brain damage or poisoning in fish?

[msn711]

When I turned on my aquarium lights, my opaline gourami went crazy and then just fell to the bottom of the aquarium. It looked like it had a heart attack adn died. A minute or two later, it started moving again, and eventually made its way to the top of the aquarium before falling again. Then it made its way back up and stayed up at the top (i think to use the labyring organ to breathe). But it was slowly pulled toward my penguin 125 power filter and the current (which isn't very strong on my 20g) pushed it down to the bottom of the tank again. Then is slowly swam back out and up to the top of the tank. The gills are still moving very rapidly. Can anyone tell me what happened or what's wrong? I purchased him yesterday with 3 gold skirt tetras and acclimated them very slowly. The other inhabitants are 2 zebra danios.

20g long tank
pH 7.4
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 0
20 w full flourescent lights

Edit: And I've noticed that the gourami has lost most of its color. It's now pale and the blue markings are almost entirely gone. There are now some black markings.

 

[Gourami Lover88]

I had the exact thing happen to me a month ago. It did the same thing you described, but it died thee following day.

You might haver scared it so much that it injured himself on the tank wall, but just watch him and see if he lives.

 

[tstenback]

Was the room dark when you turned on the light? If it was then it was probably shock that caused the reaction and subsequent troubles. I always let the fish know i am around by rubbing my hand along the top of the canopy. Its not a loud noise but it gets there attention and they come to have a look then i will turn on the light if needed. Also turn on room lights before tank lights and vice versa when shutting them off in the night. HTH

 

[msn711]

Well the gourami didn't make it. And, early this morning (about 1am CST), one of my zebra danios began exhibiting similar behavior and he too was dead by 3am. I've tested the water: pH 7.4, temp. 82*F, ammo 0, no2 0, no3 0. There are no visibile signs of bacterial or parastitic infection on the fish...no spots or anything like that. I've been searching for possible diseases, but so far, the only thing I've been able to find is possible brain/nervous system damage or poisoning from an unknown toxin. Any ideas? I think my last danio may be starting to exhibit symptoms. The other tank inhabitants are 3 gold skirt tetras who have not been affected at all.

 

[tstenback]

very odd that you would have a nitrate reading of zero. Are you using something to remove the nitrates?

 

[wrs]

thats really odd, i ahve fish that are afraid of the light and go insane as well but they never died, sorry about ur fish.

 

[msn711]

I use AmQuel+ to treat the chlorine in my tap water, but nothing to remove the nitrates. Why is reading of 0 so unusual for nitrates, especially with a low bioload?

 

[spottedbovine]

Ihave the same problem, but is only affecting the female gourami, no idea what it is, moved her to my smaller tank and added some salt, hope she will get better its so hard to find females......the male is fine so I dont know what the problem is

 

[spottedbovine]

Damn I just buried her in the garden............and she was so healthy, at least the others seem to be well, gonna do a 50% water change tommorow when I get back

 

[tstenback]

I use AmQuel+ to treat the chlorine in my tap water, but nothing to remove the nitrates. Why is reading of 0 so unusual for nitrates, especially with a low bioload?

If your tank is cycled then there should be some nitrates as this is the end product of the cycle. Nitrates continue to accumulate all the time and can only be reduced during water changes. So unless you have a very heavily planted tank and have an awful lot of luck then there should be nitrates in your tank.

 

[Max Action]

I use AmQuel+ to treat the chlorine in my tap water, but nothing to remove the nitrates. Why is reading of 0 so unusual for nitrates, especially with a low bioload?

I thought that AmQuel+ DOES remove at least some Nitrates?

Edit: Yep. See http/www.novalek.com/kpd79.htm

 

[Joviella]

<<<<<have always got nitrates in my tanks........have to work hard to reduce them even though i have lots and lots of plants.

 

[msn711]

Thanks for the link Max Action. AmQuel+ is hard to understand but easy to use. By that I mean, most people have a fit when I tell them I use it in my tank. They can't understand that it detoxifies ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates without interfering with the nitrogen cycle; I don't even fully understand how it does what it does, but it works. In fact, it speeds the cycle up. I can personally testify to that after seeing its affect in my tank. That explains the quick cycle and 0 ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. I know some people won't agree, but if it's not causing any harm, then I don't see why it gets bashed so much. I think it's a great product, and until I see convincing evidence to the contrary, I would highly recommend it to anyone, especially those of you with high nitrate problems.