Ill 5 Banded Barb

[rob_cool1]

Hello
Just seen one of my 5 banded barbs looking really ill.
It has a red mouth and looks like its constantly gasping for air and doesn't seem to close.
It also looks red around its gills, i've seen my red tiger barbs nipping at its face and my Ellioti trying to have a go so ive separated it and put it in a breeding net to keep it out of trouble.

What could this be? It doesn't seem to be moving much in the net, was only swimming to get away from the other fish

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Cheers
Rob

 

[rob_cool1]

The fish died earlier I went out for a bit and when i got back it was laying at the bottom of the net.
Does anyone know what could've caused this?

Rob

 

[WILDER]

Bless Him.


Need to look at your water quality first.
First thing to rule out.

Water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.
Size of tank in gallons.
How many fish and which type.

Was his belly region also red.,
Any signs of darting, erratic swimming.
Flicking and rubbing against objects in the tank.
Pale body with excess slime.

 

[rob_cool1]

I had the water tested last week and they said everything was ok. I tested the ph i tested when i saw the fish ill and it was at 8.0 which is way high so ive put in ph 7.0 and some ph down to bring it back to 6.5.
I have a aqua style 620t which is 130l or 28 gallons.

I have 20 fish altogether:
Now 4 five banded barbs
4 Odessa barbs
2 Reg tiger barbs
2 Golden wonders
3 plecs (bristlenose, clown and l048)
1 Ellioti
4 Corys

I did have another odessa barb but that died and was eaten before i could take it out or see what was wrong with her

I think it may have been the ph but not quite sure. No the belly was quite pale, couldnt see any excess slime on it. No erratic swimming stayed still most of the time and by what i could see it wasnt rubbing its self on anything either.

Rob

 

[WILDER]

I would suggest investing in some liquid test kits of your own.
I wouldn't mess around with PH adjusters. there more trouble than there worth.

What is your tap PH?
Can you make a list of every thing you have in the tank. Rocks, wood, substrate, etc.

Immediate water change.
But test your water in PH first.
If the tank PH is the same as tap PH, a large water change is fine.
If the tank PH is alot dfferent to tap PH, only small water changes.

The red gills, red mouth, gasping, could be anything from bad water quality, bacterial, parasites.


Take a sample of your water to the LFS. Ask them to write the readings down for you.
Also do you know what type of test kit your LFS uses. Liquid, or strip cards.

 

[shantanu]

same thing happened in my tank also, i had 6 Tiger barbs (TB) and 4 rosy barbs (RB)
TB's got very violent when one of the TB got a bit sick and they nipped them all around till his death, same thing happened with one more TB.

they are targeting the 3rd TB now

some Q's i want to ask u :
1. Did u feed them well ? In time ?
2. Did u do water change after this incident ?

both the above things are highly advisable.

 

[rob_cool1]

My tap Ph is 7.5 - 8 which is why i use the ph down to try and keep it at 7
i have 5 plants, 2 pieces of wood and some rocks, sand substrate
I am going to do a water change tomorrow, the shop i go to uses liquid, i dont like the strips as they dont work to well

yeah i feed them a good amount every other day, one day flake food, then in a couple of days would be frozen bloodworm and then in a couple of days flake etc.
From what i can see all the other fish are fine but i will keep a look out and as ive said do a water change tomoz, 50%?

Cheers for the help

 

[WILDER]

I would stop using PH adjusters.
Maybe start a thread in My New Freshwater Tank, about PH, adjusters.
Get alot of help and advice in that part of the forum.


How the fish doing today?

Does the poorly fish show any of these symptoms.
Red belly.
Flicking and rubbing.
Rubbing gills on objects in the tank.
Excess mucas on gills, body, fins.
Darting, erratic swimming.
Swimming in a jerky movement.

 

[rob_cool1]

I thought i needed to use them as a few of the fish cant really tolerate 8ish ph.
The fish died the other day, it didnt really move, its belly was pale compared to normal, mouth was constantly wide open too. I think it had alot of shine to it on its belly and head, is that mucus?

I have been keeping an eye on the others, some occasionally flick and rub themselves on something but its not enough to worry about? like literally a week or so in-between.

One of the red tiger barbs has rages and chases everything around (even my Ellioti haha) do you think that could've attacked it and injured the fish?

Apart from that they look really healthy, swimming as normal, although i think i might have a depressed golden wonder because it stays out the way behind a plant quite alot

Cheers for the help
Rob

 

[WILDER]

Water change.


Keep a look out for parasite signs.
Flicking and rubbing.
Darting, erratic swimming.
Swimming in a jerky movement.
Weight loss.
Pale body, greyish film on fish body, excess slime, trailing slime.
Red pierce marks on body.
Red inflamed gills, pale gills.
Golden yellow coloured spots,or a gold dusting, or rusty coloured varnish,