Fat Harlequins

[gangeox]

Hi all. We are quite new to fishkeeping and are a little concerned that 4 of our 6 Harlequin Rasboras are very fat. One of them died this morning (although this was not one of the fat ones!). We have only had them for a couple of days and they seemed to be doing really well. The fat ones seem to have quite swollen bellies but other than that they seem fine. They look perky and are swimming well. Water parameters are ammonia:0 nitrite: 0 nitrate: 7

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[WILDER]

What do you feed your fish.
What other fish do you have in the tank as need to add some epson salt.
Also try some shelled peas.

http/www.fishjunkies.com/Treatments/salt.php

 

[gangeox]

What do you feed your fish.
What other fish do you have in the tank as need to add some epson salt.
Also try some shelled peas.

http/www.fishjunkies.com/Treatments/salt.php

Hi Wilder.

All fish are pretty new, its a new tank. Did the fishless cycle and now have 3 julii corys, 1 panda cory, 1 albino bristlnose, 5 cherry barbs, 5 harlequins and 6 tiger barbs, all put in at separate time. Feed them tropical flakes, pellets and algae wafer for the corys and bristlenose, they have also had some bloodworm and daphnae larvae. Have just put some peas in and they are all going mad!

 

[WILDER]

Right instead of adding the salt to the tank I would do some epson salt baths on the fat fish to help draw the fluids out.

 

[gangeox]

Right instead of adding the salt to the tank I would do some epson salt baths on the fat fish to help draw the fluids out.

Ok, can you tell me how i do this. How much salt, how much water, how long etc? Sorry, I really am completely new to all this!

Thanks very much.

 

[WILDER]

Its in that link I left you.

 

[gangeox]

Its in that link I left you.

Oops! Sorry and thank you again. You've been really helpful.

 

[WILDER]

Good luck.

 

[gangeox]

Ok so the harlequins were fed peas and had a salt bath this morning. Since then we have lost one more and another is practically dead. His eye seems to be very swollen as well as his stomach and he is either at the top of the tank just floating or sitting on his belly at the bottom. Please can someone advise what to do next. We are doing a water change but the levels were ammonia:0 nitrite: 0 nitrate:7. Do you do water changes every week or so regardless of the levels?

 

[WILDER]

Popeye and closely related to dropsy because of the build up of fluids.
Nothing more to be done i'm afraid.
Only adding a bacterial med like interpet.

 

[gangeox]

We've lost him. 3 down and 3 to go. Have segregated the remaining 3 harlequins and put them in a tub with a salt bath. Just hope they make it. How long can i leave them in this salt water?

 

[WILDER]

Salt baths start off at ten minutes and gradually over time leave them up to 30 minutes.
I would add a bacterial med to the tank.

 

[gangeox]

OK thanks Wilder. I dont have any meds so i will just have to put them back in the tank and hope for the best. Please can you tell me if we do water changes even if the water stats are good?

 

[confusion]

just to be clear, you are using epsom salt, and not regular salt, correct?

 

[gangeox]

just to be clear, you are using epsom salt, and not regular salt, correct?

yes thats right