Lifeless Green Tiger Barb - Three Now Dead

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Hi all,

Have been advised to post this in here:

Have had my tank for about 2-3 months now and I did a fish in cycle with 5 zebra danios. I've since bought some green tiger barbs which are all happy apart from one. For the last week he's been sitting on his own towards the top of the tank doing nothing. Every now and then he'll shoal with the rest but most of the time he just sits there.

All of the other fish seem happy...any ideas?

Water results: Ammonia & Nitrite 0
Nitrates Between 0 and 10

This should be OK shouldn't it??

Thanks,
Andy

 

[WILDER]

How many gallons is the tank?
What test kit are you using?
Is the fish laboured breathing?
Does he look pale or darker in colour?
Are any fish picking on him?
When he's on his own does he lean to oneside?
Does he look bloated or thin?

 

[bash]

Tank is 60L...about 16Gallons I think.

Am using the API liquid test kit. His breathing doesn't look any more laboured than the others although he's breathing slightly more regularly than the rest. He's the same colour as the others, and I haven't seen any others picking on him. He's not leaning to one side but this afternoon he started falling to the bottom of the tank upside down (I thought he had died) but then started swimming normally again. Doesn't look bloated or thin.

 

[WILDER]

It sounds like a bacterial infection.
Once fish start to turn upside down there rarely make it.
If you can issolate add a bacterial med to the tank.

 

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Looks like you were right Wilder. The fish I had concerns about was OK this morning, as were all the others, but when I came home two were dead with another going down hill rapidly just after I got in and having just died.Thats three within 12 hours.

One looked quite bloated but the other two looked OK. Water stats are fine.

Help! Don't know what to do. The remaining Barbs are looking a bit lifeless with heads pointing slightly downwards. All the other fish look fine. I haven't done anything different apart from add a new filter yesterday but I have the old one running alongside it.

Andy

 

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Just done a large water change...anyone got any ideas what else I can do???

 

[WILDER]

The third type of infection produced by Aeromonas is by no means the least. This form is often the most virulent (potent) and can be rapidly fatal. This insidious form does not produce any noticeable external ulcers. The most notable feature is a behavioral change in which the infected fish generally become listless and lethargic. Some fish may lose color or appear darker. The fish do not feed, frequently seem off balance and may sink to the bottom laying on their sides. The course of the disease is rapid, and by the time the behavioral changes are noticed, the entire population of a tank may succumb, sometimes in a day or so. This is an internal infection, with the bacteria being found in the kidneys and blood of these fish. The bacteria produce potent toxins that account for the severity of the disease.<br /><br /><br />FISH TB LINK<br />http/www.fishyportal.com/cgi-bin/pub/diag?c=v&id=49<br /><br

 

[bash]

The third type of infection produced by Aeromonas is by no means the least. This form is often the most virulent (potent) and can be rapidly fatal. This insidious form does not produce any noticeable external ulcers. The most notable feature is a behavioral change in which the infected fish generally become listless and lethargic. Some fish may lose color or appear darker. The fish do not feed, frequently seem off balance and may sink to the bottom laying on their sides. The course of the disease is rapid, and by the time the behavioral changes are noticed, the entire population of a tank may succumb, sometimes in a day or so. This is an internal infection, with the bacteria being found in the kidneys and blood of these fish. The bacteria produce potent toxins that account for the severity of the disease.<br /><br /><br />FISH TB LINK<br />http/www.fishyportal.com/cgi-bin/pub/diag?c=v&id=49<br /><br

Is there anything I can do? What could have caused it? Thanks for the help.

 

[WILDER]

Fish could of already been ill at the lfs.
Did you add the lfs bag water to the tank.

Water changes and add anti internal bacteria med by interpet.

 

[bash]

Fish could of already been ill at the lfs.
Did you add the lfs bag water to the tank.

Water changes and add anti internal bacteria med by interpet.

Thanks. Ummm, yeah I added the lfs water to the tank (wrong thing to do?) Will keep doing water changes until I start to see them pick up, if they live that long & medicate.

Thanks again,
Andy

 

[WILDER]

Poor things.
I won't add lfs water to my tank.

It's really best to have a issolation tank for new fish. You quarantine them for 4 weeks to stop deseases going into the main tank.

Let me know how you get on if you don't mind.
Good Luck.

 

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Update:

All has been OK for 3 days, fish swimming normally etc. Come home from work tonight and another dead fish. This time I think it was picked on. Eye's white (possibly missing) scales looked like they were coming off & had a black'ish tinge to the whole body especially around the mouth.

I think the tiger barbs may have had somethig to do with it; should I get some more as I know they should be kept as a minimum of 8, I now have four due to the deaths. Equally I don't want to introduce anymore fish if there is an infection in the tank.

Any ideas would be great.

Andy

 

[WILDER]

Bless Him. R.I.P.

Did the fish look bloated or skinny.
Cloudy eye, falling off scales, and black colouring can be signs of fish tb.


Did he show any of these symtoms before death. Flicking and rubbing, darting, erratic swimming or laboured breathing, excess slime.

 

[bash]

Bless Him. R.I.P.

Did the fish look bloated or skinny.
Cloudy eye, falling off scales, and black colouring can be signs of fish tb.


Did he show any of these symtoms before death. Flicking and rubbing, darting, erratic swimming or laboured breathing, excess slime.

He didn't look bloated or skinny but he did have a bit of black around his mouth & saw him once swim around the tank like he was posessed. Breathing all looked OK though.

 

[WILDER]

Falling of scales can be also due to parasites. If the fish was darting aswell I would keep an eye out for parasites.
Get a magifying glass and take a closer look at your fish.
Red pink prick marks and red sores can also be a sign of parasites, and excess slime.

Also look in to tb symtoms and keep a close eye on the fish for signs.