Old Looking Serpae Tetra

[confusion]

I have a serpae tetra that was in my 55G community tank. I've been watching him for a few days and he just hovers about mid tank, slightly pointed down (most serpaes seem to do this), but he just sits there for most of the day. His red coloring is quite dull, and his mouth appears to be open all the time, and I have not seen him eat since I started paying attention to him specifically. The 6 others school together quite actively, but this one is always off on it's own.

I've had him for almost a year now, and he really looks like what I would describe as "old". I've not been doing this long enough to recognize what old fish look like, so I can't say that there isn't some other problem. I see no other symptom, other than the behavior and the dulling of coloration.

Is he getting old, or could there be some other problems?

The tank stats are: 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 15 nitrate. It's a very heavily planted tank now, and has CO2 injected and is fertilized regularly - those are the two big things that have changed in the tank in the last month. It's been quite stable for some time with no illness.

 

[WILDER]

Dosn't sound great to be honest, being pale is stress and desease.
Any signs of him flicking and rubbing.
Open mouth can be something lodged in the throat, sores to ulcers, and even a sign of flukes.
Check the gills to see if there pale with excess mucas on them, or red and inflamed.
Is he laboured or heavy breathing.

 

[confusion]

breathing seems normal, didn't see anything out of the ordinary on the gills. will take another look, though. BTW, this is a different tank than the gourami is in from the other thread.

 

[WILDER]

Confusion didn't even notice it was your post.
Have you been using the same equipment on tanks without sterlising, as things can pass on to another tank.

 

[confusion]

I do, so that could be the method of infection.

I noticed that his gills are a little red, but then they don't look any different than the 6 other serpaes. His mouth is most definitely wide open, though.

 

[WILDER]

Is the fish spitting it's food out.

Abit more info on gill flukes.
Increased breathing, (as for oxygen deficiency), shying at objects, jerky swimming movements in conjunction with shock colouring or apathetic "hanging around" in the aquarium are signs of infection with gill worms.

In the case of infection with skin trematoda, bloodshot areas of skin may also be observed. Infection of the gills may be diagnosed using simple means as follows: catch the suspected fish and lay them on a damp surface, then, with a pair of tweezers, carefully raise one gill cover. The white worms may be easily recognised using a magnifying glass (10x).

 

[confusion]

I'm going to go pick up a maginfying glass tomorrow as well as some clout just in case. For now, I have him in my hospital with a dose of anti-parasite.

Thanks again

 

[WILDER]

Clout
Manufacturer: Aquarium Products
A very strong and effective medication for parasitic and protozoan infestations. Treats: Ich, Hydra, leeches, Planaria, Epistylis, Trichodina, Hexamita,Tetrahy-mena, body fungus, digenetic flukes, parasitic copepods, monogenetic flukes and anchor worms.

 

[confusion]

I haven't been able to find clout around me. The serpae is still kicking around and it has become apparent that the problem is some kind of internal issue. At first, there was a dark discolored spot at the back of it's abdomen. Today, it looks like a pimple - a sore with a white center. nearly the same size and appearance as a pimple, coming from the inside out.

He's not eaten in days, completely pale, his mouth is pretty much wide open all the time, but he still swims well and seems to be fairly active despite it all.

I have been treating him with tetracycline and jungle parasite clear.

I have him in a 2.5G hospital with a heater and an airstone that I do 100% daily water changes on. It doesn't have a filter.

Anything else I should do, or do you think he's ultimately going to die and I should end his suffering?

 

[WILDER]

The pimple is columnaris spot.
he sounds in a bad way.
You will know when to do he awful deed.

 

[confusion]

tetracycline is about the best thing for that, correct? If anything can help, that is.

 

[WILDER]

Yes tetracycline is a good antibiotic, but it will wipe your bacteria colony out in the filter.

 

[confusion]

yeah, that's why I didn't bother putting a filter in that tank.

Thanks for all your help. I'm hopefuly he'll pull through, but it just doesn't look good.