Livebearer Red Inflammed Gills

[oatfish]

Hi, I bought 4 black chinned livebearers at the Festival of Fishkeeping, and when I got home i noticed the male (I have one male and three females) has red gills that look slightly inflammed compared to the females. He was also hanging near the top of the bag (and now the tank) but will feed, although less than the others. He is not always at the top, but significantly more than the females.

He is small at 2cm in length and looks very healthy in all other ways. I placed them in their new home (a 20 litre cherry shrimp tank), thinking that ammonia toxicity may be the cause from being in the bag and travelling. I measured the tank Ammonia which is 0, and Nitrite which is 0 and Nitrate is between 5 and 10 mark. pH is 7.4. The three females are in rude health and the shrimp are all looking tip top, so I doubt the tank parameters are causing the problem, my shrimp usually are the first to let me know if water quality is not great!

I dosed with Melafix on Saturday eve and Sun eve dosed with Interpet Internal Bacteria No.9 and have increased aeration by letting the filter poke out of the water to agitate the suface, plus I added an airstone, but no change (although he has not got any worse!) Is it likely to be gill flukes? the others are not affected. I am concerned about using a Fluke medication if it is not necessary because of the risk to the shrimp.
Any ideas or general medication (shrimp safe) that could be used to calm his gill redness?

Thanks

 

[SJ2K]

Does sound alot like damage caused from Ammonia/Nitrite, sure he wasnt this way when purchased? Not a chance?

 

[WILDER]

If the fish are not flicking with the red gills, I would jsut leave it as hte good water quality should clear it up.

 

[helterskelter]

Your doing everything i'lll be doing so your on the right road, just take it easy and keep up with the water changes.

I saw the Black chins or Girardinus metallicus at the show and they looked ok to me and you got them saturday which was good as they only came in on that moring.

Even if the worst happens and he dies the females will surly produce a few broods of fry as they do store sperm like common livebearers.
The fry are quite large with these fish, much larger than guppy fry and great fun to rear.

 

[oatfish]

Your doing everything i'lll be doing so your on the right road, just take it easy and keep up with the water changes.

I saw the Black chins or Girardinus metallicus at the show and they looked ok to me and you got them saturday which was good as they only came in on that moring.

Even if the worst happens and he dies the females will surly produce a few broods of fry as they do store sperm like common livebearers.
The fry are quite large with these fish, much larger than guppy fry and great fun to rear.

Thanks guys, thats calmed me down! He seems the same today and I have not noticed him flicking at all, and he has been feeding so I think he will prob be ok, he's not thin and he does not look too stressed.

I added more Melafix this morning so hopefully that will help him out! They are such cute fish, I really would love them to breed. The females have been pestering him (common with these guys apparently!), so hopefully I won't have to wait too long....

 

[helterskelter]

if you like the black chin then have a search for the gold chin's!!!!!

Identical to the blacks, how ever it has a gold line and never though much of them from photo's till i saw them in the flesh and their stunning things.

 

[oatfish]

All is good, his gills are no longer inflammed and he is having a good time with his three ladies so no worries!

 

[korunks]

I was curious as to what kind of fish this is, not to derail the topic, but I googled black chinned livebearers and got nothing. What species of fish is this? I am curious and would like to learn more about a new fish type. Any one know its scientific name??

 

[helterskelter]

try Girardinus metallicus

or click here Google images