Non-Stop Shimmying (UpDate)

[Squishiebabe]

Well, i've noticed, that since I've gotten my Dwarf Gourami on the 26th, that my last remaining Guppy hasn't been acting right...while he would usually be scavenging for food on the bottom, or swimming around looking very healthy, he's been staying close to the surface, not gasping, but shimmying and his spine looks bent when he does this, but then he'll snap out of it, and swim, and it looks normal again.
I don't think it is water quality, Dwarf gouramis are sensitive to bad water right? And he's doing well, eats vigorously still, and swims around pretty actively.
I also picked up a guppy with the dwarf, same day, but soon traded him in 2 days ago, for a Platy because he was a bully, and shredded my littlest ones tail. where he died in the hospital tank, from suspected infection (It was really really bad)
But I've looked and see no tears in his tail, colours are bright, and water quality shouldnt be the problem. The platy did pick on him a few times i saw, but he can still swim away, and is quick enough, the Platy is leaving him alone now, but he was still like this BEFORE i got him anyway.
What do you think is wrong here? There is plenty of salt in the tank, I've done a water change almost every day since I got the platy, and i did one day before i got the gourami.
They dont seem to be helping. yes, i use dechlor, Yes, my tank is cycled. I did a gravel vac day before i got gourami, and in between then and now, not a thorough one, there wasnt much debris anyway.
Do you think feeding a pea will help?
I have no water stats, as a test kit is waaayy out of my budget this month, I hardly have a job. But, as I said, i presume they are okay, because the dwarf and platy are doing well.

 

[fishwatcher]

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles. Is it possible to take your water to the lfs? They'll usually test it for free. It sounds like a water problem, but as the others seem fine it's hard to tell. Water tests would clear that up, at least.
How long have you had the ill guppy? Could it be old age? Also, if the other guppy died after his tail was shredded, could he have had finrot? (If it had white fungus stuff on it or red edges it could be finrot.)
I think water testing is the first step... if you can get that done and post it that'd help a great deal.
Good luck!!!

 

[Squishiebabe]

Yes, it did have red around the worst torn part, but it was in the hospital tank by then, do I have anything to worry about?
I'm not even attempting to go to the lfs today, Its Live 8 , and closest lfs is barrie Theres 40 or so thousand extra people, and its crazy usually anyway. The water should be okay though, just judging by the dwarf and platy, the guppy i got, last month, and the tank was pretty full, so i presume not old age (whats the life span of these guys anyway?)

 

[Squishiebabe]

Oh dear.....could temp fluctuations be it?
Lately, well for the last 2 weeks its been around th 30s, with no AC, then today, and yesterday, dropped down to around 20s...The heater was turned waaay down, because the tank was hitting almost 86 everyday, then this morning, was at...76degrees!! no wonder!....I havee the lights on(they really heat up the tank) and heater set for 78....i'm not sure what to set it at, because It always seems to get very hot, and then i fear boiled fishies...what should i do? I think setting it at 82 should be okay? since it gets over 86 some really bad days? I think this is the problem...
Edit: the Guppy also went through suspected velvet,(might have weakened him) 3 parasite med doses (which is hard on them it says) and a few bullys without harm, but i fear he might be the weakest in the tank, thats why hes acting funny

 

[fishwatcher]

Well, the lifespan is about 2-3 years, so that probably isn't it. As for the temp fluctuations, that could affect them. I keep my tank about 78 and they all do great. Any warmer and you risk losing oxygen. This could be why he's at the surface. Try keeping the temp a little lower... maybe turn the lights off a while. If you have a small airstone you could add that for a little while too. I'd also do a good 20-30% water change daily for a couple of days. That should help take care of any high amm/nitrite/nitrate levels. Since you can't get to the lfs and there are no other symptoms, that's what I would do.
Just a tip I've learned... if there is ever something not-quite-right with your fish, do a water change. A lot of times that is all they need.

 

[Squishiebabe]

I have been doing quite a few, and my filter provides a lot of aeration, plus the water level has been dropped for the hot while, because I did know there was less o2 in hotter water, lol. Could i do too many water changes though?
I was told to just leave things maybe I'm doing too much. Today was the first day, i could actually turn the lights on for more than an hour, I'm not sure why they heat up the tank so much...lol...hopefully I get a 35 gal for my b-day, and i can build my own hood which wouldnt make so much heat!!....the lights, I've experimented, and found, can raise my water temp by almost 4 degrees!! I dont think that should be happening, lol, so i leave them off most of the time

 

[Squishiebabe]

Bump....

Something is wrong...Last night the Gourami I found dead, an hour after I checked him!! He wasn't showing any signs of disease or even any signs of anything unusual....Platy looks normal, guppy still at the surface, but not gasping....You know, the day after the Gourami came, i put in the slate cave i made, which i stuck together with totally safe aquarium sealant, and the slate was from the lfs, with no red iron streaks, and was cleaned twice before putting in...I dont think its the problem, but its the only new thing i could think of, other than fish, and the guppy started acting weird right after the gourami...i'm stumped...

 

[OrkyBetta]

Terribly sorry. fishy. Perhaps he had some sort of internal parasite? If it was a bent spine issue it might have been TB. I really have no clear cut idea of what I think happened. Sorry again and keep an eye o the others.

 

[Squishiebabe]

Thanks...but the guppy is still hangin in...just did a water change, and i think he has finrot!!
Its just him and the platy, And the Platy used to nip a bit at the guourami, so i figure it was an overnight nipping...grr...
It looks pretty bad, a tear near the corner, and its redish. I know that cant be good....best meds for finrot? I really wanna save this guy...

EDIT: the platy is chasing him around...help...I might put the Platy in another tank, my friends, but its risky as they still might have Ick over there (Plus its a goldfish, but has 2 tropicals somehow living there already)

 

[IMCL85]

poor fishy. In many ways I know how it feels I had lost my last 5gold/4green severum to finrot. But it was like 5 years ago now. Even tho I added medicine still I think med only help fish fight the disease its not the thing that will cure it still relie on the fish it self. If the fish is strong it will survive if its already been damage too badly medicine might already be too late. Hope ur other fish will be ok. Good luck

 

[Squishiebabe]

Thanks...just fed him. He is still eating, thankfully! ...I'm really mad about the gourami though, it jjust sort of, dropped dead...I know its common with them, but he was so pretty, and cost a bit much for my liking, just for a week of him being there (cant take it back, store only gives 5 days!! grr)
The Platy is in there still, I'm trying to treat with Melafix, will it do much?
He really does seem to be a strong fish though, still hanging on this long, and can still outswim that Platy!
Severums? Oh dear, I would love to get some lol, tank size is the problem as well as others, I'm sure they were wonderful...R.i.p