Dead Minnow!

[sebseb]

I've just come back to one of minnows floating near the surface, still alive. I say floating....none of him was out fo the water but he didnt appear to be able to sta down if he tried.
The other minnows were having a go at him.
I isolated him as soon as possible but he died within minutes.
He was floating and occassionaly involuntarily 'rolling', as if he had no control.

His throat appears to be more red than usual.

He was the smallest minnow and did not noticeably grow in the time ive had him, whereas the other 5 started out his size and are now almost twice as large. He was my favourite one, i caleld him Romeo because he was always displaying to the females.

Sorry i dont know the water parameters but the tank is cycled and i usually do 40% weekly clean outs.

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated, i don't want to lose anymore!

pleasehelp if you think you cna

Seb

 

[kelly528]

You can still answer these:

Tank size:

tank temp:

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:

Tank inhabitants:

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):

Exposure to chemicals:

Digital photo (include if possible):

You can get your water params tested if you take a sample to a LFS.
Was it his throat that was red or his gills?

 

[sebseb]

Sorry it's taken so long!

I've now had another minnow die. It was absolutely fine when i went to bed, woke up to find it floatign at the surface. All the rest of them appear as usual.

Tank size: 10 gallon

tank temp: 21 c (but fluctuates a degree either way)

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): dead, washed out minnow floating at top of water. No obvious problems besides a red throat (not gills).

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: dechlorinator

Tank inhabitants: 4 minnows, previously 5

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): java moss, moss balls

Exposure to chemicals: -

water parameters(from test strips, first time use):
nitrate 0
nitrite 2
hardness 4
carbonate 3
pH 6.4
chlorine 0

any help will be greatly appreciated. I'm getting frustrated with losing fishlike this

 

[WILDER]

You have an nitrite reading. Do you have an ammonia test kit.
What test kit are you using.
Immediate water change and increase aeration.
Bad water quality can lead to swim bladder and septicemia.
What do you feed the fish?

 

[sebseb]

You have an nitrite reading. Do you have an ammonia test kit.
What test kit are you using.
Immediate water change and increase aeration.
Bad water quality can lead to swim bladder and septicemia.
What do you feed the fish?

Thanks for your response.

I don't have an ammonia test kit.

I am using the "Tetratest Freshwater 6 in1 Test Strips" to test the water.

I've been feeding them dry Daphnia, i think the "SUPA" brand. http/www.thepetexpress.com/?p=2_4&gr...L&pid=15454 as well as some left over flakes.

I did a 25% water change on saturday (3 days ago) and vacuumed part ofthe gravel.

On closer inspection some of my Elodea plant is looking a bit brown, is it rotting?

again, thanks a lot for helping!

Seb

 

[WILDER]

Test strip cards are not accurate. Liquid test kits are the best.
Take a sample of your tank water to the lfs and ask them to write the readings down for you.

Need to improve the fish diet with some frozen foods like daphnia and brime shrimp and some green veg.
Over feeding freeze dried foods can lead to swim bladder and constipation.

The plant could be dying so check in the plant section of the forum.

Keep doing water changes and increase aeration.

 

[sebseb]

ok ta for the advice!

 

[WILDER]

Good Luck.