Water parameters are good per API chemistry set. All other fish in tank are fine. 10 fish in 40 gallon. 1 pleco, 3 anglefish, 2 loaches, 2 raphael, 2 pictus. One of my loaches is breathing very fast. Mouth open constantly breathing. No other signs of distress. Plenty of oxygen being generated in tank.
Yoyo loach breathing fast
- Thread starter Amimyster
- Start date
Please post exact parameter readings
Record a video of the fish, upload to YouTube and post the link here.
First step is do a 50% water change ASAP
Record a video of the fish, upload to YouTube and post the link here.
First step is do a 50% water change ASAP
If the water and tank are clean, it might have an infection in the mouth, gills or throat area. you can try salt but do a big (75%) water change, gravel clean the substrate, wipe the inside of the glass, and clean the filter first. Then add some salt and monitor the fish.
Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it's added to the tank.
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SALT
You can add rock salt (often sold as aquarium salt) or swimming pool salt to the aquarium at the dose rate of 1 heaped tablespoon per 20 litres of water. If there is no improvement after 48 hours you can double that dose rate so there is 2 heaped tablespoons of salt per 20 litres.
Keep the salt level like this for at least 2 weeks but no longer than 4 weeks otherwise kidney damage can occur. Kidney damage is more likely to occur in fish from soft water (tetras, Corydoras, angelfish, Bettas & gouramis, loaches) that are exposed to high levels of salt for an extended period of time, and is not an issue with livebearers, rainbowfish or other salt tolerant species.
The salt will not affect the beneficial filter bacteria, fish, plants, shrimp or snails.
After you use salt and the fish have recovered, you do a 10% water change each day for a week using only fresh water that has been dechlorinated. Then do a 20% water change each day for a week. Then you can do bigger water changes after that. This dilutes the salt out of the tank slowly so it doesn't harm the fish.
If you do water changes while using salt, you need to treat the new water with salt before adding it to the tank. This will keep the salt level stable in the tank and minimise stress on the fish.
When you first add salt, add the salt to a small bucket of tank water and dissolve the salt. Then slowly pour the salt water into the tank near the filter outlet. Add the salt over a couple of minutes.
Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it's added to the tank.
---------------------
SALT
You can add rock salt (often sold as aquarium salt) or swimming pool salt to the aquarium at the dose rate of 1 heaped tablespoon per 20 litres of water. If there is no improvement after 48 hours you can double that dose rate so there is 2 heaped tablespoons of salt per 20 litres.
Keep the salt level like this for at least 2 weeks but no longer than 4 weeks otherwise kidney damage can occur. Kidney damage is more likely to occur in fish from soft water (tetras, Corydoras, angelfish, Bettas & gouramis, loaches) that are exposed to high levels of salt for an extended period of time, and is not an issue with livebearers, rainbowfish or other salt tolerant species.
The salt will not affect the beneficial filter bacteria, fish, plants, shrimp or snails.
After you use salt and the fish have recovered, you do a 10% water change each day for a week using only fresh water that has been dechlorinated. Then do a 20% water change each day for a week. Then you can do bigger water changes after that. This dilutes the salt out of the tank slowly so it doesn't harm the fish.
If you do water changes while using salt, you need to treat the new water with salt before adding it to the tank. This will keep the salt level stable in the tank and minimise stress on the fish.
When you first add salt, add the salt to a small bucket of tank water and dissolve the salt. Then slowly pour the salt water into the tank near the filter outlet. Add the salt over a couple of minutes.
I first noticed yesterday evening. It didn't eat then or this morning. I have no clue as to what to do. Was fine 2 days ago when fed in evening.
I would say it's dying. When they stop eating and breath rapidly, they usually have a major internal issue (organ damage/ failure) and they don't normally last long.
Does it look like it has gotten really fat overnight?
If it has then I would euthanise it.
Does it look like it has gotten really fat overnight?
If it has then I would euthanise it.
No it hasn't gotten really fat overnight. I've had him for 5 years or so. What could cause organ damage/ failure on a fish?
This particular yoyo got super fat about 4 months ago, like it had eggs. Then about 2 weeks ago it was back down to regular size. Could that have something to do with it
Usually a bacterial infection.
It may have had eggs and shed them or it might have had something else happen inside it. If it got fat slowly over a few weeks to a month, then it was probably eggs. If it got fat over a day, then an internal issue is the most likely cause.
Slowly got fat. I've got the yoyo in what I call fishy jail. It ate. Still breathing fast. Treated tank with Melafix.
CarissaT
Fish Fanatic
I may be wrong here, but with scaleless fish isn’t salt a no-no?
With the breathing distress make sure your temp isn‘t too high, the higher the temp the less oxygen the water can carry. 78F or less is fine.
Why? These "magic" cure-this or that are more stressful than useful.
Water temp is 76 now. I turned it down as soon as I noticed him breathing funny. I didn't do the salt due to it being a scale less fish. Still breathing fast. I even raised the filter up to cause more oxygen flow than what comes from the large airstone. This yoyo is the only one in distress. Could he just be old? Had him about 5 years now.
Salt is fine for loaches as long as you don't overdose. Just follow the directions above.
If you don't want to use salt, try a broad spectrum medication that treat bacteria and fungus (don't use an antibiotic).
If you don't want to use salt, try a broad spectrum medication that treat bacteria and fungus (don't use an antibiotic).
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