Help Please

[Number 1 Jasper]

I have a Juwel Rio 125l tank , we have

6 Balloon mollies

6 platys

2 lyer tail mollies

6 rosy barbs

6 glo-light teras

5 bronze catfish

& 1 Bristle nose catfish .

everyone was happy until 2 weeks ago when we lost one of the female balloon mollies , the water tested fine & my local fish shop ( maidenhead aquatics ) said fish sometimes do " just die "

Now however our female lyertail mollie is showing signs of stress , Fin clamped down & swimming on her own , the water tests fine & i wolud like some other opinions , HELP !!!

I have a Juwel Rio 125l tank , we have

6 Balloon mollies

6 platys

2 lyer tail mollies

6 rosy barbs

6 glo-light teras

5 bronze catfish

& 1 Bristle nose catfish .

everyone was happy until 2 weeks ago when we lost one of the female balloon mollies , the water tested fine & my local fish shop ( maidenhead aquatics ) said fish sometimes do " just die "

Now however our female lyertail mollie is showing signs of stress , Fin clamped down & swimming on her own , the water tests fine & i wolud like some other opinions , HELP !!!

Water test is

Ammonia 0 - 0.25
Nitrite = 0
nitrate = 20-40 ppm

ph = 7.2

 

[FBF]

well you have a 35 gallon tank (ish) so you are not over stocked. your tests do seem pretty good. the tank mates all seem compatible too. it is likely that the fish did 'just die' thanks to massive inbreeding that takes part in asia and other areas that maidenhead aquatics buy fish from indirectly.

as for the fin clamping i have seen this in platy quite often and have always found this is always most present when my filter hsnt been cleaned for a while and ive been relaxed on my water changes, water changes are the best way to combat most sickness in any tank and persoanlly i always advise new comers to carry out 30% water changes once per week. i can vouch for this method as i rarely loose any fish.

 

[Number 1 Jasper]

well you have a 35 gallon tank (ish) so you are not over stocked. your tests do seem pretty good. the tank mates all seem compatible too. it is likely that the fish did 'just die' thanks to massive inbreeding that takes part in asia and other areas that maidenhead aquatics buy fish from indirectly.

as for the fin clamping i have seen this in platy quite often and have always found this is always most present when my filter hsnt been cleaned for a while and ive been relaxed on my water changes, water changes are the best way to combat most sickness in any tank and persoanlly i always advise new comers to carry out 30% water changes once per week. i can vouch for this method as i rarely loose any fish.

Thnaks For the reply ,
You have helped ease my mind , i was starting to wonder ... i will change mor water per week .

 

[FBF]

glad i could help. i dont know which maidenhead store you use but they can be the most expensive around but im sure the condition of the tanks tells you that they do look after the fish they have, and some fish shps may have even tried to sell you a load of chemicals on hearing about your problem

 

[WILDER]

28 gallons not 35, fish that clamp there fins are stressed and need to found the cause, is the fish bloated laying on the bottom of the tank to one side, check the gills to see if they are red and inflamed or pale looking, also any signs of laboured breathing or flicking and rubbing againt objects, also what does it look like when the fish goes to the toilet.

 

[diademhill]

A lot of livebearers are imported along with the cilliate Tetrahymena which can cause the symptoms you describe.
Have a word with your LFS & just mention Tetrahymena - see what they say.

 

[Number 1 Jasper]

glad i could help. i dont know which maidenhead store you use but they can be the most expensive around but im sure the condition of the tanks tells you that they do look after the fish they have, and some fish shps may have even tried to sell you a load of chemicals on hearing about your problem

Did a water change , so will leave it for today and tomorrow ( will check in the evening ) is it over stocked for 28 gallon tank ? i have less fish in there than maidenhead said i could have .

28 gallons not 35, fish that clamp there fins are stressed and need to found the cause, is the fish bloated laying on the bottom of the tank to one side, check the gills to see if they are red and inflamed or pale looking, also any signs of laboured breathing or flicking and rubbing againt objects, also what does it look like when the fish goes to the toilet.

Did a water change , so will leave it for today and tomorrow ( will check in the evening ) is it over stocked for 28 gallon tank ? i have less fish in there than maidenhead said i could have . + looks the same when fish goes to toilet .

 

[WILDER]

Yes you are overstocked abit, could always add another filter.

 

[Number 1 Jasper]

Yes you are overstocked abit, could always add another filter.

I make it 33 gallons , any way , how do i go about adding another filter ? don't laugh as the rio 125 has an in built one and i did not know you could just add another one ! i have only been at this for 10 months .. and there is a LOT to learn so any help / advice is really appreciated t

 

[WILDER]

I have juwel tanks and i alway have another filter running in them, as i find there filters are not that good on there own, a fluval 2 would be fine as it best to over filter and you have back up if anything goes wrong with the juwel one.

 

[Number 1 Jasper]

glad i could help. i dont know which maidenhead store you use but they can be the most expensive around but im sure the condition of the tanks tells you that they do look after the fish they have, and some fish shps may have even tried to sell you a load of chemicals on hearing about your problem

It's the female lyertail mollie that has the clamped fin , not a platy , though as i type , she seems ok this evening .....

I have juwel tanks and i alway have another filter running in them, as i find there filters are not that good on there own, a fluval 2 would be fine as it best to over filter and you have back up if anything goes wrong with the juwel one.

Now this is going to sound REALLY stupid BUT , can i just go and buy one ? does it come with all the gear required ? will it go in ok into a rio125 ?

 

[WILDER]

Yes it comes with sponges, you can add it next to the built in box or put it on the other end of the tank, just squeeze some mature sponges from the juwel onto the new sponges to get it going.

http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/bigpics/fluvalplus.htm

 

[Number 1 Jasper]

Yes it comes with sponges, you can add it next to the built in box or put it on the other end of the tank, just squeeze some mature sponges from the juwel onto the new sponges to get it going.

http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/bigpics/fluvalplus.htm

would i need to buy another heater ? sorry for so many questions )

 

[WILDER]

No, only if you ripped the box out which i did on one of my juwel tanks.
Filter all you do is add the sponges and, squeeze some mature sponges from the juwel onto the new sponges, plug in and off you go.

 

[Number 1 Jasper]

No, only if you ripped the box out which i did on one of my juwel tanks.
Filter all you do is add the sponges and, squeeze some mature sponges from the juwel onto the new sponges, plug in and off you go.

Cheers will really think about it