Cory In Trouble

[keenonfish]

Hey folks I will start with the stats..


Tank size: 30 litre
pH: 7.6 - 7.4
ammonia: 0ppm
nitrite: 0ppm
nitrate: 10ppm
kH:
gH:
tank temp: 23 celcius

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):

ok peppered Corry been a bit quieter lately but today has been mostly inactive and now is struggling to stay upright gasping. No symptoms visible except to say probably a bit on the thin side...

Volume and Frequency of water changes: replace about 15% once weekly

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: UGF only use chlorine remover no plants obviously no media except gravel bed and tray.

Tank inhabitants: 2 Neons 2 Platies 1 cory

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): Non

Exposure to chemicals: n/a


ok I know Cories arn't suitable as single inhabitants but I was not told this by our local fish warehouse when I asked for something small to clean the bottom of my tank Been fine I have always struggled to feed him as the other fish like to get in there first so I used to manually drop some food in his path which helped him get a meal.

Anyway I think I have told you everything Oh he has mainly been fed on flake and catfish pellets as I was advised.

Olly.

 

[TheRedDiscus]

Ok, first do a large water change and get rid of the 10ppm nitrate, then I suggest giving some parasite medication because parasites usually cause some fasting in fish and can cause them to have breathing problems, add some more oxygenation and a air stone with pump inside would be a good idea too. Hope your fish gets better.

 

[WILDER]

Has he lost weight due to not eating or not getting enough food.
Check his anus to see if its enlarged or red and inflamed.
What does it look like when he goes to the toilet.
Is his belly sunken it.
Any worms prutruding from the anus.

 

[keenonfish]

@ thereddiscus sorted water change b4 will do another now. Put him in nursery net for now with bubbles below but he really is unresponsive!

@ Wilder no sunken belly he does look small though I last saw him eat a few days ago when I put food in his path... Can't see any swelling round the anus so I guess that rules problems there and I have never seen him pooh before - I figure being amongst gravel hides this fact!

 

[WILDER]

He dosn't sound good and he might not make it.
Once fish start to heavy breath they rarely make it.
Is he laying to oneside, look pale or darker in colour.
What do his barbels look like.
Any sores or red streaking on his body.
Being thin when still eating can mean old age, fish tb, internal parasites.

 

[pippoodle]

make sure he is gettin enough food i have found by talking to a lot of cory keepers that the mistake they make when they first feed them is thinking they will just eat what they find
corys need food that will last for about an hour as they take a long time to eat it
try
feeding the other fish first then turn off the lights and drop in some cory food - pellets or wafers - doing it this way usually means the other fish settle down and the corys can eat in peace - seeing as he is thin feed him every day - i honestly think he is starving to death , they are really active little fish and do need to have a good varied diet and to make sure that they are actually eating enough when they do eat

one of my peppereds is over 8 years old (i've had him a couple of months as a rescue fish ) and still going strong as they do have quite a long life span if properly cared for - the nitrates wouldnt be a problem for him also you temp is fine - corys can get a bit depressed and withdrawn when they are kept on their own - i livened my elderly peppered up by buying 3 more peppers to accompany him - his been a new fish since introducing them

good luck and remember to make sure he is getting fed properly

EDIT - corys also enjoy bloodworms and veg

 

[keenonfish]

ok he isn't breathing heavy atm but he isn't very responsive - just moved the net he lay on his side but started moving tail and sort of righted himself.. Colour I would say maybe slightly paler.
Barbels look normal (I think my gravel is ok if that is what you were thinking?)
No sores, red streaks or anything like that.

Regarding parasites is that possible if I have not added anything for a while or maybe you are thinking it is long term and they have finally overcome the fella?

 

[WILDER]

I would issolate him and try a bacterial med for now.
Though he might be to weak to handle the med.
Watch your other fish for signs of
Long stringy white poo or clear mucas poo.
Sunken in bellys.
Being thin or bloated.
Enlarged anus or red inflamed anus.
Swimming on there sides.
Bent spines.

 

[keenonfish]

Thanks I will get the meds tomorrow am and treat them all. Unfortunately my hospital tank is home for fry atm so he is going to have to stay there for mean-time.

 

[WILDER]

Being pale and listless can be a sign of a bacterial infection, and corys are very prone to bacterial infections.
Anti internal bacteria med by interpet.
Good Luck.

 

[aquababy]

Im so sorry to hear about your cory. I hope he gets better. I have a soft spot for corys. You should have bought 2 to start with as they get very lonely. Some people say don't buy different types because they don't shoal together but mine are all different types (except the pandas) and they love each other. My habrosus are so tiny that they think they're tetras. I have 4 and they shoal with the rummynose, tetras and minnows. I think yours got sick because he was lonely. Your in good hands with wilder and the meds she recommended are brilliant. I have used them myself and they worked for my fish. I will say a little prayer for your cory. I don't know about you but I believe in miracles. I never give up on my fish. Good Luck.

 

[keenonfish]

ok folks I decided to Euthenise him last night poor fella I don't think he stood a chance there was barely any response so I dropped him iced water - I think there are a number of things that I know I didn't do right it took me a while to realise he wasn't getting enough food @pippoodle even in the dark it was ok at first then the other cheeky lot caught on to this and nicked his food only way I could feed was by putting food right in front of him! Also maybe his diet wasn't varied enough.
As far as being alone is concerned he was never shy and was always busy. I won't be getting any more until I get my Vision 180 setup (very soon) then in about 6 months I can consider a large group I guess!

@wilder I will get some medicine today and treat the others to be sure!

Thanks for all the help..

 

[aquababy]

I'm so sorry about your cory. This is the worst part about fishkeeping. It makes me wonder why I keep fish and then when I turn the lights on in the tank and they all come scampering for food I just turn to mush and want to stick my head in the tank and kiss them all. Theres no describing how beautiful they are. The Anti Internal Bacteria treatment will take care of any diseases or bacterias lurking around and you will find that after or maybe during treatment your fish will look and behave alot better.
As for your cory I think you did the right thing and put him out of his misery. I have cats and can tell when they are ill straight away but with fish it is hard and we can't even tell how much pain they are in. You were very brave. I haven't been able to euthanise mine even when I knew for sure they weren't going to make it. I have been reading about how others have euthanised their fish so I can find a method that I feel comfortable with but I still havent been able to do it.
Good luck with the rest of your fish and let us know how you got on with the treatment.

 

[WILDER]

Bless Him R.I.P.