Turquoise Rainbow Fish Trying To Die

[CathyP]

Request Help

Tank size: 45 gallon
pH:
ammonia:
nitrite:
nitrate:
kH:
gH:
tank temp: 78

Fish Symptoms Just looks like he got really old yesterday and the deep blue stress color. Moved to a corner by the pump and began resting more. Now he is just floating and barely breathing. Had a female do this about a year ago. I just kept her moving for a few days and she got better. The male seems just about dead. Keeps sinking to the bottom and stops under a rock where I can't really reach him.

No strange spots or excretions.

No new fish or plants.

Change about 1/3 of the water once a month or so. Scoop water from tank to water plants and top off with fresh water once a week.

Put in 2 capfuls of TetraAqua Aqua Safe yesterday when I noticed him having problems.

Total fish 6 Rainbow, 8 neons, 2 quarter sized fish and two 1/2 dollar sized or the same, 1 yoyo loach and an 8" Pleco

 

[CathyP]

never mind.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

While It might not be directly related, changing "about 1/3 of the water every month or so" is nowhere near enough maintenance I'm afraid, with a rainbowfish tank you should be looking at 1/3 to 2/3 every single week without fail. Futhermore, 78F (26C) is very warm for Melanotaenia lacustris, which ought to be kept at 20-23C for most of the year.

 

[CathyP]

While It might not be directly related, changing "about 1/3 of the water every month or so" is nowhere near enough maintenance I'm afraid, with a rainbowfish tank you should be looking at 1/3 to 2/3 every single week without fail. Futhermore, 78F (26C) is very warm for Melanotaenia lacustris, which ought to be kept at 20-23C for most of the year.

Thanks for answering. I'm thinking he was just old.

My other tanks I have to change the water alot more often. For some reason, this tank stays pretty clean. I change the water, not because it looks yucky, but because I wouldn't want to swim around in my own pee. I promise to do better. Changing water now.

The Rainbows are about 4 years old, big and beautiful. The colors running on the males are gorgeous to watch. They've never had babies, but they sure have tried. The Pleco and YoYo came with the tank, so I don't know their ages. The other fish I've added over the last two years.

As to the temperature, it's Southern CA. The inside temp is the outside temp, minus 5 degrees. It has been like that all their lives and never had a problem. Sadie Cat loves to watch them.
Cathy