Sick Black Neon

[pooky]

Hi I'm hoping someone on here can help me.
Yesterday I noticed that one of my black neon was swimming strangely. It's swimming vertically (head up) and is moving around a lot, like it can't keep still. When the lights are off, it stays in the the same spot, vertical and wiggling around. When the lights are on it tries to swim but it's not doing too well. It can't get to the top of the tank for food and it can't get near the bottom to get any food from the catfish wafers. If any food falls down from the top it doesn't seem to be able to coordinate itself to eat it.
I can't see any signs of fin damage or any other illness. Apart from the swimming it looks healthy, it's probably the biggest of my neons.

I tested the water today
PH 7.4
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0.25ppm
Ammonia 0
Temp 26C
30% weekly water change
Tank up and running for 5 months

Tank mates in 120lts
2 Angelfish
10 Black Neon
1 Hill Stream Loach
3 Ottos (I know maybe not good with the angels, but no probs so far)
4 Albino Corys
10 Armano Shrimp

Does anybody have any ideas?

Thanks

 

[WILDER]

What do you feed your fish.
Does he look bloated.
Also does it look like his tail weighing him down.
When a fish can't get of the top of the tank or bottom its swim bladder.

 

[pooky]

Hi Wilder,

I feed Supervit Granulat and Spirulina Flakes both by Tropical (alternate days) and once a week a couple of peas.
He doesn't look bloated, he looks exactly like he usually does.
Yes, it does look like his tail is weighing him down. He's stuck in the corner now by the heater, completely vertical, tail thrashing around like mad. It looks like he's trying to get to the surface but he can't.
Do you think it could be swim bladder - is there anything I can do for him?

Thanks for your help.

 

[WILDER]

He's wearing himself out and thats not a good sign.
I would get a container and put him in it and place the container at the top of the tank.
Need frozen foods and veg in there diet.

 

[RedeyesUK]

I've got a serpae that's having exactly the same problem - not quite as bad, as he can get around well enough (including to the top), but he's clearly struggling.

I've got him in a hospital tank at the moment, and will start a course of swim bladder treatment tomorrow, hopefully that'll sort it.

 

[pooky]

Hi RedeyesUK

I found my neon dead this morning
I wish you better luck with your fish.

 

[RedeyesUK]

Sorry to hear that, Pooky.

To be honest, that's what I was expecting with mine - especially bearing in mind he's getting old (nearly 4 years old!). I didn't do anything to start with, as I reckoned he'd be a gonner in a couple of days.

That was nearly a month ago now, and he's still going strong - so I thought I should probably at least try and treat it, I couldn't bear to see him struggling like that any more!

 

[WILDER]

Bless him R.I.P.
Cook some frozen peas for a few minutes, let cool down, pop out of shell and mush into small piecies and add to the tank.

 

[RedeyesUK]

Constipation? You reckon it's as simple as that?

Funny, I never thought of that!

I've started the treatment now, so might as well continue, but I'll certainly try some peas tonight and see what happens.

 

[WILDER]

Peas are used for constipation and swim bladder.
Good luck.