Black skirt tetra needs help!

[Raechal]

I was vacuuming the gravel in my mom's 55 gallon and I noticed one black skirt tetra was having a problem swimming. After I added new water he started to float along the bubble stone. His belly doesn't seem to be bloated or anything. He isn't using one of his fins much and it is pretty clamped. It is also pink and kind of looks like an open sore near one of his fins. I set up a 3 gallon hospital tank and added a little salt to the water, then slowly introduced him to the tank. It isn't filtered, but I have a slow air stone in there and a small heater. His water is at about 79F. Is this too warm for him? Should I make his water warmer? I don't have any other meds on me and I just used the last of my salt in his tank. I turned the lights out and I am hoping he will get better.

I would try a shelled pea, but I don't have any. My mom is going to the store in a little bit so I will ask her to pick up some peas. Anything else I should do for the poor little guy? Would he be better off in the hospital tank or with the others? I was thinking maybe he got nipped by another black skirt tetra or a tiger barb but I am not sure.

I just really hope he makes it through. Any ideas of what is wrong with him? Swim bladder maybe? All water params in my moms tank were okay. The nitrate was a little high at 40, but she tends to overfeed them all the time. And I do weekly water changes.

 

[Raechal]

It's been about two hours or so since I put him in the QT tank and he is still having trouble swimming, but he is looking like he can keep his balance a little bit better.

 

[WILDER]

Clamped fins are a sign of stress, try the peas to make sure he isn't consipated as that can show the same signs of swim bladder, what do you feed the fish, also the red sore you might need to treat with anti internal bacteria med.

 

[Raechal]

Clamped fins are a sign of stress, try the peas to make sure he isn't consipated as that can show the same signs of swim bladder, what do you feed the fish, also the red sore you might need to treat with anti internal bacteria med.

I have been feeding him frozen brine shrimp and flakes basically. Could too much frozen foods constipate him? I will try the shelled peas right now, but he doesn't seem to want to eat anything at all.

 

[WILDER]

To many dry foods can cause constipation, can you issolate him, i would treat the fish with anti internal bacteria med for the red sore and one teaspoon of salt.

 

[Raechal]

To many dry foods can cause constipation, can you issolate him, i would treat the fish with anti internal bacteria med for the red sore and one teaspoon of salt.

He is already isolated in a 2-3 gallon hex tank. That is all I have for now. I stuck a small heater in it and an airstone. I am afraid that is all I can do for now. I also seeded it with some gravel from one of my cycled tanks.

I don't have any internal bacteria meds right now but I'll pick some up tonight. I am treating him with salt right now and that's about it.

 

[WILDER]

Ok, don't delay on the med, as fish soon go downhill fast, be prepared as he's not eating not a good sign at all, good look anyway.

 

[Raechal]

Ok, don't delay on the med, as fish soon go downhill fast, be prepared as he's not eating not a good sign at all, good look anyway.

My mom is out now so I don't have a ride to the LFS. I know not eating isn't a good sign at all. I sure hope he pulls through.

 

[WILDER]

Sorry didn't notice your post count, you should no what you are doing, i hope so to fingers crossed.

 

[Raechal]

Sorry didn't notice your post count, you should no what you are doing, i hope so to fingers crossed.

Ehh...I kind of know what I am doing, but I always freak when one of my fish get sick.

Maybe he is constipated because my mom does overfeed them a lot with flake food...I sure hope he pulls through. He's not breathing rapidly so I guess that is kind of good?

 

[WILDER]

If only he would eat some peas,do you have any epsom salts.

 

[Raechal]

If only he would eat some peas,do you have any epsom salts.

I only have aquarium salt. Should I just leave the pea in his tank? Or should I take it out and try again later?

How long do black skirt tetras live anyway? He is about 2 years old.

 

[WILDER]

Sorry not sure on how long they live as i have never kept them, maybe ask in the freshwater chit chat forum, leave the peas a while and if he dosn't eat them remove them.

 

[Raechal]

Sorry not sure on how long they live as i have never kept them, maybe ask in the freshwater chit chat forum, leave the peas a while and if he dosn't eat them remove them.

I took the air stone bar half out as it was really mixing him up all over the tank. Now he is kind of resting at the bottom.

 

[WILDER]

Do you have a plastic gage thing that you can add on to turn the aeration up and down, as if you add meds he will need extra aeration anyway, it's called a gang valve just remembered it.