Black Ghost Knife Fish

[emzy991]

just rehomed this fish last night - passed on by pets at home. was told it was only 6inch by the owner but is closer to 10! had been kept in a water container for at least 48 hrs before I got him as he had been attacked by other fish and loaches. at the moment he is in my 2ft (105 litre) quarentine tank - not ideal but was not going to send it away again. I have dosed with melafix but he is swimming vertically with his nose up instead of down at 45 degree angle. dont want to dose with swim bladder incase this is not the problem. showed a video to staff in P@H today and they suggested it had possibly been nitrate poisoning.
Anyone got experience with bkgf that can help or rehome if he recovers? I would keep him but would mean a total reshuffle on my tanks as I have panchex and emporer tetra in my big tank where he would go.

 

[pbase5583]

thats all bgk. mine does that and he is just being active, they are nocturnal so no bright lights, bloodworms and good shelter is ideal. Mine swims vertical, backwards, you name it he does it.

 

[emzy991]

thanks for the reply - he is constantly nose up tho - unless he falls over. is this normal? he has plenty plants in the tank to go hide but either sits on his tail in the middle or goes behind the filter to rest on the glass.

 

[fluttermoth]

It's impossible to pin down what might be wrong without a set of water test results.

Do you have a cycled in filter in your QT?

 

[colleen0309]

Without knowing any of the bgk's history, I wouldn't know where to begin giving advice. But, no, he is not acting normal. Is there any way you can get ahold of a piece of pvc pipe for him to hide in? They like caves and pvc pipe makes a great cave for him to feel secure in. You said he was bullied by other fish. Does he have any injuries that you can see? It could be ammonia or nitrite poisoning. It could be injuries. It could be just about anything. Whatever you do, DO NOT treat with salt! And any medication you use MUST be safe for scaleless fish.

And I would take him off your hands, but I'm pretty sure he wouldn't make the trip across "The Big Pond"

 

[emzy991]

yes tank cycled - normaly has a bn in to keep clean but took her out just now and water tested monthly to make sure all ok.
not got pipe as yet but well planted.
only used melafix atm - has got fin damage and marks on his body.
is hard to know when p@h got told one version and we got told another - either way they certainly didnt have his best interest 1st. vague explanation of which fish had been bullying and how many in the tank or even how long he had been in the water container. if I knew how to add video I have some which would show him.
p@h did suggest poisoning as a cause so have air bubbles & fluval 4 running for him - got that on low with fluval 2 as well as its not been used in a wee while.

 

[fluttermoth]

What are the stats of the water atm?

 

[emzy991]

ammonia, nitite, nitrate all 0 ph 7.6 at last test on 5th this month. added some ph down yesterday - 7.4-7.6 is normal for my tank but as we only had couple hours notice we were getting him did not have chance 2 lower it sooner.

 

[emzy991]

just going out for pipe for him but will reply back to any answers asap - thanks for all so far - hard enough when all details are known x

 

[pbase5583]

yea when he doesnt have decorations he will hide behind filter, he should be fine, just make sure you give him a spot to hide

 

[emzy991]

well - he seems to be picking up a bit - trying to get horizontal at least lol. not interested in his pipe yet tho.
hoping he might eat tonight as not eaten since we got him and no idea when he did last feed.
fingers crossed for a full recovery and I can move him on to a good home!

 

[fluttermoth]

Have you tested the water yet?

 

[emzy991]

tank was only tested 4 days ago on all perameters, but yes tested tonight for ph - down to 6.8 now. dosed tank again with melafix and a little more ph down and will be tested again tomorrow night.

 

[pbase5583]

feed BLOODWORMS! eats them up

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

tank was only tested 4 days ago on all perameters, but yes tested tonight for ph - down to 6.8 now. dosed tank again with melafix and a little more ph down and will be tested again tomorrow night.

Why are you using "pH Down"? I worry this could be the cause of your fish's problems, especially when I think of Scotland as having soft neutral pH water anyway, water chemistry stability is far more important for fish health than messing about with chemicals. Unless you are pre-dosing fresh water with "PH Down" to match the tank water at water change time, you will be constantly changing the water chemistry at each change, stressing the fish.