Sick Female Swordtail

[H. Houdini]

Ok, here's the score. She had her fry two weeks ago. Now, in the space of 24 hours, she's gone from thin to looking like she's about to drop again. There are no other visible signs of problems, other than some tail and fin loss, but I did notice a horrible young individual nibbling at her and some of the bigger tank mates two days ago and yesterday. There is no other sign of damage, no white colouring anywhere.

I did notice some tank mates scraping themselves on the plants yesterday in the community tank, so I gave them a dose of Sera Baktopur. After this I noticed she was big, but confused her with her identical sister and she should be due any day. I left her alone and observed before I went out last night. She was moving ok, actually she was unusually active, when I came home. This morning she's jammed herself behind a small filter I put in the main tank to keep cycled.

I've taken her out and placed her in the hospital (where I was keeping a lovely dalmation that is going to fry) and given that a dose of baktopur too (mainly because of her fraying).

Tank readings; (please excuse, I'm in Poland and until thurs couldn't find a liquid test, I'm waiting for it now and in the mean time have to use these useless sticks).

Ammonia - 0
No2 - 0
No3 - about 10 (it's a colour between 0 and 20)

My water is VERY hard, so I do not use any salt. (it always reads at 8.4 or higher)
250 litre community tank.
Tetratec ex700 external filter + little aquael 320 litre per minute filter to keep it cycled.

Any advice greatfully accepted, but I don't think the old girl'll last long.

Harry

(I just read realtree's topic about his tetras. I immediately went and checked my tap water stats and the ph is between 7.2 and 7.6. I have some rocks in the tank which we picked up in a field, washed down, poured a little vinegar on to check suitability and then boiled before adding to the tank (this was about 3 months ago) It is also a planted tank which I assume will raise the ph. On Weds I did a 50% water change and a good clean of the gravel and immediately noticed my male swordtail was gasping, but he's a lazy so and so and has never really been happy since his initial community was increased. He and the remains of that initial community just hang together minding their own business. I also did a 30% water change yesterday before I added the meds. He did the same thing again. Is it possible that I've given them a ph shock? I'd have thought it would be worse for the fry than the adults, but nothing seems to be wrong with them.)

 

[H. Houdini]

Unfortunately she's gone even further downhill during the day. She is struggling to stay upright now, so unless anyone has any ideas pretty soon, I''m going to have to put her out of her misery. I really don't want to do it.........

 

[WILDER]

Whats your tap ph.
Are her scales sticking out.
What do you feed the fish.
What does it look like when the fish go to the toilet.
Lost any fish to bent spines or being really skinny.
Any excess mucas on gills or body of fish.
What do the fish gills look like.
Is there plenty of aeration in the tank.

 

[H. Houdini]

Whats your tap ph.
Are her scales sticking out.
What do you feed the fish.
What does it look like when the fish go to the toilet.
Lost any fish to bent spines or being really skinny.
Any excess mucas on gills or body of fish.
What do the fish gills look like.
Is there plenty of aeration in the tank.

Tap ph is between 7.2 and 7.6, so lets say 7.4.
I haven't clearly noticed any scales sticking out.
The fish are fed Tropical Ichtio-vit flake.
Haven't lost any skinny fish or fish with bent spines. To be honest I'm more worried they're overfed.
No excess mucas anywhere.
Can't get a good look at the gills, she's hiding at the back of the tank, but this morning they looked normal. As I said earlier, there were no unusual things other than the damage to the fins and tail. (this has got MUCH worse during the day)
I have two airstones in the tank going full out.

Thanks!

 

[WILDER]

Bloating can be consitpation, dropsy, swim bladder, internal parasites.

You need to improve the fish diet with some frozen foods like brime shrimp and daphnia.
Also introduce some green veg into there diet.

Cook some frozen peas for a few minutes, let cool down and pop out of shell. Mush into small peices and add to the tank.

I would look out for when your fish go to the toilet to see if its look long white and stringy or clear mucas poo.

Hows the fish now is she still struggling.

 

[H. Houdini]

Unfortunately she was struggling too much. She was on her side and swimming up, then losing the strength to do and just hitting the bottom of the tank. I noticed she had several cuts from doing this, so I've put her out of her misery. It was very quick.

I give them some freeze dried blood worms a couple of times a week, is that ok?

I have not noticed any clear mucas poo, but they can be stringy at times. Having said that, they attack the plants a lot and I'm 95% confident the clear stringy poo is plant debris. I will add though, that they do sometimes have RED poo. is that just a side effect of the flake or a sign of something worse?

When I have examined her, after the event, she is incredibly bloated. You can clearly make out blood vessels on the bottom of her belly. Her anus also looks terribly swollen, it's huge!

I know she is gone, but if you could help more I'd really appreciate it. I'm worried that there may be something wrong with others that is not yet apparent.

Thanks again.

Harry

 

[WILDER]

The anus can enlarge with dropsy but it can also be a sign of internal parasites.
Bllood vessels can be a sign of septicemia.


If no improvement after the peas get back to the board.
You might need an internal parasite med adding to the tank.

Bless Her.
R.I.P.