hi all

came down this morning and one of my tetras
was drifting around at 45degrees with its head up
just under the surface (head up, tail down)

it was breathing but clearly unwell
and i watched it for 10mins or so
and it was dragged towards the filter
so I decided to do the right thing

It appeared to have internal bleeding
(there was red around its head and belly)

one of the other tetras is looking a bit odd too!
it is circling around in a very small area
and its body is at 45degrees too, still active though

yesterday all water readings were good
but i'm getting ammonia at .75 this morning
(cant see why?)

i can get home at lunch and do a water change
(will i go with a fairly substancial one? 40%)

Im worried about this

any thoughts?

thanks

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Sorry about the loss....

I'd suspect the Ammonia is the problem - need to get it to 0.

The water change will help and yes do a substantial one but the issue of where the ammonia is coming from will need to be addressed. Has anything else died which is causing the ammonia spike? Have you recently added more fish? In a recently cycled tank this needs to be done slowly to allow all the bacteria pick up the extra bioload.

Any chance you put untreated water into the tank or cleaned all filters ? The chlorine could have caused this.

What are your nitrite readings ? Best provide all reading information.

Sorry, loads of questions but if you answer it might help people pinpoint the problem

Monty

hi monty (and all)

the tank was re-setup recently with new water and tetra safestart, it was done a week ago, i had two tetras anyway
and added another 7 last sunday, all levels were good with the safestart and the lfs said work away on the extra tetras

the filter has been running for over a month
(i made a bit of a mess of a fishless cycle
and started again with safestart)

there have been no other deaths in the tank
so i dont know where the spike is from
unless its classic newb overfeeding but
i go by the recommended action

before i re-setup the tank
my original two tetras were in the tank
with similar levels of ammomnia for a few days
while i tried to control it and they were fine

i use stresscoat on all waterchanges and have not slipped up on that (i hope)

Nitrite is 0, nitrate is 2ish, ph is 7.4

I'm wondering if i should remove the other suspect fish
but i have no quarantine tank, i could house it in a bucket
with a pump and heater

I have no emergency meds

any other advice welcome

rgds

4

Hi fourmations,
Sorry to hear this! which type tetra is this?

has the fish lost colour?

maybe spine curved or the body looks lumpy bloating?

thanks mickey

it was a silvertip
no colour loss
no curves or lumps

i have taken out my cobbles and roots
as there is a possibility either or both are causing problems

its unusual though, i now have eight fish and seven of them
seem absolutely fine and fully active and interating as usual
whereas one has not looked good since this morning
and still doesnt, i dont know if i should do the right thing?
she has been acting the same way (described above) all day
and thats similar to the way the doomed fish was acting

rgds

4

Hi Fourmations,
Yes it is very strange and annoying but the fact so many changes in a short space of time makes id the problem very hard.

It is quite possiable that the two are the originals and its just to much for them.

if it stops at this i would suggest that this the case but because of all the variables i would still treat this with concern. plenty of water changes and stress coat and stress zyne. or similar products.

esha 2000 would be my next purchase fairly good all rounder.

take this opportunity to treat the root boil three times the cobble as treat as serratus suggest.

i am sorry to have to say this slow down your making to many changes to fast conpare it this way you have made a hundred years of climate change in a few weeks.

small steps are better it takes time to get the type of tanks we see in photos and even at that there is still heart ache.

you have a very good eye for detail and some good ideas but time it takes time so relax enjoy were all here to help you

Mickey

hi

i have been more than pro-active on getting the tanks the
way i want it (its taken over my life)
and i agree a slow down would do no harm!!

btw. the tetra i lost is not an original and either is the poorly one,
i can recognise the originals, no clues there

heres a few more observations of the sick fish...

she is now threading water in the same spot
and seems to sink if she stops, i put in one crushed flake
a little while ago to see her reaction and she was straight after it
along with the others, zipped around for the morsels and then
returned to the same spot and continues threading water,
she seems quite fat but i would not consider her bloated
is this anything to do with the dreaded swim bladder isssues

thanks for the advice and support
(i may need a therapist soon!)

rgds

4

hi there. sorry about your fish. know what its like(lost two torpedo barbs-never found out the reason)is your fishes scales protruding?(dropsy). just keep the water parameters at correct levels. check ph. you say its taken over your life, can relate to that some what- ive gone checking the water mad. had a slight ammonia and nitrite spike a while back cos had a power failure and it affected the bio filter. it took about 3 water changes to get it right and i was really annoyed about it until i got it sorted. kept worrying about the fish every min they were in the tank. it could be just one of those things although when it happens its very frustrating if you cant find the reason. you'll get it sorted though. dont worry

this morning...

i came in and turned on room lights and all the tetras
were still resting around, tanks lights went on 10mins later
and the dodgy tetra got active with the others
and then straight over to the exact same place
and started doing the exact same thing

i wonder if a swim bladder thing, she is fatter than any of the other
i might try feed peas and see if its constipation,

i am hopeful for this fish and there has been no depreciation
overnight, we'll see what happens

thanks again for your help all,

hi all

any further thoughts on the symptoms above?
(threading water in the exact same spot, head pointing up)

the fish in question was a bit more lively a couple of days ago
but only for a day,

it is back to doing the same thing constantly
and am sure the fish will suffer exhaustion,
her vent (arse, bum, whatever) looks red and agitated!

it will still get active at feeding time and eat

the ammonia is pretty much out of the tank now
ammonia - 0.1ppm, nitrite - 0ppm, nitrate 5ppm, ph - 7.5

I will try and take a video clip later

rgds

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