Dead Bursa Trigger

[Johnny Reefer]

Woke up this morning to this:


Not a spec of physical damage or disease anywhere:




I'm at a loss as to the cause. Parameters were tested a few days ago.
pH 8.4
NO3 35mg. (High, yes, but a predominately FOWLR tank should handle it).
PO4 0.25. (High again, but tolerable, no?).
Alk 12.7dKH. (At the high end of the scale, but not extreme).
SG 1.022
Temp this AM was 79.5F

I have no clue what could have caused this. This fish was eating with gusto just 12 hours ago. Now dead. All other Triggers are fine and acting normally (Clown; Pinktail; Humuhumu; Blue Chin).

,

[digital-audiophile]

I'm sorry for your loss. Have you tested Ammonia? I know it may the lowest common demoninator but you never know?

[michika]

How big was the trigger?

[Johnny Reefer]

Originally Posted by digital-audiophile

I'm sorry for your loss. Have you tested Ammonia? I know it may the lowest common demoninator but you never know?

Just tested, at your suggestion. Undetectable.

Originally Posted by michika

How big was the trigger?

4 1/2" from Caudal penducle to snout. Approx 5 1/2" including the Caudal fin.

Upon thinking on it some more, I wonder if it could have choked on some food. I fed frozen krill last night. Maybe it choked on a bit of krill shell. My Pinktail spazzed out wildly once when I fed frozen krill. Had me scared.

[michika]

I was thinking maybe he/it was quite large and had come to the natural end of its life. Its happened to me a few times with some older fish.

[BC564]

I hate funerals.......any pet.....anything......well...except insects
example........... mosquitoes.......

Sorry for your loss....

[EmilyB]

OMG, that's a blackblotch, just like TrigNo. No way end of his life, mine is 10 now.

His belly does look an odd shape.

[Jason McK]

Poor guy. Sorry for you loss

[EmilyB]

I never feed krill.

Mostly mysis, pellets, flake, occasional frozen shrimp, I also get a lot of veggies into my trigger. He absolutely loves them, whether it is OSI stickons or Spirulina flake.

He looks bloated ?

[Johnny Reefer]

Thanx for the condolences.
It looks more bloated in the pic. I didn't notice anything out of ordinary otherwise. I could be wrong, though, and this very well may be a sign that I missed. Someone on another board suggested impacted intestines as a possible cause. I still have it (in the freezer). I'm going to attempt an autopsy later.