Help! Poorly Black Phantom Tetra?

[JoanneH]

Can anyone help please? I bought 3 Blk Phantom Tetras 2 weeks ago, 2 have been fine, but one just stays at the back of the tank in the plants, I havent seen it feed, but I suppose it must have otherwise it would have died by now. Tonight he is again at the back of the tank, I notice he is opening and closing his mouth more than the others. He doesnt ever join the other two, in fact when one approached him, he swam away nervously - whats wrong with him, can anyone help please?

Been treating the tank with Myxazin ever since I got him.
Ammonia 0
Nitrite o
Nitrate 0.25

 

[WILDER]

No bullying going on, check his gills for parasites, any laboured breathing or flicking and rubbing on things.

 

[tttnjfttt]

WHen my fish seem to be opening their mouths alot, I noticed that they were also breathing very rapidly, so check his gills. Are they red and inflamed? Can you see any little parasites, is it flashing against objects in the tank?

 

[JoanneH]

No bullying going on, check his gills for parasites, any laboured breathing or flicking and rubbing on things.

He looks fine, he is very inactive and has been from the start, so i havent seen him flicking or anything, apart from him swimming away from the other tetra when it approached tonight, i havent seen him being bullied. To be honest he doesnt interact with anything else in the tank, just stay staionary at the back of the tank.

 

[WILDER]

Just take a look here.
http/article.dphnet.com/cat-02/flukes1.shtml

 

[JoanneH]

Just take a look here.
http/article.dphnet.com/cat-02/flukes1.shtml

Blimey, thats alot to take in, he doesnt hang at the top of the water, and I'm sure his gills look fine, but the lights have just gone off so i'll have a close look tomorrow. I was going to do a 20% water change tomorrow anyway coz I have put the last dose of myxazin tonight so that might help. Any other suggestions?

 

[tttnjfttt]

With gill flukes the fish doesn't always hang out at the top of the water. Check how fast it is breathing compared to the other fish. Also, what were/are you using the myxazin for?

 

[WILDER]

With him hiding away hard to tell, check for signs of flicking, check the gills to see if they look shiny more than the others tetra's do.

 

[JoanneH]

With gill flukes the fish doesn't always hang out at the top of the water. Check how fast it is breathing compared to the other fish. Also, what were/are you using the myxazin for?

Myxazin for bacterial fin rot on my panda cory.

With him hiding away hard to tell, check for signs of flicking, check the gills to see if they look shiny more than the others tetra's do.

Definately no flicking, will check his gills as best I can tomorrow - is this gonna cause a big prob for the rest of the tank if its flukes? I seem to be using one med after another at the mo!

 

[WILDER]

Might not be flukes, its just the opening and closing of the mouth, they tend to do that will gill flukes.
But not certain it is at the moment, is there alot of aeration in the tank with having a med in.

 

[JoanneH]

Might not be flukes, its just the opening and closing of the mouth, they tend to do that will gill flukes.
But not certain it is at the moment, is there alot of aeration in the tank with having a med in.

Yes, got the aeration attachment going on the pump/filter, lots of bubbles. I only get to see one side of him as he aways faces the same way in the tank, so can only check one lot of gills.

 

[WILDER]

Ok good, for now only thing to do is watch him, something is wrong if he's hiding away alot.

 

[JoanneH]

Ok good, for now only thing to do is watch him, something is wrong if he's hiding away alot.

He just seems unhappy, I wondered if I had bought the wrong number of them, but thats what they said in my lfs and I havent room for any more. I will keep an eye on him and keep you posted, thanks for your help.

 

[WILDER]

It is best really to keep tetra's in no less than a group of six, it could be if the others are a male and female and they have paired off.

 

[JoanneH]

It is best really to keep tetra's in no less than a group of six, it could be if the others are a male and female and they have paired off.

I did wonder that myself. The book I have said minimum of two the lfs said 3, so I went with them thinking that was best even though it really stretched my stock levels. The other two do stick together pretty much - what would be the best for him?