Not right Cory

[marcelapa]

Hello! I've got a "not right" false julii cory.
Hasn't been eating for at least a week. Getting skinnier. Stays at bottom of tank only going up for a gulp of air. Swims upright with no swimming trouble. No physical signs of ailment (tiny bit of blush on lower fins) Have had him for 2 months. Other two corys are getting bigger and acting normally. They try to get the sick guy to play by nudging him. If nudged enough, he finds a different quiet corner.
10 gal tank w/ hob Marina Slim 15 filter. Tank mates: 1 dwarf gourami, 1 guppy, 2 other corys, 1 ghost shrimp.
Water: 77°
Ph: 7.0
Ammonia: 0
Nitrates: 20
Nitrites: 0-0.5 (hard to determine exact match)
Gh: 60
Kh: 80
Did three 25% water changes three nights in a row. He seems a little better. Well water which I treat with Stress Coat. Also add Stresszyme 1x/week.
Is he just of weaker stock and stressed? Other fish totally fine and normal. He was fine when we first got him;super active. Named him DJ Spazzy. Where'd his spunk go? His dorsal fin is even droopy and not upright...

 

[Colin_T]

It's not a happy fish and there's probably not much you can do for it.

What are you feeding it?
Try frozen or live foods.
Frozen foods include brineshrimp, daphnia, bloodworms, prawn/ shrimp, marine mix.

Live foods include brineshrimp, daphnia, mozzie larvae, blackworms (if they are clean).

-------------------
If it doesn't eat anything, it probably has an internal protozoan infection. Metronidazole might help but it will probably cost you more to treat it than to replace the fish. Even if you do treat it, the fish might not survive.

 

[mrsjoannh13]

It may be your nitrites if they are at .5. Even at .25 over a period of time that would impact a sensitive species. I think corys are pretty sensitive to water parameters. Are you using the test strips? If so, you may want to invest in the API master test kit. It uses a liquid and it is very clear to see if you have any nitrites. 0 nitrites will be blue and any trace of nitrites will turn the test sample on the tube purple (see photo). The test strips are definitely different, and harder to decipher.

It would be helpful to know what you are feeding. Is any food making it to the bottom of the tank past the guppy? Any sinking pellets or wafers that are getting to the bottom quickly?

 

[marcelapa]

It may be your nitrites if they are at .5. Even at .25 over a period of time that would impact a sensitive species. I think corys are pretty sensitive to water parameters. Are you using the test strips? If so, you may want to invest in the API master test kit. It uses a liquid and it is very clear to see if you have any nitrites. 0 nitrites will be blue and any trace of nitrites will turn the test sample on the tube purple (see photo). The test strips are definitely different, and harder to decipher.

It would be helpful to know what you are feeding. Is any food making it to the bottom of the tank past the guppy? Any sinking pellets or wafers that are getting to the bottom quickly?

I feed tropical fish flakes and hikari sinking wafers which have fish meal and silkworm not just algae wafers. And yes, plenty makes it to the bottom. It's the dwarf gourami that is the hog over the guppy.
Thanks for the tip about the api master kit. I use their test strips now and liquid ammonia test.

 

[marcelapa]

It's not a happy fish and there's probably not much you can do for it.

What are you feeding it?
Try frozen or live foods.
Frozen foods include brineshrimp, daphnia, bloodworms, prawn/ shrimp, marine mix.

Live foods include brineshrimp, daphnia, mozzie larvae, blackworms (if they are clean).

-------------------
If it doesn't eat anything, it probably has an internal protozoan infection. Metronidazole might help but it will probably cost you more to treat it than to replace the fish. Even if you do treat it, the fish might not survive.

Thank you.
Yeah probably just let nature take its course.
I'll try some frozen foods if I can get them online. Closest city is 2 hrs away.

 

[mrsjoannh13]

I feed tropical fish flakes and hikari sinking wafers which have fish meal and silkworm not just algae wafers. And yes, plenty makes it to the bottom. It's the dwarf gourami that is the hog over the guppy.
Thanks for the tip about the api master kit. I use their test strips now and liquid ammonia test.

