Archer Fish

[Wonderboy]

My friend's Archer fish has an un-identifiable thing on it! He asked me what it was, but I had no idea. I told him we can trust you guys to help us out. Thanks!

Yeah... it's ugly... Thanks for any help!

 

[CFC]

What are the tank conditions, SG, pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

 

[WILDER]

Can make them out that wel,l can you describe them in apperance look like ulcers.

 

[Wonderboy]

What are the tank conditions, SG, pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

pH - 6.9
ppm alkalinity - 180
ppm hardness - 250
ppm nitrite - .15
ppm nitrate - 150-200!!

It is only one pimple-like thing. It is light pinkish in color, and bulges out from the body.

 

[WILDER]

Good god that tank need maintaining with a gravel vac, high nitrates anything thing above 050 wan't fetching down with a water change, when did he last maintain the filter, plus high nitrite reading thats want fetching down with a water change, how many gallons is the tank, plus full stock list of fish of how many and which kind.
The fish have a bacterial infection you will need a bacteria med.
Don't alter the water stats to fast though you will send them into shock, but that tank needs some prompt attention as the fish are sick.

 

[CFC]

Does your friend realise that archer fish are brackish water fishes that at the very least need to be kept in hard alkeline water with a pH above 7.5 and prefferably in brackish water with a SG of 1.010 or above and a pH of 8?

My guess would be that the sores are a stress reaction from being kept in the wrong conditions and in a tank that is obviously undermaintained since the nitrates are so high.

 

[WILDER]

http/www.ponddoc.com/WhatsUpDoc/FishHeal...tleBacteria.htm

 

[Wonderboy]

Good god that tank need maintaining with a gravel vac, high nitrates anything thing above 050 wan't fetching down with a water change, when did he last maintain the filter, plus high nitrite reading thats want fetching down with a water change, how many gallons is the tank, plus full stock list of fish of how many and which kind.
The fish have a bacterial infection you will need a bacteria med.
Don't alter the water stats to fast though you will send them into shock, but that tank needs some prompt attention as the fish are sick.

Yeah. I'm happy I did that water test on his tank! We did a 1/3 water change, and will continue to do so each day, and we cleaned his filter (dirty!!!).

He has an archer (3"), a ghost knife (6"), a tiny flounder (1"), and a chocolate albino pleco (4").

All these fish are in a 20 gallon tank - I know, I know, it's small, but he is in college, and he could not bring his 60. The fish seem to be getting along fine in there, but we now saw how dirty his tank was! I am doing what I can to help him get his tank back together.

I have put anti-bacterial doses in as well, but does anyone know a specific treatment for his archer??

CFC-
He does know that they are brackish, but after talking with another fish-keeper that kept archers, he was informed that they will simply not live as long as they would if they were in brackish water. So, my friend was okay with keeping him fresh for a few months, and then slowly introducing him to brackish.

 

[WILDER]

I would improve there health and try and get lfs to take them of his hands, good luck.

 

[steelhealr]

I would use aquarium salt in this case as well. SH

 

[CFC]

Rasing the salinity with marine salt by 0.002 SG each week until you reach 1.010 SG will help considerably, there may not even be any need for medications.

 

[Wonderboy]

Rasing the salinity .....

Thanks for the guidance! Will give it a go.

 

[Wonderboy]

Well... We've did three water changes (50 %) and started adding salt and raised the temp to 82, and it seems to be working! (so far) The "thing" is shrinking slowly away, and he is getting color in that area back! Yay... will inform and post pic if it healed (hopefully)! Should we continue salt for like a week after visible symptoms dissappear?

 

[CFC]

Keep raisning the salinity until you you get a reading of 1.010 on a hydrometer then keep it at that level.

 

[Wonderboy]

Keep raisning the salinity until you you get a reading of 1.010 on a hydrometer then keep it at that level.

shall do!