Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)

Hi,

John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.

I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.

With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.

I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.

If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.

I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.

I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.

Thank you
Darragh Sherwin

angelfish finds it hard to swim up

Start
Prev
1
Next
End

30 Sep 2012 16:35 - 30 Sep 2012 16:39 #1 by zirliz (Michelle Stapleton)

angelfish finds it hard to swim up was created by zirliz (Michelle Stapleton)

I'm rather concerned about my angel fish he seems to have trouble swimming up to the surface I feed the fish and watch him fight up get to the surface

Anyone have any ideas?

I thought of swim bladder issues but I don't think it's that

He lays with his tail in the gravel for most of the time and he sort of sits on it so his head is facing almost upright,

I've done some water changes last tonight but not sure what else to do for now

This morning he was leaning against the filter

Can get a picture if necessary

Last edit: 30 Sep 2012 16:39 by zirliz (Michelle Stapleton).

Please Log in to join the conversation.

30 Sep 2012 17:33 #2 by igmillichip (ian millichip)

Replied by igmillichip (ian millichip) on topic angelfish finds it hard to swim up

Hi Zirliz,

There are number things that could be wrong:
swim-bladder;
brain disorder;
blood disorder;
bacterial infection;
gut problem;
or just a general illness or shock.

The swim-bladder of angel fish is very much different to that of goldfish, and so the causes and symptoms are different to those commonly attributed to the swim-bladder problems based upon goldfish (or similar fish).

A photo would be a good idea.

As for medication.....without any defo on the diagnosis, I would reach for Waterlife's Octozin as the first course.

Ian

Irish Tropical Fish Society (ITFS) Member.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

30 Sep 2012 17:48 #3 by zirliz (Michelle Stapleton)

Replied by zirliz (Michelle Stapleton) on topic angelfish finds it hard to swim up

what's Waterlife's Octozin ? ans were can I get it?

I'll get a picture later so

Please Log in to join the conversation.

30 Sep 2012 18:18 #4 by igmillichip (ian millichip)

Replied by igmillichip (ian millichip) on topic angelfish finds it hard to swim up

Waterlife Octozin is a flagyl-style medication that is an antibiotic (and good against anaerobic bacteria) and will also deal with certain intestinal parasites.

It can be got from a number of shops.

A 25 - 30 % water change will also help (irrespective of what of is wrong)....just don't stress the fish during the water change.

Switch off any lights over the tank as well.

ian

Irish Tropical Fish Society (ITFS) Member.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

30 Sep 2012 18:28 #5 by zirliz (Michelle Stapleton)

Replied by zirliz (Michelle Stapleton) on topic angelfish finds it hard to swim up

Is it something that can be got in pet stores or veterinary clinics ?

just not sure where I might find it or is there somewhere online?

Doubt I'd be near any shops or that the ones down around probably wouldn't have it.

Thanks

Please Log in to join the conversation.

30 Sep 2012 18:50 #6 by igmillichip (ian millichip)

Replied by igmillichip (ian millichip) on topic angelfish finds it hard to swim up

As there are multiple pet shops that do sell it, I won't say which ones on the forum.....but I'll send you a PM.

It is a vet medicine, but you can buy it off the shelves here.

ian

Irish Tropical Fish Society (ITFS) Member.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

ger310 (Ger .)
Offline
Platinum Member

01 Oct 2012 11:14 #7 by ger310 (Ger .)

Replied by ger310 (Ger .) on topic angelfish finds it hard to swim up

Hi zirliz,did you test your water for Ammonia,Nitrite,Nitrate? and if so,what were the results?.....What else is in the tank with it? Could it be getting nipped and/or bullied a bit?.....Do you regularly siphon the bottom of the tank?....How often do you feed your fish?....Sorry for all the questions and a picture would be great,thanks

Ger

What do you call a three legged Donkey?

A Wonkey....duh ha

Please Log in to join the conversation.

01 Oct 2012 22:53 #8 by zirliz (Michelle Stapleton)

Replied by zirliz (Michelle Stapleton) on topic angelfish finds it hard to swim up

Yes Nitrite was nil , Nitrate was high enough but it seems very hard to be rid of always seems to he like that, Ammonia there was some not very high,

I cleaned the gravel a few nights ago too, I try to do it regularly but maybe should do it more often.

I'm concerned about the filter it's rather noisy stupid Juwel filters

It's 9 years old though,

2 platies , danio , some khuli loaches and a mexican cave fish, a serpae tetra some snails,

If anyone was the one who bullied / chased the others it was my angle fish

I feed them twice daily they get Tetra prima and sometimes Tetra min.

I couldn't find him earlier to get a picture

Please Log in to join the conversation.

01 Oct 2012 23:33 #9 by igmillichip (ian millichip)

Replied by igmillichip (ian millichip) on topic angelfish finds it hard to swim up

Has the fishes gills curled outwards at all....and if so, is the inside of its gills a nice pink or a dull brown?

You don't mention what the nitrate level is exactly.....I would recommend using JBL NitraEx to lower the nitrate (but do not go to zero nitrates though).

Then regular partial water changes will keep the nitrates at a reasonable level.

I am curious, though, as to why (from your first post) that you don't think this is swim-bladder trouble.

A pic would help, but would still not give a defo.

ian

Irish Tropical Fish Society (ITFS) Member.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

01 Oct 2012 23:48 #10 by zirliz (Michelle Stapleton)

Replied by zirliz (Michelle Stapleton) on topic angelfish finds it hard to swim up

Found him he was on his side (could he be resting that way) now he's back on his tail again, had the light one in the room (not the tank).

Can't see his gills I'm afraid he's hiding over in the plants makes him harder to see

According to those API strips it says 160 or something like that those pinks are hard to figure out,

I just didn't think that was the way a fish acted with swim bladder issues I some interpet swim bladder treatment that any good if it was his swim bladder I mean.

Thanks for the advice so far certainly have to get a few products next chance I get,

Can't get a clear pic as it's very dark in there and I don't want to stress him I'll try tomorrow during the day he seems to be nearer the filter in the morning.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

02 Oct 2012 11:52 #11 by igmillichip (ian millichip)

Replied by igmillichip (ian millichip) on topic angelfish finds it hard to swim up

Things don’t sound too promising to be honest.

Angelfish (and similar fish) swim-bladder functions are associated with a brain-blood supply as opposed to the gut-associated swim-bladders many other fish.
Disturbances in the swim-bladder function can result in ‘Head-Up’, ‘Head-Down’ and ‘lying sideways’ in angels (and similar fish)….the exact symptoms will depend on the exact nature of the disturbance.
Kidney dysfunction can also be associated with this…….that could also lead to brain dysfunction: hence, multiple problems contributing to the behaviour.

This may be a one-off symptom of a dying angelfish, or it may be a systemic problem within the tank.

The Nitrates are rather high…….I would suspect that from those readings that levels of other compounds are high in the water.
That would madly affect the conductivity and a parameter called RedOx (nitrate is a potent RedOx agent).

Those parameters will affect the general function of the fish (especially gill, kidney, swim-bladder, and brain function), and a disturbance in any of those will cause the symptoms seen.

There is also a potential for an acid crash if the alkaline buffering capacity of the water is not high enough with that high nitrate content (but for angels, the alkaline buffering capacity should not actually be high at all). Double trouble.

Ian

Irish Tropical Fish Society (ITFS) Member.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

Start
Prev
1
Next
End

Time to create page: 0.055 seconds

Main Menu

Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)

angelfish finds it hard to swim up