Nijsseni Breathing Rapidly

[dave_m13]

Hi All

I seem to be having the same issue with my Male nijsseni as I did with my Borelli's, last night he seemed to be breathing more rapidly than normal, so I have done a water change. This morning seems to be gasping for air at the waters surface, so I have tried to increase airation from the filter. Also it was not eating.

I am obviously doing something wrong, as these are the exact symptoms as the borelli's and they died shorly after. Again no other fish are affected, Niger Oto and L144 are fine, female seems to be ok at the moment.

Water stats Amm 0, Nitrite, 0 and Nitrate 10

Any ideas on what it could be?

On a slightly better note, whilst doing a water change, found 3 very small Pseudoepiplatys annulatus, I had moved the adults out ages ago.

 

[Colin_T]

when and how did you do your last water change on the tank? Was the tap water dechlorinated before it went into the tank?
Did the fish bloat up (get a swollen belly) before they died?
Did their eyes pop out at all?

 

[dave_m13]

when and how did you do your last water change on the tank? Was the tap water dechlorinated before it went into the tank?
Did the fish bloat up (get a swollen belly) before they died?
Did their eyes pop out at all?

This is on a 54 litre, I change the water the same way every time, empty about 10-15 litres, basically 1 bucket, try to do this every week.
Last water change was last night, before that was about 1 and half weeks ago, a little over what I usually do.
It is RO water, I add RO right (something similar) and prime
They possibly had swollen belly, eyes did not pop out.

 

[WILDER]

Is there enough aeration in the tank.
Added any meds lately.
Any chemicals got into the tank.
Any signs of flicking and rubbing against objects in the tank.

 

[dave_m13]

Is there enough aeration in the tank.
Added any meds lately.
Any chemicals got into the tank.
Any signs of flicking and rubbing against objects in the tank.

Just raised the filter out of tank, so should now be plenty, however no other fish have been affected.
No meds, there should not be any chemicals that got into tank.
No signs of flicking and rubbing.

It is now away from top of surface, but sits at bottom of tank, whilst looking this morning it was at front of tank it did look quite bloated and seemed to have pinecone scales possibly. Now just hides behind plants at back, I think it may have Dropsy.

I have been reading a bit about dropsy through some other sites, how is this usually caused, my water parameters are always very good, water changes regular.

I do have a PH of about 5.8 - 6, could ph, gh, kh and temp cause this?

 

[WILDER]

Fish can get ill and die if there was a big ph swing.
If the fish scales are sticking out last stage of dropsy organ failure, fish never seem to recover once scales stick out.,