A Twitch Cory!

[Underwurlde]

Hi all,

Just got a couple of 3-lined Corydora today. Problem is, since I introduced them (after a temperature equilization period of 30 mins) one of them is twitching constantly.

Other than that, they both seem happy enough, mixing with their new tank mates, investigating their new home.

Just wondering what this could mean!

Andy

(PS they were sold as (labelled) Julii, & when I got home, noticed a very small Harliquin had snuck in the bag - I now have 3!!! - Dozey LFS on both counts).

 

[Sp00ky]

what are the stats in the tank?

 

[Underwurlde]

Hi,

Ammonia - virtually 0.
Nitrite - 0.6mg/L
Nitrate - 40mg/L

I am currently doing daily 15% water changes to bring N's down (and indeed it is).

Andy

 

[Sp00ky]

twitching like that in a new tank i believe (and im sure if im wrong on this someone will correct me) it means the fish isnt happy with the water chemistry.

I could be wrong though like i say.

How long have they been in there now?

 

[Underwurlde]

@Spooky - I hear what you're saying.....

How long have they been in there now?

4 hours.

Now it's gettin' dark (and the tank lights have been OFF since I put them in) I think he may be calming down a bit.

Skittish little things, cories.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Underwurlde

By twitching, do you mean it is spinning or otherwise swimming in a way that looks like it's out of control of itself? If so, it might have been injured by the net and has a swim bladder problem. This occasionally happens.

If this is the case, it might just get well by itself. If not, there's not too much you can do for it.

If you mean it's flicking against the bottom or other surface, it's most likely a water problem.

 

[Underwurlde]

@Inchworm, hello & thanks 4 your reply...

By twitching, do you mean it is spinning or otherwise swimming in a way that looks like it's out of control of itself? If so, it might have been injured by the net and has a swim bladder problem. This occasionally happens.

If this is the case, it might just get well by itself. If not, there's not too much you can do for it.

No, fortunately I don't think this is it. (But now I know of those symptoms & cause I will bear it in mind for the future)

If you mean it's flicking against the bottom or other surface, it's most likely a water problem.

Wouldn't really say it was this either - he is active (as normal), trying to 'make friends' but I guess you could better describe the symptoms as shivering - if it wasn't a fish I'd have said he was cold!

(for that matter DO fish shiver? Temp of the tank is a slightly warm 25.2°C)

Thanks again,

Andy

 

[tetras4me]

what kind of gravel do you have? corydoras tend to put peices of gravel and stone in the mouth rough or sharp gravel and stone will injure the mouth. maby he is twiching from a cut in the mouth. *shrugs*

 

[Underwurlde]

@tetras4me,

Could be, but he would have had to have done this the instant he entered the tank....

So I guess not.

Thanks for the heads up though (good diagnosis type stuff I'm learning here guys).

Andy

Edit <actually READs your post>
Sorry, to answer your question, I have layered "Acrylic coated, Natural Gravel, 'Pure Water Pebbles' (tm)" (pea-shingle to you & me) with Laterite (Tank is planted).

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Underwurlde

I'm glad you can rule out a swim bladder problem. That's not a good thing to happen to a fish.

What you describe sounds like it might not have adjusted to a water change, either from the distributor to the lfs, or from the lfs to you. Some lfs do not take the time to gradually add water to the bags so that the fish get used to a change in pH. This is a process that shouldn't be hurried and causes a shock to their systems.

If you live in the same water district as the lfs, and do not usually have a problem adding fish bought from them to your tank, it probably wasn't your fault, but theirs. I would suggest adding about a teaspoon of aquarium salt per 10 gallons of water to your tank if you don't have any fish that would come to harm by it. Corys do not usually like salt in the water, but a little bit, for a week or two, will cause no harm and might help the little guy get well in this case.

 

[jayjay]

Did no-one notice his water stats. Ammonia should be 0 and so should nitrite, it's most likely the bad water quality. Why did you add fish into bad water?

 

[Underwurlde]

@Inchworm: Neat reply, thanks (again)

New York ay. Cool. Not quite the same as the (Old) York over here!

I'm glad you can rule out a swim bladder problem. That's not a good thing to happen to a fish.

Phew.

What you describe sounds like it might not have adjusted to a water change, either from the distributor to the lfs, or from the lfs to you. Some lfs do not take the time to gradually add water to the bags so that the fish get used to a change in pH. This is a process that shouldn't be hurried and causes a shock to their systems.

It would be rude of me to suggest it was my LFS. I am the newbie here, so I point my finger at me. Having said that, The fish that I DO see in bags waiting to be introduced in my LFS, I have never seen them doing this.

If you live in the same water district as the lfs (No), and do not usually have a problem adding fish bought from them to your tank (Never), it probably wasn't your fault, but theirs (hmmm - I'd like to think of them as the pro's - naive I know...).

I would suggest adding about a teaspoon of aquarium salt per 10 gallons of water to your tank if you don't have any fish that would come to harm by it. Corys do not usually like salt in the water, but a little bit, for a week or two, will cause no harm and might help the little guy get well in this case.

I think I try this tomorrow (after researching tank mates) if he is still shivering.

Thanks again,

Andy

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Underwurlde

jayjay is right about your stats being off. Please step up your water changes to get the nitrites and nitrates down. You will want to do even more than you have been doing because the additional fish will add more waste products to the water.

If you are still cycling your tank, don't worry about replacing too much of the water. The bacteria will still continue to multiply but it will just take a little longer to finish up. The good news is that it will be much safer for the fish.

If you add salt, just replace the same proportion you removed when you add fresh water. Don't add the whole dose again since it will accumulate in there.

Good luck with your fish. Please let me know how things work out.