Sick Danio

[Kurt_]

Hey all. I recently got a new 20g long tank.

I have one danio that has been anti-social since I've got him. He hasn't eaten anything either. I got him to eat some earthworm that I dug up tonight, but I worry for his health. His breathing is irregular, if at all present. It seems he only breathes when he swims. When he stops, he begins to tilt sideways a little, before swimming in a spurt to another part of the tank. Any idea what's up? He's looking very thin. I've been overfeeding my fish all week trying to get him to eat. They're all nice and fat now, even the dudes, but he still has an arch to his underbelly.


Tank History and Info:

I threw in five danios and a snail, and a week later (Saturday) I threw in two more danios and two more snails. There are plenty of live plants in there, including hornwort, moneywort, and variegated sweetgrass. pH is 7.6 or greater (I had a limestone rock in there which I have since removed, so it is 8.2 or lower). Temperature is 78 F.

I have a well established pond that I took some lava rock out of the night before the first frost. I added some beneficial bacteria (that wasn't expired) when I started up too. Ammonia levels have been unreadable, or near-undetectable since I've started up the tank.

 

[the biffster]

how long has this tank
been up and running and
what is your ammonia reading

 

[Kurt_]

Two weeks or so. It's not ammonia. It's just the one fish.

 

[AstonN24vantage]

what kind of danio?
what aare your other readings? when did you get the danio? is the tank cycled? fish in or fishless?

 

[the_lock_man]

Hi Kurt,

I wouldn't call myself an expert, but I know enough to say that after 2 weeks, it's unlikely that your filter has fully cycled. It will help the people on here who are experts if you could tell them how much ammonia and nitrite is in your tank water, and how you tested (ie liquid kit or test strips).

Help them to help you, mate!

 

[AstonN24vantage]

what is the test kit?

 

[Rynofasho]

Ya you probably aren't cycled. I realize it is only one fish, however some fish will just show the affects before the other fish will sometimes as their sensitivity to various toxins in the water varies.