Swordtail Is Acting Sick

[Mikaila31]

He hasn't been eating the last couple of days, and just today hes been at the surface all day siting in a floating plant with his head close to the surface of the water . All the other fish in the tank are acting normal. I took water tests on monday and every thing was fine. I can't figure out whats wrong with him, but there is nothing wrong externally that i can see .

 

[tttnjfttt]

Alot of water problems can devlop over the course of a week, so it is a good idea to check the water stats again.

When you look at him, does he seem to be breathing fast? Are his gills red and inflamed? Do the gills have excess mucus or small parasites?

 

[pokagon55]

please tell about your water states ammonia,nitrites,nitrates, ph how often do you do water changes.
what size is your tank, how long has it been set up ,how many fish. ect. thank you

 

[Mikaila31]

The tank is 55gal. with: 2 long-finned dainos, 2 boesemani rainbowfish, 6 neon tetras, 2 otos, 4 corycats, 1 sparkling gourami, and the unhappy swordtail. Water changes are done every wednesday and the tank was set up about 8 months ago.

Water stats:
Ammonia- 0
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- 10

About a week ago i also lost a daino to pop-eye and dropsey in this tank , but so far the swordtail doesn't have any signs of those diseases.

also i'm tring to dig up any water test reports that we have on our water, because i think my mom said there was something wrong with it .

 

[tttnjfttt]

When you look at him, does he seem to be breathing fast? Are his gills red and inflamed? Do the gills have excess mucus or small parasites?

 

[Mikaila31]

Sorry i forgot to answer those questions.

He is breathing a little faster than normal, but his gills do not appear red and inflamed and they do not have any excess mucus or visable parasites .

 

[WILDER]

Sounds bactrial as they can breath faster with bacterial infection, plus a few fish that you have mentioned have come down with it.

 

[WILDER]

Increase aeration as hanging at the top also can mean there is not enough 02 in the tank.

 

[Mikaila31]

Now he is sitting on the bottom of the tank and i have a big bubble wand in there .

So i guess i should medicate the tank? i have melafix and primafix which one would be the best to use?

 

[tttnjfttt]

Those are both pretty weak medicines. I would probably use a broad spectrum antibiotic, such as kanacyn, tetracycline (warning, it can affect the bio filter), or maracyn 1 AND maracyn 2

 

[pokagon55]

sorry but you did mention the ph of your water that would have an effect on the fishes behavoir. Also you did not sat how much water you take out of the tank. And as Wilder said not enough oxygen in the tank would cause this. But also having lost fish to pop-eye and dropsy I would treat for a bacteria problem. You could add salt to the tank, 1 table spoon per five gals. that would help with the bacteria and the gill function.

 

[Mikaila31]

Melafix, primafix, and a medicated food are the only bacterial meds. i have at the moment. My LPS is really bad and carries none of those meds. and all the meds. it dose carry i've never gotten any results with .

My PH is 7.5 which is normal, and i change 25% of the water when i change it. I have four cory cats in the tank so i can't add salt . All the other fish are still acting normal and healthy.

 

[WILDER]

Medicated food if the fish is still eating, plus if he's resting on he bottom not sounding to good, with an internal bacteria infection melafix is no good, as it's for external bacteria infections.

 

[pokagon55]

have you tried tank buddies they work good and there is one for internal bacterial infections?

 

[Mikaila31]

Bad new he's not looking good at all. I'm thinking now that it might be dropsy again , of all the diseases dropsy has killed most of my fish . I'am extremally doutful that the swordtail will make it, but I need to medicate the tank. What would be the best medication to use? As i have no idea how i got dropsy .