New Swordtail Acting Odd

[CathyGo]

Not sure what's the matter with him. He was healthy, active, and eating at the store but spends most of his time hanging out in a corner not moving or eating now that I brought him home. I've had him 2days now and he hasn't eaten either day.

Tank size:10 gallon filled up to about 6 gallons, new uncycled tank
pH:8
ammonia:0
nitrite:0
nitrate:0
kH:
gH:
tank temp:76

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):spends most of the time on bottom and won't eat, not even FD bloodworms, is normally fed flake food and was eating at the store. Breathing seems a little rapid to me. Will try frozen foods tomorrow. Suggestions on what kinds to try are welcome.

Volume and Frequency of water changes:did a 30% water change in hospital tank that he was moved to because of ammonia levels in it.

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: added Quick Cure because I had it on hand.

Tank inhabitants:none in hospital tank. Had 2 female swordtails in the tank he was moved from. My redhead one was picking on him at first but now leaves him alone. No fin or body damage from her.

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):him

Exposure to chemicals:Quick Cure

Digital photo (include if possible): looks normal

 

[Spooky76]

Hi - im no expert but why is your PH at 8 ?
Also what do you use to test the water, because its rare the N03 is at 0 (Might be the N02).
If your using those strip things, they are quite poo, I had them and they lied to me
Do you know what your Kh and Gh are ? If you have low Kh that might be why you have PH changes, as you have no buffer.

I know thats not much help sorry.

 

[CathyGo]

My ph is at 8 because I live in Phoenix, Arizona. GH is around 200 something and kh is at 180. Our water sucks but it's what he was in at the store and most people around here don't bother to try and change the ph or hardness of their water. The fish seem to do just fine long term except for very sensitive species. I'm using the strips but readings are the same as the liquid test we do at the store so I'm sure they're accurate. Nitrate might be like 5 but is just barely detectable due to the water change I did. I'm cycling my tanks so I'm doing a lot of water chages to keep ammonia under control and nitrates aren't being created or having a chance to build up yet. I just checked him and his fins are clamped now.

 

[Xebadir]

Tank size:10 gallon filled up to about 6 gallons, new uncycled tank
pH:8

Theres your problem.

Sounds like the symptoms of an ammonia spike, If I were you id try a method of fishless cycling unless you want to see fish die like this. Alternatively I just want to check if you dechlorinate your water? This too will result in the symptoms your fish is suffering.

 

[rsands]

the fish is stressed out hence the hiding.

fishless cycles are better for not loosing fish but in my first tank i didn't know about this forum and i did a fish cycle...it only lasted two weeks with about 7 fish in a 13gallon and no fish died including the swordtail...infact he was happy as anything and still swims around like a mad one.

Just keep on top with small daily water changes when the ammonia and nitrite start to rise

 

[CathyGo]

Tank size:10 gallon filled up to about 6 gallons, new uncycled tank
pH:8

Theres your problem.

Sounds like the symptoms of an ammonia spike, If I were you id try a method of fishless cycling unless you want to see fish die like this. Alternatively I just want to check if you dechlorinate your water? This too will result in the symptoms your fish is suffering.

I think I've confused you. The tank he was moved from was a completely full 10 gallon with a hang on back filter that's reading 0 ammonia. The hospital tank he was moved to has 1 sponge filter and 1 pennplax small world filter(carbon, zeolite, and foam) that are each rated for 5 gallons running in 6 gallons of water to help keep ammonia down. I could also swicth it to two sponge filters if that's better. It is getting daily gravel vac of the crud at bottom and a water change. I don't care about letting enough ammonia remain behind for the tank to cycle. I just want the levels to stay as low as possible. Highest ammonia reading I've found for either tank is between 0 and .025. Just enough to tint the test tube water a light lime green. And did you mean that dechlorinating my water will cause these symptoms or not dechlorinating? I dechlorinated my water when I filled the tank and for all water changes I dechlorinated the water in the bucket before adding it to the aquarium. I will add more hiding spots in the tank for him and see if that helps. I have a bunch of never used plastic cups I can cut holes in and sink in there for him. I may just go and pick up a second hang on back filter for the first tank and put him back in there. He doesn't really seem sick just stressed. Is that a good idea or should I keep him quarantined? The tank he was bought out of hasn't had a sick fish pulled out of it for months. Any suggestions on food to try to get him eating again?

 

[CathyGo]

He still won't eat. I tried frozen bloodworms and he won't touch them. It now looks like one of his fins got nipped. Any suggestions on food to try would be great.

 

[Spooky76]

You can try live food, but to be honest, if hes not eating he wont eat that.

Just be careful that you dont get too much old decaying food at the bottom if hes not eating, which will send your ammonia levels up.

Hope hes OK.

 

[rsands]

my swordtail did that for first day but it then came out and is probably one of the most active fish in the tank now! Is he still constantly hiding away?

 

[poopsydrew]

I have to warn you, my swordtail demonstrated the same behavior yours is and two days later he broke out with ich. Just a warning to keep a very close eye (which im sure you already are). Best of luck

Drew

 

[CathyGo]

I came home to find he had died. I will wait to get another male koi until my tank is cycled. I'm trying to find some pure ammonia to cycle what is my hospital tank for now but the closest I can get is clear ammonia that still has surfactants in it. So I guess I'll just be tossing in fish food to rot.

 

[poopsydrew]

I came home to find he had died. I will wait to get another male koi until my tank is cycled. I'm trying to find some pure ammonia to cycle what is my hospital tank for now but the closest I can get is clear ammonia that still has surfactants in it. So I guess I'll just be tossing in fish food to rot.

Sorry for your loss

Drew