Rummy Nose Tetra Swimming Strangely

[wilchil64]

Hi,

Request Help

Tank size: 125 litre (Fluval Roma)
pH: (sorry don't have kit but usually approx 7.6)
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 20
kH: (sorry don't have kit but usually approx 7.6)
gH: (sorry don't have kit but usually approx 7.6)
tank temp: 25 degrees C

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): Rummy nose tetra swimming with tail pointing downwards, nose up, jerking. No sign of white or anything. I noticed it last night.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: weekly water changes of 40 litres (1/3)

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: I have added 10 ml Stress Coat and 10 ml Interpet anti internal bacteria treatment this morning after 40 litre water change. Otherwise usual Fluval 3 plus filter, no carbon.

Tank inhabitants: 8 rummy nose tetras, 6 cardinal tetras, 2 german blue rams, 2 amano shrimps, 5 guppies, 1 albino bristlenose

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): none since rummy nose tetras were added on 13th december 2008.

Exposure to chemicals: none

Also would like to add we lost a blue guppy on 31st December 2008. Only symptoms I noticed were the night before I thought he had a dark patch on his tail, but wasn't sure if that was always there, it was only about 2 mm diameter, maybe. Also he seemed to be swimming at the top, but I didn't worry too much about that as all the guppies seem to spend some time at the top. The next day at noon we found him floating dead. Again, no signs of white spot, fungus etc.

I'll keep an eye on the tank, repeat the treatment as it says on the pack on day 4.

Any ideas what is wrong and is it likely to spread? Have I used the right treatment or is there anything else I can do?

Thanks.

 

[rdd1952]

Sounds like a problem with swim bladder or constipation. There is no cure for swim bladder but constipation which has basically the same symptoms can be treated by feeding a cooked pea. Simply blanch a pea and remove the hull/skin. Mash it up good and feed. You can do enough for the whole tank as all the fish should love them. Sometimes it's also best to withhold food for 2 to 3 days after feeding the cooked pea.

What do you feed them most of the time? Bloodworms (if you're using them) are high in protein and can cause digestion problems if fed too often.

 

[wilchil64]

Sounds like a problem with swim bladder or constipation. There is no cure for swim bladder but constipation which has basically the same symptoms can be treated by feeding a cooked pea. Simply blanch a pea and remove the hull/skin. Mash it up good and feed. You can do enough for the whole tank as all the fish should love them. Sometimes it's also best to withhold food for 2 to 3 days after feeding the cooked pea.

What do you feed them most of the time? Bloodworms (if you're using them) are high in protein and can cause digestion problems if fed too often.

Thanks for your reply. We feed a mixture of flake, pellets, frozen brine shrimp, live brine shrimp, frozen blood worm or live blood worm very occasionally, certainly not often enough to cause constipation - probably once a fortnight at most.

I've cooked and mashed up some peas for them and will then withhold food for 2 days. The rummy nose is still swimming with his nose in the air and quite jerky.

I've had a nightmare of a day anyway, after doing water change on the tank this morning and dosing them with antibac treatment, we had a power cut. The power was off from about 1 pm til 5.30 pm, so I've spent all afternoon topping up the tank with warm water to keep the water at near to the right temperature and wrapping the tanks in blankets and generally worrying all afternoon. Fingers crossed all the bacteria haven't died off and the fish won't suffer as a consequence.

 

[rdd1952]

I don't know what it is with constipation. I had a cory once that I could not get over it. I would isolate him, feed the pea and then leave for a few days. He would be fine for several days to a couple weeks after I put him back in the tank and then he would be right back in the same shape. I eventually ended up losing him after the 3rd or 4th bout with it.

Nitrifying bacteria are very slow to die off. As long as the filter media stays wet, it usually takes at least 12 to 24 hours to see any die off at all. Even then, it's usually only 5 to 10 percent which will replenish quickly.

 

[wilchil64]

I don't know what it is with constipation. I had a cory once that I could not get over it. I would isolate him, feed the pea and then leave for a few days. He would be fine for several days to a couple weeks after I put him back in the tank and then he would be right back in the same shape. I eventually ended up losing him after the 3rd or 4th bout with it.

Nitrifying bacteria are very slow to die off. As long as the filter media stays wet, it usually takes at least 12 to 24 hours to see any die off at all. Even then, it's usually only 5 to 10 percent which will replenish quickly.

That's a relief, there's a chance the fish will be ok after the power cut then. I kept the tanks wrapped in blankets and added warm water, so the temperature only dropped to about 23 degrees temporarily. It was the filter I was worried about more than anything.

The rummy nose is still the same today. I fed the whole tank peas yesterday, blanched and mushed, but after the initial burst of "here comes food!", they didn't seem too keen and to be honest I'm not sure the little ill guy got any.

Do you think there is no chance I need to add the second dose of the anti internal bacterial treatment on Thursday? And do I then need to add a carbon media to my filter to get rid of what I have put in, or will it just be sufficient to do a 50% water change?

Thanks.

 

[rdd1952]

You may have to try to isolate him in something smaller to make sure he gets some food. I used a breeding basket that attachd to the tank walls via suction cups. He was still in the tank but isolated to a 3x3x6 area. It made it easier on him as he didn't have to fight floating up from the bottom and also I know if he ate anything. Sometimes, just a few days without food will solve the problem though.

 

[wilchil64]

You may have to try to isolate him in something smaller to make sure he gets some food. I used a breeding basket that attachd to the tank walls via suction cups. He was still in the tank but isolated to a 3x3x6 area. It made it easier on him as he didn't have to fight floating up from the bottom and also I know if he ate anything. Sometimes, just a few days without food will solve the problem though.

Thanks for your help.

Unfortunately we found him dead yesterday. He didn't improve, just carried on the same, but didn't seem to be eating. I'm just hoping it's not something that the others will catch now.