The Shimmy's?

[gabbagabbahey38]

My Red Eyed tetra's are experiencing symptoms of the shimmy's from what I've read on the internet. One died this morning, and the other three are sort of treading water in a stationary position. I got them about two days ago and put them into a brand new tank. The water was at 80 F and I put it down a few degrees. I saw one of them let off a spray of brownish flakes as if it was vomiting. I have a black molly in the tank and he is doing fine for now. HELP!

 

[PaBucsFan]

Well Tetras and Mollies have two separate preferences for water parameters. Tetras enjoy softer more acidic water where as mollies prefer a more alkaline (higher minerals) in the water. It is often difficult to keep both happy in a tank. You said it is a brand new tank. Does this mean it is uncycled? If it is please read the guides on here about cycling your tank. It will be a fish-in cycle now that you already have fish in the tank. Secondly if you fish are struggling the best medicine for them is to do a water change and dechlorinate your water if it is chlorinated. Your water temp is a little high as well!

 

[WILDER]

Size fo tank in gallons or litres.
How many fish and which type.
Water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.
How long did you climatise the new fish for. Always check bag water for temp and ph. This way you know how long to climatise the new fish for.

Has the tank only been set up a few days.

Imediate water change and increase aeration.

 

[gabbagabbahey38]

Size fo tank in gallons or litres.
How many fish and which type.
Water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.
How long did you climatise the new fish for. Always check bag water for temp and ph. This way you know how long to climatise the new fish for.

Has the tank only been set up a few days.

Imediate water change and increase aeration.

20 gal had 4 red eyed tetra, down to 2. One black molly, and a shrimp, maybe bamboo or ghost, the store misnamed it. I don't have any water testing kits yet, I know that's probably my problem. By climitise you mean leave the fish in the bag in the tank? about 15 minutes or so. The tank has been set up for a week and a half.

I changed the water yesterday about 50 percent, should I change it again today? how can I increase aeration?

 

[PaBucsFan]

To increase aeration you need to buy an air pump. You should be able to find them anywhere aquarium fish are sold. You will also need tubing, an anti-siphon tube, and an airstone. You can do another water change today. Climitise is to slowly add your tank water to the water in the bag with your fish still in it. This allows the fish to adjust from the shops water conditions to your water conditions.

 

[gabbagabbahey38]

pH is around 6.5, alkalinity over 300 ppm, Hardness is close to 0 ppm, and nitrite and nitrate are undetectable. I suspect I need to raise hardness, and lower alkalinity. What should I do?

 

[WILDER]

How long did you climatise the new fish for.

Are the fish showing any of these signs.
Gasping at surface of tank, laboured breathing.
Darting.
Excess mucas, or a milky substance on there body.
Barrel rolling, turning upside down.

 

[gabbagabbahey38]

How long did you climatise the new fish for.

Are the fish showing any of these signs.
Gasping at surface of tank, laboured breathing.
Darting.
Excess mucas, or a milky substance on there body.
Barrel rolling, turning upside down.

possibly gasping at the surface for air, and for sure some darting and erratic movements.

 

[WILDER]

Immediate water change and increase aeration.

What's the make of the test kit you are using?

The symtoms are pointing towards bad water quality, parasites, ph shock, the fish is dying.

 

[gabbagabbahey38]

I've been doing about 20 percent water changes each night, feeding a little less (to reduce the amount of ammonia from uneaten food), as well as using a supplement supposed to increase cycle speed and also decrease ammonia levels. The gils are starting to get less pink, and the tetras are starting to swim together again. My Black Molly is swimming healthily again and looks better each day. All the fish are showing less erratic movements as well. They're still gasping at the surface for air on occasion. There is room for improvement in the water quality and their health, but I believe the fish are showing improvements each day.

My test kit is the paper strip ones, the tetra brand I believe.

 

[WILDER]

Test strip cards are a waste of money. There not accurate.

Take a sample of your water to the lfs and ask them to write the readings down for you.

Carry on with water changes.
If you don't have an airstone, lower the water level so the filter hits the water harder to create more aeration.
Cut down on feeding.