9x Cyprichromis leptosoma Mpulungu fry RIP

March 2011. Nine 7-day old leoptosoma fry were moved to a 40 litre rearing tank away from the community they were born in. Fry appeared in good condition the evening of the move, though the following morning they were found to have been sucked into the internal filter and killed. Failure to provide adequate housing.

Cyprichromis leptosoma Mpulungu RIP

February 2011. Female Leptosoma swam through a cloud of minimally diluted alkaline Ph buffer during routine tank maintenance. Appeared distressed after incident, hid behind tank furniture, and expired the following day. Failure to dilute chemicals before adding them to inhabited portion of the tank.

Black Calvus (Altolamprologus calvus) RIP

April 2010. Second Black Calvus intended to replace the previously crushed one was killed by a third surviving Calvus, approximately a week after being introduced to the aquarium. Failure to regulate intra-species aggression.

Black Calvus (Altolamprologus calvus) RIP

March 2010. Young Black Calvus excavated a passage under an aquarium rock, and was crushed while hiding in it during routine cleaning. Failure to extrapolate known behaviour of species.

~30x Angelfish fry (Pterophyllum scalare) RIP

2009. Adult angelfish pair laid around 30 eggs on an Anubis leaf in a 50 litre community tank. Pair became aggressive to other tank makes, pinning them in a far corner of the tank. In an attempt to diffuse the situation, the parents, eggs and leaf were moved to a new 20 litre tank. Approximately 10 minutes later the adult angelfish fish ate all the eggs. Failure to provide adequate housing. Failure to manage breeding behaviour.

2x Gold Gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus) RIP

~2005. Two gold gourami purchased at local aquarium store. Lived happily for around 9 months despite being slightly aggressive to other tankmates. Expired during January heatwave in Canberra, Australia. Final water temperature was around 32C. Failure to regulate water temperature.

3x Pepper Corydoras (Corydoras paleatus) RIP

~1999. Three pepper corydoras purchased at local aquarium store and introduced into existing community tank. Health of all three fish deteriorated over several weeks, before expiring. At death the whiskers around the mouth appeared shorter than they had been previously. Suspect harassment by tank mates, or improper substrate. Indeterminate failure.

2x Convict Cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) RIP

~1996. Two convict cichlids purchased at local aquarium store. When released in tank they swam to the bottom and sat there with gills beating heavily. Both fish expired two hours later. Upon calling the aquarium store for advice, they suggested bringing in dead fish along with a water sample to be tested. Aquarium store advised that the water hardness was much too low. Failure to research water chemistry requirements for new species.

Silver Perch (Bidyanus bidyanus) RIP

~1985. Single silver perch caught on line during fishing trip with father at Nepean river, Australia. Fish was hooked through the mouth, and placed in a lunchbox for the trip home. After arriving home approx 1 hour later, fish was still flapping around in the lunchbox. Kitchen sink was filled with tapwater and fish released into it. Fish promptly recovered and began swimming around. Mother suggested getting an old tank from under the house and placing it in my room. Fish survived approx 3 months, until it jumped out of the open tank one day while we were out, and asphyxiated. Failure to extrapolate known behaviour of species. Failure to provide adequate housing.