Poorly Zebra Danios

[B13]

Hi all,

I've got a couple of Zebra Danios in my tank that do NOT look well.

They are nowhere near as active as the others. In fact, unless they HAVE to move, the pair of them just seem to be hanging about at the top of the tank. One of them is gasping and both of them have 'fragmented' and pale, body stripes instead of the usual solid metallic blue lines.

Neither of them are showing signs (yet) of 'pinecone-ing', so can I rule out dropsy?



My stats are:

pH: 7.5
Ammonia: 0
NO2: 0
NO3: 20

Temp: 25.8˚c

These are all normal for my tank (3' x 1' x 15", 83 litre)



The rest of the tank's inmates are all fine, eating and behaving normally.

Any ideas anyone?



Here's a not-very-clear-but-it's-the-best-I-could-get pic of one of them:

As you can (hopefully) see, the top two stripes have become fragmented and compared to the Danio next to him, his colouration is nowhere NEAR as sharp.

 

[WILDER]

How many fish and which type.
What test kit are you using.
Is there plenty of aeration in the tank.

Any signs of flicking and rubbing.
What do the gills look like.
Can they maintain balance in the water.
Any excess mucas on gills or body of fish.
Any signs of darting, erratic swimming, turning upside down.

 

[B13]

How many fish and which type.

12 Danios
1 Siamese Flying Fox
1 BN Plec
5 Kuhli loaches

What test kit are you using.

API

Is there plenty of aeration in the tank.

Yep.

Any signs of flicking and rubbing.

Nope.

What do the gills look like.

As far as I can rememebr, they look OK. I'll double-check that tonight and report back.

Can they maintain balance in the water.

Yep.

Any excess mucas on gills or body of fish.

Not that I can see... Certainly not on the body, will check the gills tonight too.

Any signs of darting, erratic swimming, turning upside down.

No, they're just semi-stationary at the top of the tank until they have to move.

 

[WILDER]

Immediate water change and increase aeration.
Been using any chemicals near the tank.

Your tanks looks overstocked to me with all the bottom dwellers.
How often do you do a gravel vac.

 

[B13]

Been using any chemicals near the tank.

No, that's one thing I'm really careful about. Any glueing, painting, spraying, etc is done outside.

How often do you do a gravel vac.

Once a week (same with water changes) or at worst once a fortnight.



I had a look at them both today and while one of them looks slightly perkier the really poorly one looks even more 'patchy' then yesterday. There's no inflammation of the gills and I can't see any excess mucus - but one thing I did notice is that he can't seem to close his mouth! I can't see anything lodged in his mouth, but obviously can't see down his throat. So he's gaping and gasping!

Also, his poo is very thin and bright yellow. Kinda like urine-coloured yellow.

Dunno if that helps!

 

[WILDER]

The white patch does it look fluffy like cotton wool.
Do the patches look like bleaching beneath the skin.
How old are the fish.
Has he banged his mouth on anything in the tank.
Feeding any yellow foods.

If there no signs of darting, erratic swimming, flicking and rubbing it sounds more bacterial with the white patches.

 

[B13]

Hmmm...

The areas where his blue stripes have fragmented are more silver-y gold - i.e. the same colour as his base colour. It's almost like his blue scales have brushed off (if you see what I mean!!) There's no sign of fluff on the areas, he just looks 'tarnished'.

I honestly have no idea if it's banged into anything because he was fine one night and poorly in the morning, but good point - I guess they can injure themselves just like any other creature can! As for food, they get flake food, occasional peas and dried brine shrimp (as a treat) Some of them seem to like cucumber!!

Age-wise, I don't really know, I got him in a batch of danios back at the start of the year from my LFS. It's adult-sized and was when i got it - do you think it could be age-related?

I'll try and get a better photo tonight. That may help!!


(P.S. Thank you SO much for your help, by the way. Very much appreciated!!)

 

[WILDER]

If the fish is showing none of these signs I would take the bactrial route and try a bacterial med.

Flicking and rubbing, excess mucas, darting, erratic swimming, trailing mucas. Sores or red pin prick marks on the fish.

 

[B13]

Cool!!

Can you recommend any particular UK brand of meds? And will these meds be OK with the rest of my tank's inmates?

 

[WILDER]

Myxazin by waterlife or anti internal bacteria med by interpet, or esha 2000.

 

[B13]

Myxazin by waterlife or anti internal bacteria med by interpet, or esha 2000.

...ergh...

I had to euthanise the poor fella - his mouth was stuck right open, he couldn't eat and was just wasting away. I just couldn't sit there and watch him die slowly, that's just not fair.

The other one that was looking sorry for itself has perked up enormously and is now swimming around normally and feeding OK. Yes, it's colouration still looks tarnished, but I've got my finger's crossed and will be keeping a VERY close eye on it.

Meanwhile, I'm gonna go buy some meds...

Thanks for your help! Much appreciated!!

 

[WILDER]

Bless Him. R.I.P.
Good Luck.