers have. These very sensitive fish can die because of various reasons, so it’s sometimes hard to get to the bottom of the problem. From starvation to diseases, we’ll cover everything and more in this full guide. Cory catfish are lively and curious fish by nature.
Why is my fish not dying in my Aquarium?
Your aquarium setup doesn’t suit your fish Your tank should be set up to suit the fish that you keep. A saltwater fish will die in a freshwater aquarium. Similarly, a fish that prefers warm water will likely die in cold water. But just because your fish isn’t dead yet doesn’t mean that your setup is right.
Is sharp gravel bad for cory catfish?
Cory catfish are bottom dwellers, that dig through the substrate looking for food. If you use sharp gravel, their barbells might be damaged (which is a sign your cory catfish is dying).
What to do if your cory catfish is not eating?
You can try feeding them live foods such as bloodworms to see if they react to that. Cory catfish not eating can be caused by various reasons or diseases, but if nothing’s done this will ultimately lead to starvation. When you look at the cheeks of cory catfish, it should look like it’s chewing and its gills should always be moving.

Why are my small catfish dying?
There are many reasons why fish in your tank keep dying. A few reasons include stress, incorrect tank setup, overfeeding, diseases, and much more. To a beginner, it could look like your fish died for no reason whatsoever.
Why did all my fish died at the same time?
If all fish appeared and acted healthy then all die suddenly, this is almost always due to environmental poisoning. Look for disease signs. Cloudy eyes, gasping, white spots, etc. are all signs of disease.
How do you help a dying catfish?
A dying fish is comforted greatly by having clean, warm water along with a safe and quiet environment without bright lights or loud noises. A dying fish should also be removed from any other aggressive fish in their tank and not overfed to avoid stomach pain or discomfort.
Why do my fish keep dying in a new tank?
New Tank Syndrome: Before a tank has developed the appropriate chemistry to support healthy fish, heavy concentrations of nitrates and ammonium in the water can be fatal. In time, natural bacteria in the water will balance out these contaminants, but until that balance is achieved, fish may die unexpected.
Should I change water after fish died?
A 50–60% water change should be conducted every 5–6 weeks to prevent any type of nitrate accumulations. If a fish dies or there is an outbreak of some disease, go for a 10% water change.
How do I know if my fish has ammonia poisoning?
Symptoms include:Purple, red or bleeding gills.Fish may clamp, may appear darker in color.Red streaking on the fins or body.Fish may gasp for air at the surface of the tank water.Torn & jagged fins.Fish may appear weak and lay at the bottom of the tank.
What makes catfish sick?
Of the overall catfish losses caused by infectious disease, approximately 60 percent are the result of single or mixed bacterial infections, 30 percent result from parasitic infestation, 9 percent from fungal infections, and 1 percent are of viral etiology.
How do you stop a fish from dying?
Treat tap water with water conditioner and a pinch of aquarium salt before you put it in the fishbowl. The salt will help to kill bacteria in the water and keep the water clean for your fish. Do not use iodized salt, as this can harm your fish.
Should I remove dying fish from tank?
Any dead fish should be removed, as its body will quickly rot in the warm, bacteria-laden water. A corpse will pollute water, risking the health of other fish in the tank. If it died from disease the last thing you want is other fish consuming its body parts, so remove immediately.
How do you save a dying fish after water change?
If the fish is dying because of water parameters like pH or the temperature being too high or low, there is nothing you can do except to remove the fish and move it immediately to a tank with ideal water parameters. You might lose a few fish even after you do this so be prepared for some heartbreak.
What kills fish in a tank?
Ammonia and nitrite are just two of many common problems that you might come across while caring for an aquarium and both can harm your fish. A number of things can lead to ammonia, such as fish waste, leftover food rotting at the bottom of the tank, and dead fish not being removed promptly.
Why did my fish died after one day?
When fish produce waste, it breaks down into Ammonia. This is extremely toxic to fish and will kill them within a few days. To combat this, you must allow beneficial bacteria to grow, which helps convert the Ammonia to non-toxic substances.
What is new tank syndrome?
New Tank Syndrome is a term used to describe problems that occur due to the build-up of invisible, toxic compounds in an aquarium. It gets its name as the issue is most likely to occur when your filter is maturing when starting a new aquarium.
What to do after fish dies?
Remove. Any dead fish should be removed, as its body will quickly rot in the warm, bacteria-laden water. A corpse will pollute water, risking the health of other fish in the tank. If it died from disease the last thing you want is other fish consuming its body parts, so remove immediately.
