Praecox Rainbows Dying

[tenohfive]

I posted a couple of days about some odd behaviour with one of my praecox rainbows, and the fish concerned has since died.

I've noticed a couple more of them exhibiting similar behaviour. For a couple of days they stay near the top of the water, nose up, constantly right at the surface - almost as though they're losing control of their swim bladder. Ones died already and two have been moved into another tank as they're showing the same signs.

I noticed one of the ones doing this swim upside down and roll over a couple of times, before righting himself. I'm thinking this is a swim bladder issue but I can't work out the cause. They are fairly new - had them a couple of weeks. I've

I've been adding melafix for the last 4 days, I've done a big water change, I've increased aeration and I've cut back on feeding but it doesn't thus far seem to have made much of a difference.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

**Edit:

I've just re-read this article

http/www.fishforums.net/content/Oddballs...on-Rainbowfish/

and tested nitrates, and they're about 30. Am I right in saying the best way to lower nitrates is water changes?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yes, several large water changes will bring nitrates down, assuming nitrate in your tap water is low.

if you have 20ppm in your tap water then it'll never get any lower than that.

 

[tenohfive]

From what I remember tap nitrate is about 15-20ish, and its showing in excess of 30 at the moment. Just done a 30% water change and am about to go to work, will do another one when I get back and another when I get home.

Do plants reduce nitrate? If so I'll leave the lights on longer

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Yes, but i wouldn't expect you'd notice any tangible difference from leaving the lights on a bit longer.

 

[Colin_T]

Rainbows gasping at the surface often have a gill infection (fungus or bacterial) or have been poisoned. Rainbowfish will not tolerate chlorine in tap water and if they are showing any black patching on their bodies it could be poisoning. If the fish has been poisoned it won’t recover. Over dosing with medications will also cause black patching and gasping.
Gill fungus can often be treated with rock salt, about 1 heaped tablespoon per 20litres. Normal fungal medications should also fix the problem.

Most rainbowfish problems are associated with dirty tanks, (dirty gravel & filters) and the wrong diet. They need lots of plant matter in their diet and preferably no frozen bloodworms. Freeze dried bloodworms are fine and most other frozen foods are fine but frozen bloodworms cause a lot of problems. You can feed them on spirulina flakes, goldfish flake/pellet, various fruits & veges, duckweed and most aquarium plants, as well as brineshrimp, prawn, fish, squid, mozzie larvae, aphids, ants & ant eggs, flies, etc. Just make sure any insects fed to the fish are free of chemicals/ insecticides.

 

[tenohfive]

Cheers.