Tigerbarb Problem ?

[JohnBull]

One of my Tigerbarbs has started behaving a bit odd. Basically he is swimming slightly sideways instead of upright and keeps going round in circles ? This morning I found him nose down in a plant but as soon as try and net him he moves off sharpish ? It started 2 days ago but the rest of the TB shoal and other fish are ok ?

 

[the_lock_man]

Usual questions

How old is the tank, and how did you cycle it?
Latest water test results?
Anything new in the tank?
etc.

 

[JohnBull]

Usual questions

How old is the tank, and how did you cycle it?
Latest water test results?
Anything new in the tank?
etc.

Tank is 175 lts and 18 months old.
Fishless Cycled via this website and log book kept.
Todays water test showed nothing unusual although tap water is around 20ppm nitrate.
Lost 50% of community fish before through white spot, but that was a year ago and tank was treated with success.
In last 18 months I have lost 3 other fish,mostly swordtails about 8 weeks apart.
Do 7 day water changes of around 35% due to Nitrate levels from tap water.
Nothing added except a few live plants 6 weeks ago.
Subtrate is gravel,Tank has bio filter from Jewel Trigon 190.

Best I can do.

 

[the_lock_man]

How many tigers in the shoal? Have you noticed this one being bullied at all?

 

[Mikey1]

bacterial infection

 

[JohnBull]

How many tigers in the shoal? Have you noticed this one being bullied at all?

I have 7 Tigers in all. All fish 5cm long and bought as a small shoal 12 months ago,no sign of bullying yet, but sick fish cannot seem to get head up to feed on surface.He just swims about aimlessly. Currently trying a few micro pelletts as Tigers usually scoff these up,also use peices of Cucumber for Brislenose Pleco and sometimes feed Bloodworm.


ps Just noticed his left front fin working better than his right one ?


pps For some reason his colouration is the brighter and best of all the fish,flame red mouth,anal and dorsel fins. Also his black Tiger markings are better than the res and stand out more??

 

[Steve H.]

I had similar behavior with Tigers.

I was able to save one of the 2 displaying this behavior. It could be a number of things. But the top 3 are: Bacterial Infection as Mikey mentioned, high nitrites, or swim bladder issue due to stress.

Mine was due to swim bladder. Does his belly seem to have flattened from his jaw line back? If so it's swim bladder

 

[JohnBull]

I had similar behavior with Tigers.

I was able to save one of the 2 displaying this behavior. It could be a number of things. But the top 3 are: Bacterial Infection as Mikey mentioned, high nitrites, or swim bladder issue due to stress.

Mine was due to swim bladder. Does his belly seem to have flattened from his jaw line back? If so it's swim bladder

Could be what your suggesting,hard to spot though as what you describe is not really obvious. Fish still has wits about him cos I cannot net him yet. Not sure what it is mate other than its deffo not NITRITE as readings are fine. He cannot seem swim in a straight line or eat anything,most probably lose him during next couple of days. Other fish all OK to date,did bigger than normal water change today.

 

[BigFish01]

I have had the same problems with my tigers, I had originally bought 15 and put them in my 130gal tank and I have now lost all of them. How long have you had yours? I exchanged 8 of them and put them in my other tank by themselves, and also drip acclimated them instead of floating them. I have had them for a week now with no losses from the new group... Keeping fingers crossed. A couple of them showed the same signs that yours are the day before they passed but those were the last few to pass. I also have been treating the new ones with melafix for most of the week. Wish I had more info to give you. Hope all works out good!!!

 

[JohnBull]

I have had the same problems with my tigers, I had originally bought 15 and put them in my 130gal tank and I have now lost all of them. How long have you had yours? I exchanged 8 of them and put them in my other tank by themselves, and also drip acclimated them instead of floating them. I have had them for a week now with no losses from the new group... Keeping fingers crossed. A couple of them showed the same signs that yours are the day before they passed but those were the last few to pass. I also have been treating the new ones with melafix for most of the week. Wish I had more info to give you. Hope all works out good!!!

Finally lost the sick Tiger this morning (Darn),will increase my TB shoal after the festive period.

To anwer question above :

Now have just the 6 left which are all the original group and 1 year old.

Thanks for the input everyone.

Merry xmas.