Zebra danio ill - need help with poss diagnosis

[phil]

Hi Folks

One of my zebra danios is lying on it`s side on the bottom of the tank - still breathing and swims when disturbed but swims at an angle of about 45 degrees.

I`ve checked the water - Ammonia - 0, Ph - 7.2, Nitrite - 0.5 p.p.m., Nitate - 0

temperature is stable at 28 degrees Centigrade.

it`s in a 4ft x 1 ft x 18" tank (about 140 litres if I remember correctly) along with 4 other zebra`s, 2 silver sharks, silver mollies x 5, neon tetras x 5, black neons x 5, silver tips x 2, gibbiceps x 1, sucking loaches x 2, siamese fighting fish x 1.
Guppy x 1 (? killed the other guppy by fin nipping, isolated since it began attacking the silver mollies).

lost one silver shark last week - unknown reason.

All other fish seem okay - no signs of them being disturbed.

I do a water change at least every 3 weeks (approx 25%) and treat new water with aquasafe and stress zyme and stress coat.

Any one got any suggestions ?

Thanks

Phil

 

[The-Wolf]

This sounds like a swim bladder problem.
there are a few things that can cause it
1) an internal bacterial disease, (extreamly hard to cure)
2) a digestive blockage
3) too much air (caused by top feeding)

the best cure for #2 is feeding a cooked de-shelled pea.
for #3 feed sinking food, like pellets or bloodworms etc, not flakes
If it is #1 then the chances are very small for a full recovery but you can try a wide ranging anti-bacterial medication.

HTH

BTW
water changes should be done at the very least every two weeks; I do mine weekly.

 

[WILDER]

Try a water change as you have a high nitrite reading.

 

[WILDER]

This is probably way the fish is acting like it is, and could of coursed the other fish deaths.

 

[sylvia]

You are also severaly over-stocked and should do water changes at least once a week. Please read through the link in my signature.

There is a guideline that say that for every gallon you can keep one inch of adult fish (which emans in your tank you could keep about 35 inches of fish when considering ADULT sizes). You also need to take into acount territoriality, actiity level and the guideline is only reliable for smaller fish (up to 6") larger fish need more space.

5 zebras - 1.5" each - total = 7.5"
2 silver sharks - 12" each (need 150 gallons), total = 24"
5 silver mollies - up to 4", 20" total - also need to be kept at a ratio of 2 females to every male
5 neon tetras - just over 1" - 5 inches total
2 silver tips - should be in a group of at least 6, to 2", 4" total
1 gibbiceps - like common plecos, get to 12" often to 18", not a good chocie for a smaller tank, better plecos are bristlenoses, golden nugget or bulldog
1 sucking loach - to 10" but that isn't the worst of it - these are the worst community fish, will eat your other fish and suck slime coat and eyes as they mature
2 siamese fighting fish? - I shure hope these aren't both males... probably not if still alive though only females can be kept together and then in groups of at least 4 to devide aggression - either these or the 'sucking loach' (which isn't a loach BTW) was probably what killed your guppy - bettas only grow to about 2 inches but aren't suitable for aquariums with nippy fish or fish that look like them (such as guppies) as they are prone to being nipped and will attack and often kill any fish that vaguely resembles them (that's mainly the males though).
1 guppy - only to about an inch and fine for a small community but not good with nippy fish - as you probably found out

Anyway, I think you now see what is wrong with your stocking and can put it right if you see problems with water parameters (read that link - you should have 0 ammonia/nitrItes and nitrAte under 40) or if your current fish (namely gibbiceps and silver sharks) outgrow your tank. Please get rid of the sucking loach...

Keep in mind that unsuitable tank mates and bad water quality are the main causes of fish disease (stress = weak immune system = disease = possibly death). As such, it i in your own interest (as well as your fish's) to correct any incompatibilities.

 

[Rodders]

Hes got 2 loaches and 1 siamese fighter

 

[phil]

Hi All

Thanks for the replies - I`m just cycling another 4ft x 12 x 18" tank to solve the overcrowding issue.

The danio is still alive but still on it`s side and only moves when disturbed.

I`ve done a 50% water change as well.

I`ll let everyone know what the outcome is.

Thanks

Phil

 

[WILDER]

I'm sorry to say if it's laying on it's side on the bottom of the tank it's dying.

 

[phil]

Hi All

Just to let you all know the zebra danio is still going and on it`s side - not moving much until disturbed - I`m just setting up a hospital / quarantine tank and have bought some swimbladder disease treatment from the lfs.

I`ve also bought another 18x10x10 tank to go with the 2 x 4 ft tanks I`ve got so any overcrowding should be solved now.

Thanks for all the replies.

Seasons greetings to all

Phil