Yellow tail acai turning upside down / acting weird

[AmyKieran]

My yellow tail acai is turning upside down and lying in the bottom in its side

Added seachem Malawi buffer over 2 days as instructed on bottle if that could be it. Has been acting weird over a few days before that not eating etc

All water parameters are great

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 5

Any idea what’s wrong?

 

[AmyKieran]

Not a great picture I know but I tried to move it and it got up and swam (swimming almost on its side) then just went back to this spot between the rocks and lies there on the bottom

 

[AmyKieran]

Seems to have some damage on its head too

 

[AmyKieran]

Swimming like this

 

[AmyKieran]

I’ve moved the fish to a hospital tank

 

[AmyKieran]

Edit- decided to euthanise the fish

The fish has been thrashing at the top for some time but I just thought it was that particular fishes behaviour. I think the fish is beyond repair and perhaps even old. All other fish are showing no sign of anything and are doing great. Thanks

 

[Naughts]

Sorry to hear that.
I wonder what was wrong? Did you compare it to Hole In The Head (HITH) disease?

 

[AmyKieran]

Sorry to hear that.
I wonder what was wrong? Did you compare it to Hole In The Head (HITH) disease?

Ide never actually seen this before so I googled it, yeah it looks like a mild version of this I’ll be honest. Is there anything I should do in particular for my other fish?

Edit- he always seemed to have a dip in his head but I never really gave it a second look. Also when he’s a fish among 50, it can get overlooked

 

[Colin_T]

It's not hole in the head disease.

The fish might have been bashed or swam into something and got a brain injury, or something else.

If it happens again, post a video of it.

 

[AmyKieran]

Just a question, I’ve used clove oil in a hospital tank with filter/ heater. Is this going to contaminate the filter and stuff for using it in the future?

 

[AmyKieran]

It's not hole in the head disease.

The fish might have been bashed or swam into something and got a brain injury, or something else.

If it happens again, post a video of it.

I’ve euthanised the fish now, it was beyond repair and was completely upside down for more than an hour

 

[Essjay]

Just a question, I’ve used clove oil in a hospital tank with filter/ heater. Is this going to contaminate the filter and stuff for using it in the future?

Given that it takes several washes to get rid of the smell from my hands, I would use anything contaminated with cove oil for anything other than fish euthanasia. Whenever I've had to put a fish down I use an old ice cream tub filled with tank water.

 

[AmyKieran]

Given that it takes several washes to get rid of the smell from my hands, I would use anything contaminated with cove oil for anything other than fish euthanasia. Whenever I've had to put a fish down I use an old ice cream tub filled with tank water.

Yeah it really wasn’t the smartest move, perhaps I’ll designate it the euthanasia tank. A moment of silence for my acai ;(