Sounds like you are doing a good job taking care of your fish.

Nitrites might be a cause. Best course is to do larger water changes - maybe 50% or more and try to keep the water quality as good as possible. Can you get a test kit or take your water into a nearby pet shop to check parameters?

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[marcelapa]

Thank you fishaholic!
Unfortunately I cannot bring my water in for testing as I live 2hrs from a petstore.
I will try larger water changes. And purchase a better water testing kit online.

 

[itiwhetu]

A sad fish off his food, just try other foods. If you have algae discs grind them up really fine and put them in the tank, they will drop to the bottom where he might find a few.

 

[marcelapa]

Did a 50% water change this morning. As well as three 20% water changes the three days prior. DJ Spazzy is looking a little better. Still not eating but he's swimming/hovering above the bottom.
I've got some aquarium plants ordered. After their quarantine over the weekend I'll be adding those. Don't plants help absorb nitrites too?

 

[mrsjoannh13]

Yes, plants will help absorb nitrites.

Just re-reading your note about food - you are feeding flakes and Hikari sinking wafers, correct? The flakes might not be enough by the time they reach the bottom and that fish may not like the Hikari wafers. I heard great things about these Hikari vibra bites and my fish couldn't or wouldn't eat them. I had the same thing happen with (highly recommended) pellets. My fish spit them out at me, LOL. Same with Krill Flakes - highly recommended and my fish spit them out.

Short story long.... try putting different food in the tank. Corys also will eat soft, blanched vegetables like zucchini. So try a few different types of food. And keep us posted! Lots of cory fans here

 

[FishGuest5123]

It's not a happy fish and there's probably not much you can do for it.

What are you feeding it?
Try frozen or live foods.
Frozen foods include brineshrimp, daphnia, bloodworms, prawn/ shrimp, marine mix.

Live foods include brineshrimp, daphnia, mozzie larvae, blackworms (if they are clean).

-------------------
If it doesn't eat anything, it probably has an internal protozoan infection. Metronidazole might help but it will probably cost you more to treat it than to replace the fish. Even if you do treat it, the fish might not survive.

I agree. He probably has internal parasites or infection. I would quarantine and treat him.

 

[marcelapa]

I agree. He probably has internal parasites or infection. I would quarantine and treat him.

Yeah, I was wondering about quarantining him. Problem is, I don't have a set up for this. I have one extra heater but no extra tank or filter. I feel like the stress would.orobabky do him in. However, one fish down is better than a tank-wide issue.
Any ideas on how to quarantine without an extra tank/filter?
Also, I live rurally and don't have immediate access to a pet store. Shipping takes 2-3 days.

 

[marcelapa]

I'll keep you posted...
Thanks so very much for all the feedback!
Great aquarium community here!
Mpa

 

[marcelapa]

Yes, plants will help absorb nitrites.

Just re-reading your note about food - you are feeding flakes and Hikari sinking wafers, correct? The flakes might not be enough by the time they reach the bottom and that fish may not like the Hikari wafers. I heard great things about these Hikari vibra bites and my fish couldn't or wouldn't eat them. I had the same thing happen with (highly recommended) pellets. My fish spit them out at me, LOL. Same with Krill Flakes - highly recommended and my fish spit them out.

Short story long.... try putting different food in the tank. Corys also will eat soft, blanched vegetables like zucchini. So try a few different types of food. And keep us posted! Lots of cory fans here

I ordered some freeze dried brine shrimp online last night.
I tried a pea, but no one in the tank like that.
I'll keep trying but if there's no improvement in the next 24 hrs, I may pull him, fearing some parasite, I don't want his tank mates to get sick too.

 

[FishGuest5123]

I ordered some freeze dried brine shrimp online last night.
I tried a pea, but no one in the tank like that.
I'll keep trying but if there's no improvement in the next 24 hrs, I may pull him, fearing some parasite, I don't want his tank mates to get sick too.

You can treat the whole tank for parasites. If one has them, they’ll all get them anyway. Good luck and keep us posted!