Swimbladder Problems?

[pmb_67]

Help please!

I noticed over the last couple of days that things seem a bit odd in my freshwater tank... tank info first as per pinned post:

Tank size: 70-litres
pH: 7.5
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: ~12.5 mg/l (lowest reading above zero in Tetra test kit)
kH: 80 mg/l
gH: 100, or 5.6dH (5 drops of Hagen test kit)
tank temp: 24 C

Volume and Frequency of water changes: 10 litres (14%) every 1-2 weeks, 8 litres RO + 2 litres tap (+ conditioner)

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: Tetra's nitrate reducer added during water changes

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): none, but hair and some sort of blue/green algae blooming and small snails increasing in number

Exposure to chemicals: none other than above nitrate reducer

Tank inhabitants: 1 variegated platy, 3 black neons, 5 cherry barbs (1 male, 4 female judging by colouration and behaviour), 1 panda cory, 2 otocinclus

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
I noticed over the last couple of days that the platy, neons and barbs all seem to be swimming non-vertically - i.e compared to a normal posture they're leaning over to one side (oddly, all of them to the left from their point of view). The otos and panda don't seem affected, but they don't swim in the same style... the thought occurs that this is because they don't have swimbladders (or don't use them?) so I'm wondering if something's affecting the others in this way?

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Paul

 

[minxfishy]

Not sure tbh, but I would suggest a water change, about 30% and I dont know why you are using the nitrate removal chemical, its not necessary. Nitrates can be kept low enough by frequent water changes. Also I would suggest more of a water change and weekly. Say 25% a week.

As for the strange swimming, not sure. How are they pooing? Is it normal in colour, any stringyness? I assume you mean horizontally not vertically??

 

[WILDER]

If its look like the tail is weighing them down in the water its swim bladder.
Are they still eating.
What do you feed your fish.
Cook some frozen peas for a few minutes, let cool down and pop out of shell. mush between fingers
and add to the tank.

 

[pmb_67]

If its look like the tail is weighing them down in the water its swim bladder.
Are they still eating.
What do you feed your fish.
Cook some frozen peas for a few minutes, let cool down and pop out of shell. mush between fingers
and add to the tank.

They're eating and pooping fine - and they get a couple of peas whenever we have them for dinner. Platy loves 'em, black neons find them a bit tricky as they seem to get stuck in their teeth...

Just to clarify the non-vertical bit, it's not front-to-back that the problem is, it's left-to-right - i.e. they're kind of swimming somewhere (about 30 degrees) towards swimming on their sides

Paul

 

[WILDER]

Swimming on there sides can also mean internal parasites.
We need to know what colour there waste is.
Check the anus to see if its enlarged or red and inflamed.
Do any fish look really skinny or bloated.

 

[pmb_67]

Swimming on there sides can also mean internal parasites.
We need to know what colour there waste is.
Check the anus to see if its enlarged or red and inflamed.
Do any fish look really skinny or bloated.

No enlarged / red / inflamed anuses, and poop is, well, fish-poop coloured - I've had fish do the white, stringy thing before and these guys are fine in that respect.

The female cherry barbs are a little tubby looking, the male isn't but boy is he seriously red today - I figure the females are in breeding condition? Black neons look normal, platy looks normal, panda cory looks normal, otos nowhere to be seen, but what's new?

I don't think it's a parasite thing, but I could be wrong

Paul

 

[WILDER]

Have you tryed the peas.