fish deaths: were they just old?

[lauraf]

This week two seemingly healthy fish up and died without any apparent cause - a female red wag platy and a dwarf cory. For the last few days, it was the male red wag who was looking off - and still is. These were among the first fish introduced to my tank when I set it up over a year ago. Everyone else is doing just fine and I tested my water tonight: ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate almost 20 - which is to be expected as tomorrow is my scheduled water change/plant pruning day.
The male platy is still sitting near the bottom, with slightly clamped fins, but rallies to come to the surface to eat.
Is this just a case of the fish dying of old age?

 

[bassbonediva]

Awww, I'm sorry you're losing fishes, lauraf! It does sound like just a case of old age, though, sad as that is.

 

[OrangeCones]

Is this just a case of the fish dying of old age?

Very likely. I'm unsure of the cory lifespan, but some that I know that breed show guppies and other tropicals say 18months - 2 years for a platy is normal. You have had the fish for over a year, and unless it was born in your tank, you need to take into account the age it was when you bought it.

I'm setting up my Celestial Pearl Danios for one last breeding to save fry, as this colony was bought 2 years ago as adults. I got to thinking a week or so ago, what if this is near the end of their lifespan and I didn't keep any of the fry they've had?

Your water parameters are perfect and you know what to look for in disease and behavior, so I'm sure it was simply old age caught up.

 

[tonymac]

I've had Corydoras live for over 7 years. I know of people who've kept them longer. 2-3 years for platys and moons.

 

[jclee]

Platys usually live for 2-3 years, and cories for 3-5. As OrangeCones said, you can't be sure how old they were when you got them. I'd keep a close eye on the tank and its parameters, though, just in case. If there aren't any more deaths in the next week or two, it probably is just age.

 

[lauraf]

Update:
No further deaths in my tank, tho' the male platy is still looking, well, tired. A new female platy got him interested, and food still does. He's like an old man slowing down but who still gets a bit excited by young ladies and good food!

 

[lauraf]

Crap. Yesterday one of the other original dwarf cories started to just lose his mojo. He was busy and happy as always, until yesterday afternoon when he started to swim on his back underneath one of my river rocks, and within a couple hours stopped even trying to move. The other cory that was with him from the start hovered right near him all day; like protecting him or keeping him company. That's pretty anthropomorphic of me, right? Or do fish, even with lots of others around, form these kind of attachments? Anyway, he was just slowing down his breathing, and not flipping around or in any obvious distress, so I just let him be. He died last night, and I put his little body in the rose garden.
My water is at 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. Everyone else looks super. Angels continue to spawn. Still just a case of old age, I hope?

 

[blue_ram]

How big and old is the SAE? Is it a true SAE or a mislabled Flying Fox or Garra?

Algae Eating Cyprinids

The FF and Garra are known to harrass other fish and to suck on their slime coats when they are sleeping. Plecos are also known to do this. Both these fish reportedly get very aggressive as they age.

 

[lauraf]

How big and old is the SAE? Is it a true SAE or a mislabled Flying Fox or Garra?

Algae Eating Cyprinids

The FF and Garra are known to harrass other fish and to suck on their slime coats when they are sleeping. Plecos are also known to do this. Both these fish reportedly get very aggressive as they age.

Nope, I have a true SAE, and it and my albino BN are peaceful.