Freshwater fish sick
- Thread starter kevin34
- Start date
grouperlover
Member
Originally Posted by Kevin34
I have a rosy barb that I just noticed lying on the bottom of my tank. He got up and started swimming but I can tell he is struggling. He is breathing very rapidly and there is a bend in his side like someone tryed to fold him. Anyone know what could be wrong?
I don't think you'll get any help here sry but this is all saltwter people...
But your lucky you only spend a few bucks on a fish unlike most of us
I have a rosy barb that I just noticed lying on the bottom of my tank. He got up and started swimming but I can tell he is struggling. He is breathing very rapidly and there is a bend in his side like someone tryed to fold him. Anyone know what could be wrong?
I don't think you'll get any help here sry but this is all saltwter people...
But your lucky you only spend a few bucks on a fish unlike most of us
shinobi9119
Active Member
NO Kevin.. I liked that fish lol.
sepulatian
Moderator
Hey Kevin. How long have you had this fish? What sized tank is this and what is in with him? What are your readings for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate?
kevin34
Active Member
Its in a hex tank that is either 20 or 30 gallons. It is in there with a fantail goldfish. I dont have very good testing materials but the water quality is not very good but the fish has been living in that water for about 3 or 4 years now. He is still swimming but I have never seen him move so panicy and fast. I also noticed there is a line on one of his sides running down his body where about his spone would be. Could it be HLLE? The line is only on 1 side and there is a "dent" near his tail.
sepulatian
Moderator
Originally Posted by Kevin34
Its in a hex tank that is either 20 or 30 gallons. It is in there with a fantail goldfish. I dont have very good testing materials but the water quality is not very good but the fish has been living in that water for about 3 or 4 years now. He is still swimming but I have never seen him move so panicy and fast. I also noticed there is a line on one of his sides running down his body where about his spone would be. Could it be HLLE? The line is only on 1 side and there is a "dent" near his tail.
FW fish most certainly DO get HLLE. What kind of salt kit do you have? If it is API then test your FW tank with it. Test for ammonia, a bent tail is a sign of the crappiest water you can get. That is a sign of not only ammonia burn but nitrite as well.
Its in a hex tank that is either 20 or 30 gallons. It is in there with a fantail goldfish. I dont have very good testing materials but the water quality is not very good but the fish has been living in that water for about 3 or 4 years now. He is still swimming but I have never seen him move so panicy and fast. I also noticed there is a line on one of his sides running down his body where about his spone would be. Could it be HLLE? The line is only on 1 side and there is a "dent" near his tail.
FW fish most certainly DO get HLLE. What kind of salt kit do you have? If it is API then test your FW tank with it. Test for ammonia, a bent tail is a sign of the crappiest water you can get. That is a sign of not only ammonia burn but nitrite as well.
sepulatian
Moderator
Originally Posted by Kevin34
My SW tank isnt set up yet so I dont have a test kit but I can do a water change. All I have is tap water though. Its very hard water but will it help or is it too late?
Buy an API liquid master salt kit. It cost less than $30 it tests both fresh and salt. You have to test any tank no matter what is in it.
My SW tank isnt set up yet so I dont have a test kit but I can do a water change. All I have is tap water though. Its very hard water but will it help or is it too late?
Buy an API liquid master salt kit. It cost less than $30 it tests both fresh and salt. You have to test any tank no matter what is in it.
sepulatian
Moderator
Originally Posted by Kevin34
Its in a hex tank that is either 20 or 30 gallons. It is in there with a fantail goldfish. I dont have very good testing materials but the water quality is not very good but the fish has been living in that water for about 3 or 4 years now. He is still swimming but I have never seen him move so panicy and fast. I also noticed there is a line on one of his sides running down his body where about his spone would be. Could it be HLLE? The line is only on 1 side and there is a "dent" near his tail.
You have had this fish for 3-4 years without a test kit? Which fish has the HLLE?
Its in a hex tank that is either 20 or 30 gallons. It is in there with a fantail goldfish. I dont have very good testing materials but the water quality is not very good but the fish has been living in that water for about 3 or 4 years now. He is still swimming but I have never seen him move so panicy and fast. I also noticed there is a line on one of his sides running down his body where about his spone would be. Could it be HLLE? The line is only on 1 side and there is a "dent" near his tail.
You have had this fish for 3-4 years without a test kit? Which fish has the HLLE?
kevin34
Active Member
I do have a test kit but they are just the basic test strips. I dont think it is HLLE but it is the rosy barb that is sick. I think it is because of the bad water quality because of the bent tail like you said and they both have some scales missing. I started the tank before I knew about proper fish care and that is why the water is so bad. I have been trying to improve it for a long time now but with tap water it is just so hard. I just did a pretty big water change and added a couple buffers. If I turn the filter on would that effect the buffer? It is a simple Whisper hang on filter. I have the filter media changed and ready to go in case it should be turned on.
sepulatian
Moderator
Originally Posted by Kevin34
I do have a test kit but they are just the basic test strips. I dont think it is HLLE but it is the rosy barb that is sick. I think it is because of the bad water quality because of the bent tail like you said and they both have some scales missing. I started the tank before I knew about proper fish care and that is why the water is so bad. I have been trying to improve it for a long time now but with tap water it is just so hard. I just did a pretty big water change and added a couple buffers. If I turn the filter on would that effect the buffer? It is a simple Whisper hang on filter. I have the filter media changed and ready to go in case it should be turned on.
I must have missed this, you absolutely should have the filter on!!! What part of the water quality is bad? You have had this fish for years, you never tested the nitrates? If the filter isn't on then test ammonia and nitrite as well.
I do have a test kit but they are just the basic test strips. I dont think it is HLLE but it is the rosy barb that is sick. I think it is because of the bad water quality because of the bent tail like you said and they both have some scales missing. I started the tank before I knew about proper fish care and that is why the water is so bad. I have been trying to improve it for a long time now but with tap water it is just so hard. I just did a pretty big water change and added a couple buffers. If I turn the filter on would that effect the buffer? It is a simple Whisper hang on filter. I have the filter media changed and ready to go in case it should be turned on.
I must have missed this, you absolutely should have the filter on!!! What part of the water quality is bad? You have had this fish for years, you never tested the nitrates? If the filter isn't on then test ammonia and nitrite as well.
kevin34
Active Member
Let me rephrase that. I always have the filter running but was wondering if I should turn it off for the night because I wasnt sure if the filter would filter out the buffers and stop them from working. But I did turn the filter on after the water change. My tests say that nitrate is in the unsafe region. Around 80
. And I know that is very bad but not matter how many water changes I do it wont go down. The nitrite is around .5-1.0. It says the water is very hard and the alkilinity is low.
sepulatian
Moderator
Originally Posted by Kevin34
Let me rephrase that. I always have the filter running but was wondering if I should turn it off for the night because I wasnt sure if the filter would filter out the buffers and stop them from working. But I did turn the filter on after the water change. My tests say that nitrate is in the unsafe region. Around 80
. And I know that is very bad but not matter how many water changes I do it wont go down. The nitrite is around .5-1.0. It says the water is very hard and the alkilinity is low.
80 isn't lethal in FW, nitrites of .50-1 are. Do water changes. Why do you need a buffer? The filter wouldn't remove the buffer anyway.
Let me rephrase that. I always have the filter running but was wondering if I should turn it off for the night because I wasnt sure if the filter would filter out the buffers and stop them from working. But I did turn the filter on after the water change. My tests say that nitrate is in the unsafe region. Around 80
80 isn't lethal in FW, nitrites of .50-1 are. Do water changes. Why do you need a buffer? The filter wouldn't remove the buffer anyway.