I have noticed over the last 2 weeks my rummy noses have been pale, breathing heavy, and blinking their fins everytime they breathe.

they mostly sit at the bottom of the tank and just float..

its been 2 weeks, thats what confused me!

Hi Hawkins…

Sounds very like what my Cardinal was suffering with…he had a colour change (loss of red colour, blackening of blue colour), heavy breathing, emaciated belly & hiding away at bottom of tank just floating etc, no interest in the rest of the group. (I've pics in my other post about it)

This had been going on 4 weeks!

So on advice of the guys here I gave the tank a dose of Interpet No.9 and he’s improving a lot. I’m hoping that he’ll make a full recovery….

Perhaps this is what your Rummy nose’s have?

its all 4 of them!

and ive noticed the cherry barbs doing it aswell

Size of tank in gallons or litres.
How many fish and which type.
Waters stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.
Any excess mucas on there bodies.
Check the gills over to see if there pale with excess slime, or red and inflamed.

Hi Hawkins…

Sounds very like what my Cardinal was suffering with…he had a colour change (loss of red colour, blackening of blue colour), heavy breathing, emaciated belly & hiding away at bottom of tank just floating etc, no interest in the rest of the group. (I've pics in my other post about it)

This had been going on 4 weeks!

So on advice of the guys here I gave the tank a dose of Interpet No.9 and he’s improving a lot. I’m hoping that he’ll make a full recovery….


Being really thin when still eating can mean old age, fish tb to internal parasites.
Check the fish anus to see if its enlarged or red and inflamed.
What does there waste look like when they go to the toilet.
Any worns prutruding from the anus.

No their butts look fine.

I gave them some pea the day before yesterday, so they are cleared inside.

The tank is 3 months old, ive had these fish for about 2 months.. they were about 1" when i got them so i dont think its old age.

It cant be the water stats, because they have been like this for 2 weeks. I have done 2 water changes since then!

Can we take a look at your water stats please.
Is there enough aeration in the tank.
Anys signs of flicking and rubbing.
Being pale and heavy breathing can be signs of a bacterial infection as well as parasites.
Do the fish look bloated.
How many tetra are they.
Have you checked there gills and body over for excess slime.

Did you use the fish to cycle the tank, if so it can take it toll on them.

This post has been edited by Wilder: Jul 8 2008, 01:19 PM

no these fish were added 6 weeks into my aquarium setup
wouldn't class that as cycle..

stats are fine

How are the fish now?