New To Forum, Need Help With Sick Lemon Tetra

[lhafvens]

Hello,
I purchased three lemon tetras from LFS (one on 11/27 and two on 11/28). The first adjusted just fine to my established tank where there are four other lemon tetras. The second died within 48 hours and the third one wasn't eating. I thought it might just be stress but about a week later I noticed she was swimming sideways so I immediately moved her to a hospital tank and treated her with Maracyn Two (minocycline) on advice of LFS. That seemed to fix the sideways swimming within a day, but after full 5 day treatment she did not resume eating. I then treated her with General Cure (metronidazole and praziquantel)also per LFS. Have completed that treatment and as best I can tell she still hasn't eaten and doesn't exhibit any interest in food. I've tried two kinds of flakes and frozen brine shrimp. Am at a loss what to do next and losing faith in LFS. She doesn't have any other signs of illness as far as I can tell and water chemistry has tested fine. Any advice or experience anyone can offer is greatly appreciated, it breaks my heart am afraid she will starve to death.

 

[WILDER]

Size of tank in gallons or litres.
How many fish and which type.
Water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph. What test kit are you using.

Used bacterial and internal parasites med.

Did she look bloated or skinny before she stopped eating.
Is her anus enlarged or red and inflamed.
What does it look like when she goes to the toilet.
Is her tummy sunken in.

Swimming on there sides can mean swim bladder, internal parasites, bacterial, loss of an eye.

Soak her food in garlic juice to stimulate appetite.

 

[lhafvens]

Size of tank in gallons or litres.
How many fish and which type.
Water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph. What test kit are you using.

Used bacterial and internal parasites med.

Did she look bloated or skinny before she stopped eating.
Is her anus enlarged or red and inflamed.
What does it look like when she goes to the toilet.
Is her tummy sunken in.

Swimming on there sides can mean swim bladder, internal parasites, bacterial, loss of an eye.

Soak her food in garlic juice to stimulate appetite.

Thanks so much for reply! Main tank is 25 gallons (5 lemon tetras, 3 phantom tetras, 1 cory cat, 1 pleco). She is now alone in 10 gal hospital tank, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 10. pH 7.4 (this seems to be where it settles no matter what I do), stats are close to same on main tank. Using API kits.

She looked a little "sunken in" when I first moved her but now looks to me about normal before a meal. I haven't seen any poop. Anus does not seem enlarged red or inflamed. I have not seen her eat anything in nearly 3 weeks.

I will try the garlic juice - soak the flakes? Or frozen brine or bloodworms? Thanks again.

Also: water temp 84 degrees (raised from 80 on advice of LFS). The only behavioral things that seem not quite right is a slight twitching or "shivering" that seems somewhere in between normal tetra movement and spawning activity. Every once in a while she darts around the tank really fast.

 

[WILDER]

Does she swim in an odd manor like a jerky movment.

Sunken in belly can be bacterial, starving fish, internal parasites.

How long did you use the internal parasite med.

Have you seen any fish flicking and rubbing.

Check all other fish when they go to the toilet to see what it look likes.

 

[lhafvens]

Does she swim in an odd manor like a jerky movment.

Sunken in belly can be bacterial, starving fish, internal parasites.

How long did you use the internal parasite med.

Have you seen any fish flicking and rubbing.

Check all other fish when they go to the toilet to see what it look likes.

Maybe a little bit jerky but hard to say for sure. Internal parasite med followed instructions 2 doses 48 hours between each. I'm supposed to do water change tonight and put carbon back in filter. I tried the garlic juice in flake food and she sniffed at it which is more than I've seen her do to date but she didn't eat. My gravel is natural so it is kind of hard to see poop, but other fish seems to be normal/dark brownish. No flicking and rubbing. I do notice one other fish (a female phantom) in main tank seems to now be hiding out more and eating less. Will observe carefully at feeding tonight.

Also: don't know if this is helpful/related but I've noticed a few fins in tank have started to get a teeny bit ragged (e.g. a couple of fins/tails are split). I have one male lemon tetra who is a bit larger and more aggressive and chases the others around. Lots of spawning behaviors in a.m. too, lemons and phantoms.

 

[WILDER]

Once the med out of the tank try maracyn again.

Keep trying with the garlic soaked food.

 

[lhafvens]

Once the med out of the tank try maracyn again.

Keep trying with the garlic soaked food.

OK, will do, thanks very much for your help.

 

[hihi100202]

make sure to watch your other fish closely as it may have spread. also ask the lfs to see if they had the same problem in the lemon tetra tank. if so, quarantine the other lemon.