sonicboom81
Mostly New Member
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One of my two false bandit corys (corydoras melini) can't keep balance in the water, and frequently ends up losing balance and ending up on his side or upside down. He can right himself, and swim about normally, until he stops, at which point he has the issue.
Tank size: 30cm x 30cm x 30cm 20litre (5 gallon). It is a small tank - It's not my tank, but I've taken over looking after it (and upgrading it to a bigger tank soon). There is a air stone and a good flow around the tank. The gravel is vacuumed regularly, and there is no overfeeding.
pH: 6.4 (but has been lower)
ammonia: 0 ppm
nitrite: 0 ppm
nitrate: 10 ppm
kH: not known (tester kit been ordered)
gH: not known
tank temp: 25C
Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
The balance issue has been going on for about a week.
This cory hasn't grown to the same size as his one remaining brother, or to the size of the others of the same breed at the pet shop. We have lost corys in the past from the same group, which have lost colour, clamped fins and died, and fungus was visible with one when it died.
This current cory doesn't appear to be feeding well, but has good colour and does not have clamped fins. He does seem to be breathing a little more rapidly, but his gills do not appear red.
I realise the tank is too small for the fish, and when there was more fish the water quality was an issue, but hasn't been (excluding the low pH) a notable issue for months. The tank is being upgraded from a 20l to a 100l+ within a month.
Volume and Frequency of water changes: Water change has varied from between a week at most to every 2 or 3 days, and varied with 20% to 50% when there was water quality issues. We've tried to keep it to about 20% once or twice a week.
The tank is planted and has small size gravel (I plan to upgrade to sand).
Tank inhabitants: One male betta, and one other cory of the same type, but is bigger and healthy. I realise that corys should be kept in groups and having only two leads to stress. Both spend a lot of time hiding rather than exploring. A few small snails.
Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): None.
Treatments: On this occasion, I have treated with aquarium salt and also Pimafix, but have stopped both and not added more since the last water change yesterday, where I did a 50% water change to help raise the pH from 6.0 (or less) to what it is now at pH 6.4 - my tap water straight out the tap is 7.5 pH.
I've tried to feed with cooked peas to help with swim bladder issues, but I don't think the fish were interested.
I have Interpet Anti-Internal Bacteria No.9, which I'm considering trying - but I'd need to dose the whole tank as I do not have a hospital tank at the moment.
Digital photo (include if possible): In this photo he's on his side.
Any idea?
One of my two false bandit corys (corydoras melini) can't keep balance in the water, and frequently ends up losing balance and ending up on his side or upside down. He can right himself, and swim about normally, until he stops, at which point he has the issue.
Tank size: 30cm x 30cm x 30cm 20litre (5 gallon). It is a small tank - It's not my tank, but I've taken over looking after it (and upgrading it to a bigger tank soon). There is a air stone and a good flow around the tank. The gravel is vacuumed regularly, and there is no overfeeding.
pH: 6.4 (but has been lower)
ammonia: 0 ppm
nitrite: 0 ppm
nitrate: 10 ppm
kH: not known (tester kit been ordered)
gH: not known
tank temp: 25C
Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
The balance issue has been going on for about a week.
This cory hasn't grown to the same size as his one remaining brother, or to the size of the others of the same breed at the pet shop. We have lost corys in the past from the same group, which have lost colour, clamped fins and died, and fungus was visible with one when it died.
This current cory doesn't appear to be feeding well, but has good colour and does not have clamped fins. He does seem to be breathing a little more rapidly, but his gills do not appear red.
I realise the tank is too small for the fish, and when there was more fish the water quality was an issue, but hasn't been (excluding the low pH) a notable issue for months. The tank is being upgraded from a 20l to a 100l+ within a month.
Volume and Frequency of water changes: Water change has varied from between a week at most to every 2 or 3 days, and varied with 20% to 50% when there was water quality issues. We've tried to keep it to about 20% once or twice a week.
The tank is planted and has small size gravel (I plan to upgrade to sand).
Tank inhabitants: One male betta, and one other cory of the same type, but is bigger and healthy. I realise that corys should be kept in groups and having only two leads to stress. Both spend a lot of time hiding rather than exploring. A few small snails.
Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): None.
Treatments: On this occasion, I have treated with aquarium salt and also Pimafix, but have stopped both and not added more since the last water change yesterday, where I did a 50% water change to help raise the pH from 6.0 (or less) to what it is now at pH 6.4 - my tap water straight out the tap is 7.5 pH.
I've tried to feed with cooked peas to help with swim bladder issues, but I don't think the fish were interested.
I have Interpet Anti-Internal Bacteria No.9, which I'm considering trying - but I'd need to dose the whole tank as I do not have a hospital tank at the moment.
Digital photo (include if possible): In this photo he's on his side.
Any idea?