Hunchbacked silvertip tetra- what can I do?

[elephantnose3334]

In my 3ft long silvertip tank, I have this female fish with a hunchbacked spine that developed over the last couple weeks? and behaving normally as of today (doesn't have severe swimming issues or lethargy). Her spine was normal until the hunchback slowly developed. I don't know if she has fish TB or a sudden deformity due to a water quality issue. What can I do during this time? The other tetras don't have problems and are relatively healthy.

Water parameters (tested today):

pH: 7.5

NO2: 40ppm (struggling to keep the level down for a long time)

NO3: 0.5ppm

KH: 80ppm

GH: 180ppm

 

[GaryE]

Do you have nitrates in your tapwater? Generally, the first thing I'd do is increase weekly water changes.

There are a number of things that can cause that. It's usually injuries, internal cysts or growths affecting the spine. Mycobacteriosis is a reasonable guess, but it's not the only one. The problem is it's internal, and guesses don't get us anywhere. I would just watch and see how she does. I can't see any intervention or med that would help.

All you can do sometimes is maintain excellent water quality and hope the cause isn't fatal. Silvertips can be long lived, but most of the time if you get a group, only a few will get to get to a ripe old age. Things happen along the way.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Do you have nitrates in your tapwater? Generally, the first thing I'd do is increase weekly water changes.

There are a number of things that can cause that. It's usually injuries, internal cysts or growths affecting the spine. Mycobacteriosis is a reasonable guess, but it's not the only one. The problem is it's internal, and guesses don't get us anywhere. I would just watch and see how she does. I can't see any intervention or med that would help.

All you can do sometimes is maintain excellent water quality and hope the cause isn't fatal. Silvertips can be long lived, but most of the time if you get a group, only a few will get to get to a ripe old age. Things happen along the way.

I don't know about the nitrates in tapwater, my parents refuse to test the tap water because they think it's not necessary. I do water changes once every two weeks and try to get good water quality. But I also have a busy study schedule as well, so that might interfere with the water change scheduling sometimes.

 

[GaryE]

It's unlikely to be water related. in my opinion. But that's just an opinion!

I believe from past posts you're in a city. Canadian cities make water readings available online, so hopefully Australian municipalities do the same. Or, since you have a test kit, run some tapwater into a glass and let it sit for a few hours. Then test it for nitrates.

It'll give you a clearer idea, though it may not help with the silvertip. A lot of people outside of cities on this continent get pollution in their tapwater - it's seems counter intuitive but you are more likely to have good water in an urban, city environment than in many places out where the cattle roam and the farmers farm.

 

[elephantnose3334]

It's unlikely to be water related. in my opinion. But that's just an opinion!

I believe from past posts you're in a city. Canadian cities make water readings available online, so hopefully Australian municipalities do the same. Or, since you have a test kit, run some tapwater into a glass and let it sit for a few hours. Then test it for nitrates.

It'll give you a clearer idea, though it may not help with the silvertip. A lot of people outside of cities on this continent get pollution in their tapwater - it's seems counter intuitive but you are more likely to have good water in an urban, city environment than in many places out where the cattle roam and the farmers farm.

Ahh, good point.