Why do cory catfish die?
High levels of ammonia, nitrate, nitrite or pH concentrations are common reasons why cory catfish die, according to veterinary doctors Foster and Smith. Other common causes of death include unregulated aquarium water temperature, infrequent cleaning and the eating of spoiled food as a result of overfeeding.
What is the best way to keep cory alive?
The use of pH-regulating pellets or wafers, an automatic aquarium water changer, an aquarium heater adjusted to the above temperature range and an exterior power filter, such as the BIO-Wheel, maintains the ideal cory living conditions.
Do cory catfish need a large tank?
Cory catfish are considered a hardy breed that remain small in adulthood and do not require a large tank. Cories clean up the aquarium substrate, keeping the bottom of the tank clean and maintaining water quality.
Why do fish die in small tanks?
A small tank, without much room to move, can cause a fish to become stressed, leading to an early death. Finally, overcrowding can actually cause your fish to suffocate…. Like you and me, fish need oxygen to breathe – without it, they will soon die. The problem is that there is only so much oxygen in your aquarium.
How long does it take for a fish to die from stress?
An overly stressed fish will eventually die. It’s just a matter of time. It may take a few days or weeks – but one thing is certain, your fish’s days are numbered. Unfortunately, stress makes it difficult for a beginner to determine why their fish died.
Why is it bad for betta fish to poop?
Any more than this and you are overfeeding. But the reason overfeeding is bad for your fish is because it causes the water to become dangerous. To put it simply, whatever goes into your fish must come out. The more you feed your fish, the more they poop.
What happens if you forget to add a dechlorinator?
If you forget to add a dechlorinator during a water change, then you will wipe out the entire bacteria colony – chlorine is a bacteria killer (and a fish killer too!). Similarly, if you rinse your filter with tap water, the chlorine will do the same. Another way is when replacing your filter or filter media.
What happens after you cycle your tank?
As I touched on earlier, after you cycle your tank, you will have good bacteria living in your aquarium. And, this bacteria breaks down waste that would otherwise make your fish sick and ultimately die.
What fish are aggressive?
Some fish that are commonly owned by beginners are downright aggressive – fish such as cichlids, Chinese algae eaters, blue gourami and male betta can be territorial, fight over food and even attack or bully other fish.
Why is it important to keep a healthy aquarium?
A healthy tank also has bacteria that break down and remove waste from your aquarium. To put it simply, this bacteria keeps the water safe for your fish. Just one problem – this bacteria does not exist in a new aquarium. If you add your fish now, your fish can become stressed and die.

1 – Water Quality Issues
- Water quality issues are likely to blame when a cory catfish dies suddenly. One thing that you should know is that these fish are susceptible to changes in the water chemistry. Specifically, they’re going to have a hard time if you allow the ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite levels to get too high. High nitrate levelswill make it very hard for the fish to breathe, and this will sometimes cau…
2 – Loneliness
- As mentioned above, cory catfish are supposed to be kept in groups. You’re not going to have an easy time keeping the fish alive if you are keeping too few of them in your tank. In the wild, these fish are social and they live with others of their kind. Cory catfish do best in fish tanks when you keep at least six of them. Some have noted that cory catfish have died of loneliness in their fish …
3 – Disease
- Disease could easily cause cory catfish to die suddenly. If you’re not a fish tank owner who spends a lot of time observing the fish, then you might not have noticed that something was wrong until it was too late. Like other fish, cory catfish are susceptible to many different diseases. Some of them are going to be more likely to kill the fish than others. Ich is a common disease th…
4 – Stress
- Stress is something that might cause fish to die in some situations. Granted, it would likely take a lot of stress to make a fish die suddenly. Cory catfish can become stressed for many different reasons. You might see them get stressed if you don’t set up the tank properly for them. These fish need to have substrate at the bottom of the tank that ...
5 – Lack of Care
- Lack of care can also kill the fish pretty easily. Have you been feeding the fish? Forgetting to feed the fish could eventually lead to death. You also might not be feeding the fish the right food. Cory catfish aren’t picky eaters since they’re omnivores. Even so, it’s worth considering whether you’ve been caring for the fish properly. Check the care requirements for the type of cory catfish that yo…
Why Is My Cory Catfish Dying?
- As you now know after reading all of the information above, there are many possible reasons why cory catfish might die. The most likely scenario involves problems with water quality. Often, beginners make mistakes when taking care of the fish tank. You might not be doing regular water changes, and this will lead to the tank becoming too dirty. The elevated ammonia, nitrate, and nit…