King Blue Tetra Doing A Barrel Roll

[marie70]

Hi there,
I'm fairly new to this. Tank was setup 2nd March. Since beginning of April all my water tests (at least once a week) have come back good.

Only issue I've had was neons with white around their mouths about 10 days ago. LFS suggested Pimafix for 8 days straight (I finished this 2 days ago). Pimafix didn't get rid of it, so now LFS suspects microsporidia(?)/Neon disease(?).
A couple of hours ago, I noticed one of my King Blue Tetras is moving forward when he swims, but he's doing a barrel roll at the same time (ie. upsidedown then up the right way then upsidedown etc.), as he moves forward. He is also having trouble moving in a straight line, and if he stops paddling he tends to sink. If another fish approaches, he moves with less roll.
I fed them, and he was hungry, but he had trouble getting any of the food in his mouth!
Any help much appreciated. Thanks.

Parameters -
Tank size: 170L
pH: 7.4-7.6
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 0
kH: Good
gH: Good
tank temp: ~26C

Volume and Frequency of water changes:
Usually 30% each fortnight with a gravel clean

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:
Stress/zyme water conditioner
Leaf zone for plants

Tank inhabitants:
9 King Blue Tetra
9 Neon Tetra
6 Rosie Tetra
3 Black Skirts
4 Bristlenose catfish
Plants
Wood
Resin decorations

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):
Have been removing snails over the last two weeks

 

[WILDER]

It sound sound like colunaris to me. (False name mouth fungus)
Does the white on the mouth look fluffy.

Is the neons red stripe still vibrant red.

For columnaris in the uk. Myxazin by waterlife and pimafix.

 

[marie70]

Thanks for that - around the mouth of the Neon's is more like a bubble than fluff.

Its actually the King Blue that I'm most worried about just now - he seems to be in a bad way.
Do you know what might be causing his barrel-rolls?
Thanks!

 

[WILDER]

Barrel rolls can be caused by bad water quality, ph shock, swim bladder, the fish is dying.

Immediate water change and add a bacterial med.
The bubble on the mouth does it move.

Nake sure the neons are not showing any of these signs. (NTD)
Bleached out red stripe area, or a milky subtance on red stripe area.
Yellow on blue area.
Neon leaves shoal and becomes restless.
Swimming in an odd manor.
Black linning around the red area.
Lumps on belly.
Losing weight.
Popeye and dropsy.
Bent spine.

 

[marie70]

Wow...umm...
Barrel rolling King Blue: shouldn't be the water or ph (just had them checked again yesterday) - so might be bad news for the fish then.
Only other thing is that I just managed to get a good look at him, and his top fin is split and flattened. The King Blues seem pretty feisty - could someone have just bitten it and that is making him roll? Or am I clutching at straws cos I don't want to have to find a dead fish in the morning??!

Neons:
I don't think the bubble is moving - seems pretty solid.
A couple have some white on their red stripe and it might be a bit bumpy. I can only see it when I look at them front on. From side on they look pretty vibrant red and healthy.
No yellow on the blue.
Not really restless.
Swimming pattern hasn't changed - looks fine to me.
No black lining, popeye, dropsy, bent spine, and I don't think there has been weight loss - but they're so small its hard to tell!

Will get onto the water change now, and get some bacterial med in the morning.
Thanks!

 

[WILDER]

I would add some myxazin by waterlife and pimafix.

Loss of fins can cause a fish to struggle.

I would isolate the sick fish as it's not sounding to good for him.

Also keep an eye on ntd signs.
As ntd can also form in small patches first.
But also it can be false ntd which is columnaris.

 

[marie70]

Hi again,
By this morning some nasty fish had chomped at one of the King Blue's side fins as well, so he's having an even harder time trying to swim.
I have him isolated now, but I don't think he's liking it in there on his own...but I don't want to put a mate in with him in case he starts attacking him.
Do fins grow back when they've been eaten off?
Thanks.

 

[WILDER]

Yes fins do grow back.
Keep water quality in tip top conditon.
Keep a look out for signs of infection.

If you are having agression problems you might have to think about rehoming some fish.
Fish will attack sick and weak fish i'm afraid.

 

[marie70]

Thanks Wilder - I really appreciate your help.
Yes, rehoming might be on the cards - everyone was really nice and peaceful in the tank before they came along!
Thanks again - have a great week.

 

[WILDER]

Ok.
Good Luck.
If anymore problems get back to the board.