Female Swordtail Acting Strange

[Iainang]

I noticed odd behaviour last night from my 2 female swordtails, they were sitting on the bottom of the tank and not coming up for food, then it seemed like they were swimming about frantically at the bottom, banging into each other, into the stones etc. This is very unusual behaviour, as usually as soon as someone stands near tank they come straight up for food.

Now when they see someone at tank, they dart away as if they are scared.

I have a 60 litre Biorb, in it I have,

1 Molly,
3 Tetra,
4 Glowlight Tetra,
1 Rosy Tetra,
2 Platy,
2 Swordtails,
1 baby swordtail (born in the tank and now out and about with other fish)

I don’t have a test kit to test the water, but I have only lost 1 fish in the last 6 months, so I had just been gauging it that the fish were happy and healthy.

I do a weekly 30% water change and change the filter every 4 weeks.


I had feared I would have lost them both when I woke up this morning, but both were still just sitting around the bottom and darting away as soon as they seen me near the tank, I then watched them from a distance and again they were swimming frantically as if searching the bottom for something.

Any ideas as to what could be wrong would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[the biffster]

what are the stats on your
tank at this moment in time
i am a bit worried about you
saying you change your filter
every four weeks no filter
should be changed just washed
out and put back in place

 

[Iainang]

what are the stats on your
tank at this moment in time
i am a bit worried about you
saying you change your filter
every four weeks no filter
should be changed just washed
out and put back in place

Been changing the filter every 4-6 weeks as advised, with the Biorb tank it just clicks off and then the new one is placed on. Been doing this for a year, and like i said, only had 1 casualty in 6 months.



http/www.thewallaquarium.com/wall-aquarium,frequently-asked-questions,biUbe-biOrb-aquarium-faq.php#filteroftenwhy

 

[Iainang]

Just a follow up thought, could one of them be pregnant? I had a post on here about Fry in tank and wasnt sure if it was swordtail or platy, now that the survivor fry is bigger, i would say its defo swordtail.

Previously i never notcied any sign at all that a swordtail could be pregnant, they were completly normal, maybe just wondering if this could be the case?

Well, hoping this is the case, as i dont want to lose them.

 

[Gilli]

If you are actually constantly changing the filters then your tank is in a continual cycle which will mean your fish will be under constant stress and discomfort. filters should never be changed - just the sponges rinsed in tank water (NOT TAP WATER) every few months if they look clogged!

You really do have to get a water testing kit or you will have no idea if your water stats are as they should be.

 

[Iainang]

If you are actually constantly changing the filters then your tank is in a continual cycle which will mean your fish will be under constant stress and discomfort. filters should never be changed - just the sponges rinsed in tank water (NOT TAP WATER) every few months if they look clogged!

You really do have to get a water testing kit or you will have no idea if your water stats are as they should be.

So why do all the websites claim biorb filters should be replaced every 4-6 weeks?? And if tank was constantly cylcling, why have all fish except 1 been ok for 6 months?

 

[Iainang]

If you are actually constantly changing the filters then your tank is in a continual cycle which will mean your fish will be under constant stress and discomfort. filters should never be changed - just the sponges rinsed in tank water (NOT TAP WATER) every few months if they look clogged!

You really do have to get a water testing kit or you will have no idea if your water stats are as they should be.

http/www.reef-one.com/site/aquarium-care/faqs.htm

 

[the biffster]

what we are saying as soon
as your sponges get any where near
been mature you change them that
means that it starts the cycling
process all over again the only
way to keep an eye on your stats
if you don't have a test kit
if your stats are all wrong
your fish will be under
great stress

 

[Littlemonkey]

If you are actually constantly changing the filters then your tank is in a continual cycle which will mean your fish will be under constant stress and discomfort. filters should never be changed - just the sponges rinsed in tank water (NOT TAP WATER) every few months if they look clogged!

You really do have to get a water testing kit or you will have no idea if your water stats are as they should be.

So why do all the websites claim biorb filters should be replaced every 4-6 weeks?? And if tank was constantly cylcling, why have all fish except 1 been ok for 6 months?

Because they make more money out of you. I used to have a 60 litre Bi-orb and soon wised up to the fact that you can take out the sponge and clean it with the tank water. The plus side it's easy to do and gives you the opotunity of cleaning the central tube aswell.

 

[Iainang]

If you are actually constantly changing the filters then your tank is in a continual cycle which will mean your fish will be under constant stress and discomfort. filters should never be changed - just the sponges rinsed in tank water (NOT TAP WATER) every few months if they look clogged!

You really do have to get a water testing kit or you will have no idea if your water stats are as they should be.

So why do all the websites claim biorb filters should be replaced every 4-6 weeks?? And if tank was constantly cylcling, why have all fish except 1 been ok for 6 months?

Because they make more money out of you. I used to have a 60 litre Bi-orb and soon wised up to the fact that you can take out the sponge and clean it with the tank water. The plus side it's easy to do and gives you the opotunity of cleaning the central tube aswell.

So what you are saying is that i should never change the filter?

Only take it out, clean the sponge in water removed from the tank and put the exact same filter back in place?

what we are saying as soon
as your sponges get any where near
been mature you change them that
means that it starts the cycling
process all over again the only
way to keep an eye on your stats
if you don't have a test kit
if your stats are all wrong
your fish will be under
great stress

Surely if the fish were under great stress though, i would have had more than 1 loss in 6 months??

They have seemed happy and healthy until i notcied the problem last night.

 

[Littlemonkey]

Yes, only replace the sponge (like with other filters) when it starts to break down. When adding the new sponge try and add some of the old filter media with it.
It will save you a fortune and further fish loss. Regular Water changes and maintenance I feel is really important for fish health and will enhance your enjoyment of them.

 

[Iainang]

Yes, only replace the sponge (like with other filters) when it starts to break down. When adding the new sponge try and add some of the old filter media with it.
It will save you a fortune and further fish loss. Regular Water changes and maintenance I feel is really important for fish health and will enhance your enjoyment of them.

You see, i thought i was doing everything perfectly, as had 1 loss in 6 months, and that was with changing filter every 4-6 weeks.

So, when my filter looks brown and dirty, take it out, clean in water from the tank and put back in with the same media??

Do i ever change the full thing??

 

[fluvial]

The filter sponge needs to be cleaned in tank water - I do mine once a month.
Then replace the sponges back in the filter.

If you change the sponges for new ones then the beneficial bacteria are lost and your filter is having
to start a new cycle again.

There is no need to change the sponges - mine are still the original ones when I first set the tank up
18 months ago

 

[the biffster]

as for the test kit
i recommend api fresh water
master test kit there a
good price on eBay
about £30+ in the
shops

 

[Iainang]

Just a quick update on the 2 swordtails.

Both fish were still acting strange and sitting at the bottom when i got home from work yesterday, but about 9pm they both came up for food and were swimming normally again, the same this morning, so all seems to be back to normal.

Very happy that they are ok.


Thanks for all your replies.