Neon Isolating And Doing Headstands

[karin]

First apologies but I know I read about this here before and I've searched for 1/2 hour and can't find anything.

Please advise what might be the problem, what I might prepare for (in terms of meds) and anything else you recommend.

My situation:

One neon is isolating in a dark corner (Cave thing that I can see from the side) and being still, 3-4 inches up from the bottom, suspended in the water with head down, basically in a vertical position. His color is good and I think he is eating, but when he joins the group it is hard for me to figure out which one it is. Yesterday when I got interested he joined his pack of 9 others and did not return to the corner. This AM he has been in the corner intermitantly, but at the moment is out with the group. (Tank is in my office so I don't observe all night)

Tank: 29 gal
Other fish: 4 albino corys (who laid eggs last week), farlowella, and two bolivian rams (added 2 weeks ago), 10 neons and a japanese moss ball (added a week ago). African Butterfly Fish jumped out two weeks ago and died.
Cycled: Tank set up for many years, was moved to my office 3 months ago when I bought it off Craigslist.
Filtration: I am in the process of removing the UGF... I removed one side a month ago, one side a week ago and there is still one plate in the middle, which I'll remove this weekend especially since no current is drawing water throught it (didn't realize there was a middle plate). Main filter is an aquaclear 50 that has been on the tank for several years as well.
Temp: 25 C
Water: 20-30% water changes weekly: Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 40, Kh 120 ppm, GH 60 ppm and Ph 6.8
(Did a 20% water change this AM and Nitrates dropped to 0) Hardness measured with strips.
Food: Variety and really trying to not over feed. (Tetra flakes, Tetra ciclid granules, and Hikari sinking wafers.

Thanks for your thoughts

 

[Paradise3]

Does it have any of these
1.Big fat belly, not pregnant
2.Huge Swelling of Body
3.Bulging sides and stomach
4.Scales almost popping off
5.Scales may be forced outward
6.Eyes may pop out
If so it could be dropsy Because a symptom of dropsy is headstanding and isolating these are other symptoms.

 

[WILDER]

Does he look bloated.
Need to improve the fish diet with some frozen foods and veg.
Peas some shelled peas.

Headstanding can be swim bladder.

 

[karin]

Does it have any of these
1.Big fat belly, not pregnant
2.Huge Swelling of Body
3.Bulging sides and stomach
4.Scales almost popping off
5.Scales may be forced outward
6.Eyes may pop out
If so it could be dropsy Because a symptom of dropsy is headstanding and isolating these are other symptoms.

Okay I think he/she is more portly (but not huge) and just at the lower edge of belly there is some "feathering" that I think are scales pushed out from the body. He seems to have just a bit of trouble swimming in that he leans over just a bit. For last couple hours he has been with the school. No eyes popping out.

I'll get the peas tonight
Sorry can't be more specific. Anything in terms of the "course of the disease" that I should look for. Any meds that I should get on hand in case? My main concern is that I don't risk the whole tank community.

thank you.

 

[WILDER]

Raising scales can be due to bloating, dropsy, damage, parasites, lumps.

I think with leaning to onside aswell I would issolate and use a bacterial med.
Epson salt baths help draw fluids out.
Feed some shelled peas.

What do you mormally feed your fish

 

[karin]

Okay, he/she is definitely bloated and now so much so that he appears to have what I would describe as sway back. Again, he did not spend much time alone today. Was active and swimming and eating. Pine coning of scales is not noticiable other than a bit of fringe at the bottom of his belly. Eyes normal, color normal. I'll get some peas for the morning. I don't have anywhere to separate out this guy, is that asking for disaster?

To Wilder: Normal feed is tetra flakes but I also use some Tetra cichlid granuales, wafers for the cories and some dried blood worms from time to time. I'll add the peas.

 

[WILDER]

Need to introduce some frozen foods and veg into there diet.
Freeze dried foods can cause constipation and swim bladder. Also bloodworms can cause bloating.

Epson salt baths to help draw the fluids out.
Feed some shelled peas.
You could add a bacterial med, but it always wise to add meds in issolation when only one fish is ill.
If it is dropsy he really needs issolating.