Sick Fish

[Matt]

Hi Guys

I need help.

I have two Boesemani Rainbows in my 240L tank but unfortunately one of them appears to be sick. For the last few days he has gone off his food and stays in the same place for hours on end. It seems to be able to swim OK when it wants to as it does change positions in the tank during the day. I have looked fairly closely but can't see any signs of damage. The other thing that i have noticed is that it opens and closes it's mouth at a much faster rate than all of the other fish in the tank. I did have a dose of white spot a few weeks ago but after treatment all of the fish recovered until now. Does anyone have any suggestions.

Matt

 

[Kryten]

Since your treatment of the white spot have you used a carbon filter medium to clean out any excess medication, this could be polluting your water now. What are your readings at such as nitrate, nitrite, PH and ammonia? This may all help to diagnose the problem

 

[Matt]

I have replaced the carbon filter so the chemical should be removed by now. I have had the water tested by a local shop but he only told me that it was fine and not the levels. Do I need to now the levels or is his statement of fine OK.

Thanks

Matt

 

[Fishsmurf]

Matt,

Yep, get the numbers from your LFS please or even better treat yourself to the kits and test yourself. You will get a much better idea of whats going on in your tank once you can measure Ammonia, NitrIte, NitrAte yourself (those are the basic test kits), then if you fancy going a bit deeper you can look at pH / GH / KH .....

HTH

 

[Matt]

Hi Guys

I did as you advised and got a complete water test kit. The results were as follows.

Amonnia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 40ppm
PH 8.6

The nitrate levels should drop when I do my bi-weekly water change, which is due tomorrow. The only one that I am not sure about is the PH level. I have recently read a book the implied that a sudden change in Ph was much worse than the fish being kept constantly in a Ph level that didn't suit.

The other fish that i have in the tank are as follows.

2 x Golden Severums
2 x New Red rainbows
4 x Red Eye Tetra
2 x Boesemani Rainbow, one sick
2 x Scissor Tails

The tank is a 240L with internal filtration system.

The fish still looks the same after 5 days now, no better no worse. Could it be that he has just got a problem that is nothing to do with my tank or the way I have loked after him.

 

[cichlidmaster]

Your ph is high for the severums, congo's, red eye's and scissortails, but rainbows are really resiliant.

I don't believe your ph is the culprit or the other rainbow would be showing the same symptoms.

Is the sick rainbow a male or female?? Do you have pairs of them?

Male rainbows can become aggressive that is why it is always recommended to have small groups of these.

Keeping them in small groups also make them feel more comfortable. Unlike cichlids where it is recommended to keep more females to males....it is the opposite with rainbows. You should always have more males that females.

If the sick/gasping one is a female and the other is a male I would bet the male is hounding her to spawn.

CM

 

[Matt]

Thanks for your help Cichlidmaster.

What is the best way to reduce the Ph level, I have heard of tablets that control the level to a set point. Are they any good? As for the sex of the Rainbow, I must confess that being a newbie I have no idea. I will get a book over the weekend and let you know. It also sound like I need to get some more as I only have two.

Thanks

Matt