Gasping Dwarf Neon Rainbow

[bushbrother]

Hi all,

I seem to have a problem similar to this thread: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/335540-fish-is-gasping/ and the video posted there.

I have a group of Neon Rainbows, only 1 of them has suddenly (about 3 days ago) started almost constantly swimming near the surface, its mouth does not break the surface, but it is breathing probably 2-3 times faster than the others.

I have checked my stats and they were all fine (Ammonia and Nitrite 0 using API liquid master), then I did a 50% water change as it was that time of the week anyway. I also have my filter output pointed upwards to create surface movement and an air stone on 24/7. I am pretty sure it is not O2 problems as the other rainbows and other fish are all OK. I also have 2 chinese algae eaters which are quite sensitive to O2 (I think!) and they are 100% OK.

I have treated with interpert #9 but it seems to have done nothing, it is now not eating either, it swims to the food, but then almost turns its nose up at it and swims away again. It is not bloated either ...

HELP!

 

[WILDER]

Your tanks overstocked i'm afraid.
Do you have a nitrate reading please.


What do his gills look like Do the look swollen, or red and inflamed. Or do they look pale with excess slime. Any whiteness to the gills.
Is he acting listless and lethagic.
Does he look pale or darker in colour.
Can he maintain balance in water.
Does he dart or barrel roll.

It dosn't sound like lack of 02 if only one fish is at the top of the tank.

 

[bushbrother]

Thanks for the reply,

I did not think my tank was overstocked, I followed advice on this forum and it was said it was OK, filter is coping with stocking. Could you advise on what is overstocked and why ... perhaps I took some bad advice?

Nitrate was about 40-50 before water change, my tap water is about 20 from the tap.

I will take a look at his gills closer, but I didn't notice anything glaringly obvious, I will look at home later.

As for the other questions, it is not too lethargic, it is moving around a bit, but mostly at the top, it does come down to swim with other some of the time. Its colour has not changed, its still silvery, it is not spinning, rolling or darting, but I guess it is slightly tilted upwards, as in its head is higher in the water than its tail, but only when its at the top. When swimming it seems to be in a normal position.

EDIT: Noticed my sig was out of date, had some shrimps go missing ... it is now accurate stocking

New Sig ...

 

[WILDER]

Your tanks about a 20 gallon isn't it.
Even going by one inch per gallon the tanks overstocked.
But if water stats are ok it's fine. But don't add anymore.


it dosn't sound like parasites.
It could have a bacterial infection.
How old is the fish?

Here some info for you.

Breathing, opercules, gills
----Gasping, irregular opercular beat, rapid opercular beat (bacteria, dinoflagellates, parasites, toxins)
----Squirting water (parasitic dinoflagellates, gill parasites, gill infection)
----Opercules flared (gill parasites, gill infection, toxin damage to gills, or large gill parasite, as isopod)
----Mouth not closed (usually indicates gill/oxygen problem of some sort, heavy gill infection/infestation;
something caught in buccal cavity or throat = food, substrate, etc)
----Rapid or irregular opercular beat (bacteria, dinoflagellates [free-living or parasitic], toxins,
hyperplasia, parasites )

 

[bushbrother]

It is 96 litres which is about 25US Gallons. I do not plan on adding any more fish

I thought it may be bacterial and so I used Interpet #9, I have not seen it use the toilet to see if it is stringy, I will let you know.

The fish is about 18 months old (since I purchased it) and it was about 3/4 an inch when I got it.

 

[WILDER]

It is 96 litres which is about 25US Gallons. I do not plan on adding any more fish

I thought it may be bacterial and so I used Interpet #9, I have not seen it use the toilet to see if it is stringy, I will let you know.

The fish is about 18 months old (since I purchased it) and it was about 3/4 an inch when I got it.

Put your tank measurements in the tank calculator at the top of the forum.
He dosn't sound to good i'm afraid.
If fish start to pick on him you will have to isolate him.
Do you have an isolation tank?

 

[bushbrother]

Do you have an isolation tank?

Nope I will keep an eye on him, the other fish are not interested in him so far. I guess there is not much else to do than to wait to see if the meds help? Should I water change while medicating? Will it help?

Last water change was 30% yesterday. If I change again, should I re-dose with the appropriate amount for removed water?

Edit: Just checked, I have had him for 12 months ...

 

[bushbrother]

OK,had a look when I got home, it is spending almost 100% time @ surface now and the Operculum are more open than the other fish, like flaring wide, the inside gill is paler than the others which are pink/red, its a pale pink/white.

It also seems to be clamping one fin now sometimes? Could it be gill flukes? How could I treat him? Should I use a salt bath with sea salt?

 

[WILDER]

Gills will go pale also when there having trouble breathing. Also the gills flaps will stick out.

Is this fish still the only one showing symtoms.

Signs of gill flukes are.
Red inflamed gills, swollen gills, pale gills with excess slime, bleeding gills.
Laboured breathing, or gasping at surface of tank.
Flicking and rubbing.
Darting.
Opaque body with excess slime.
Swimming in a jerky movement.
Weightloss sometimes.
Spitting food out.
Red sores or red pierce marks on the fish body.

Laboured breathing and gasping can mean bad water quality, ph shock, toxins, lack of aeration, parasites, bacterial, the fish is dying.

Can rule out bad water quality, lack of aeration, toxins, ph. As all the other fish are ok.
That leaves bacterial to parasites. But the fish isn't really showing enough parasite signs.

 

[bushbrother]

Gills will go pale also when there having trouble breathing. Also the gills flaps will stick out.

Is this fish still the only one showing symtoms.

Signs of gill flukes are.
Red inflamed gills, swollen gills, pale gills with excess slime, bleeding gills.
Laboured breathing, or gasping at surface of tank.
Flicking and rubbing.
Darting.
Opaque body with excess slime.
Swimming in a jerky movement.
Weightloss sometimes.
Spitting food out.
Red sores or red pierce marks on the fish body.

Laboured breathing and gasping can mean bad water quality, ph shock, toxins, lack of aeration, parasites, bacterial, the fish is dying.

Can rule out bad water quality, lack of aeration, toxins, ph. As all the other fish are ok.
That leaves bacterial to parasites. But the fish isn't really showing enough parasite signs.

Thanks for the reply! I noticed that some fish are "yawning" every now and then ... what does this mean, none of them are near the surface except this one. I cannot see slime or bleeding. I looked at the others breathing rate and maybe one is slightly faster than the others, but nothing like the ill one.

The ill fish is also a bit thinner than the others, not really hollow belly, but definately thinner. Any ideas?

 

[WILDER]

Has the fish lost some weight due to not eating.

Yawning usually means the fish is flushing it's gills. It can sometimes be a sign of parasites on the gill area.

The only thing left out of the list is a bacterial infection.

Do you spray any chemicals near the tank.

 

[bushbrother]

It has not eaten for 3-4 days, so not enough to go thin I guess. I am carful not to spray anything near the tank. I did polish the glass but i sprayed on a cloth away from the tank and was very careful to only wipe the glass and go nowhere near the lid.

Chemicals would affect them all right?

Maybe I should try another water change? Do you think that would help?

 

[WILDER]

If chemical had got into the tank than I would expect more fish to be suffering. Just needed to ask.
Need to rule everything out.

All I can really say is the fish could be dying, or bacterial infection.
It's not really pointing towards anything else at the moment.

Is it possible to take a look at the fish in a pic.

 

[bushbrother]

I uploaded a video from my phone ... hope it helps. http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9RMuV-GHB8

 

[bushbrother]

Another video from different angle. http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAEiEz30PHU