German Ram Sitting On Bottom Of Tank

[leecara]

Request Help

Tank size:88 litres
pH:7.6
ammonia:0
nitrite:0
nitrate:5
kH:
gH:
tank temp:26

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

My ram is sitting on the bottom of the tank, his/her compnaion is fine and so are the other fffishes, 1 x platy 2 x mollies, 2 x honey gouramis. When she does try to swim she swims a bit and then just plonks on the bottom as if she is being dragged down, also hiding in the plants.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: 1 changed 30% today (9am) as the ammonias was slightly high, this morning, but was fine yesterday, i think my tank is still cycling so have been keeping close eye as we lost 7 fishes due to poor advice.

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: fluval 2 + filter, with carbon in, 2 x plants, ( and artifical ones)when I do the water change i use aquasafe, and today i put in stress coat as the ram looked poorly first thing this morning.

No sign of ich, no sign of fin or scale damage but looks very dark in colour more so than usual.

Other fishes seem fine, Nitrate reading 5. I have disturbed the tank as I put in an UG ilter then today as I water changed i took it out (long story)!!.

They have all been in the tank 3 weeks or so now, (the filter was new last tuesday).

Help please it would be nice to save her, but I have no spare tank.

 

[WILDER]

Poor water quality takes it toll on a fish.
Sounds like she has swim bladder.
Try some shelled peas and if bloated try epson salt bath.
Once swim bladder has advanced hard to cure.

http/www.fishtanksandponds.info/care-mai...swimbladder.htm

 

[leecara]

I have tried a swim bladder medication if you like, we did the first one yesterday, (no improvement yet) and can not repeat for 48 hours, I can not separate her as I have no spare tank, can I put the aquarium salt in the tank, according to instructions, will it be safe for my other fish.

She is still sitting on the bottom.

 

[kev350d]

I have tried a swim bladder medication if you like, we did the first one yesterday, (no improvement yet) and can not repeat for 48 hours, I can not separate her as I have no spare tank, can I put the aquarium salt in the tank, according to instructions, will it be safe for my other fish.

She is still sitting on the bottom.

You can and no it wont hurt your fish as long as you dont have scaleless fish such as corry's etc even then they shouldnt be affected for short term exposure just ensure you mix the salt with water prior to placing in your tank dont just spoon it in and build it up gradually over a couple days by the time you reach your maximum dosage you will be ready to carry out your weekly water change wich in turn will reduce the salinity.

Though a salt bath for the effected fish would be more beneficial as brief exposure to a high dosage would be more effective and can be done in a bucket (you dont need to worry about a tank) although i would invest in a small one for times such as these.

 

[leecara]

If I do it in a bucket, how would you suggest we go about it, and what dosages etc would you suggest.

 

[WILDER]

http/www.fishjunkies.com/Treatments/salt.php

 

[leecara]

I have read this, it is vey helpful, however I used rock salt as my store didn't have Epsom Salt, does this make a difference, she did perk up a bit after the dip, but I only put her in their for 3 mins, as that it was the store told me, I presume therefore that I can give her another this morning and leave her for 30 mins, or just under.

would you put the water then in the tank after, I presume not.

Sorry for all the questions, but I don,t want to harm her.

 

[WILDER]

No don't risk putting the water in the tank.
Good luck.

 

[leecara]

Good news, she is looking much better, she now ventures out of her hiding place for a little while at a time- swimming around, top to bottom, she doesn't look as dark, so I think it must be all down to stress (Iknow how she feels). All the messing around with the filters etc must have upset her, I am going to leave her now, no more dips, ans hopefully she will make a full recovery.

 

[WILDER]

Ok bless her, good luck.