My fish are all not as active, hovering in the water with fins clamped, and some of them flicking against things. The tank is 9 months old, fully cycled. Had some sort of disease outbreak a few months ago when I introduced a new fish, lost over half my stock. I can't see any other obvious signs of disease on them. Will post water stats later before I water change. Only thing that seems to be doing well is my shrimp population. Any ideas what's up? & advice?
Unhappy Fish
- Thread starter Liv15
- Start date
signs of irritation usually stem from something wrong with the water so that would be my first step. I'm wondering if the disease outbreak is the key here. I'm presuming you treated with something and it's possible this has affected bacteria. You also mention you lost some fish, have you checked the tank for any dead fish that you might have missed?
Might be an idea to just run a fell water test on the tap water too ... just as a double check that there's nothing going on with it.
Provided the tap water tests come out clear I'd do a large water change to begin with and see if the fish perk up. If not then your probably looking at some kind of illness brewing. Have you added anything new recently? Fish, decor, plants?
Might be an idea to just run a fell water test on the tap water too ... just as a double check that there's nothing going on with it.
Provided the tap water tests come out clear I'd do a large water change to begin with and see if the fish perk up. If not then your probably looking at some kind of illness brewing. Have you added anything new recently? Fish, decor, plants?
pH 8
Ammonia <0.2 but slightly above 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Haven't tested my water since I last had problems about 3 months ago, results were the same. I have no idea why my ammonia is up slightly and no nitrates. I do have loads of plants.
Ammonia <0.2 but slightly above 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Haven't tested my water since I last had problems about 3 months ago, results were the same. I have no idea why my ammonia is up slightly and no nitrates. I do have loads of plants.
Lots of plants will use up most of the nitrates but I also have loads of plants and still get a nitrate reading of around 40 when it's due a water change. There should still be a reading in my mind even if it's very low.
This is a little bit odd ... the ammonia is up slightly but not enough to cause too many issues. I'm lost in what to suggest other than doing a water change and seeing if they perk up.
I'm trying to think of any illnesses that would cause what you describe but nothing is coming to mind other than ammonia poisoning and we've ruled that out .... confused.com!
Keep an eye on them and watch for signs of anything changing. Flashing could point to whitespot and they can get that through stress ... all I can think off - sorry
This is a little bit odd ... the ammonia is up slightly but not enough to cause too many issues. I'm lost in what to suggest other than doing a water change and seeing if they perk up.
I'm trying to think of any illnesses that would cause what you describe but nothing is coming to mind other than ammonia poisoning and we've ruled that out .... confused.com!
Keep an eye on them and watch for signs of anything changing. Flashing could point to whitespot and they can get that through stress ... all I can think off - sorry
Is there plenty of oxygenation? Water surface is being broken? Do you use an airstone?
When did you last do a water change? And how much did you change? Has the temperature of the tank been stable?
What is your lighting schedule like?
Rather than just considering the water, I'm considering anything that may cause stress.
When did you last do a water change? And how much did you change? Has the temperature of the tank been stable?
What is your lighting schedule like?
Rather than just considering the water, I'm considering anything that may cause stress.
I did actually leave the lights on all night the other day by accident and I think it stressed them out a bit. I admittedly don't water change as often as I should (although my water levels don't seem to suffer) and I haven't really been feeding them properly - on really cheap food. I gave them some bloodworm last night to see if it will pick them up and I'll probably give them daphnia tonight. My tank is a juwel 125 litres with 3 danio 4 platy 1 Molly 3 otos and loads of cherry shrimp, 2 bamboo shrimp. I will be adding a shoal of neons soon as they have been quarantined for 3 weeks now, just gotta sort this problem out first.
I did a massive water change (60 ish %) about a week/week & a half ago because I hadn't done one in ages. Friday I did a small water change but didn't clean the filters. There's plenty of oxygen as I have bubble wall and strong filter so loads of surface movement. I think the temperature has been stable, although it has been getting cold lately so it may have dropped by a few degrees.
I did a massive water change (60 ish %) about a week/week & a half ago because I hadn't done one in ages. Friday I did a small water change but didn't clean the filters. There's plenty of oxygen as I have bubble wall and strong filter so loads of surface movement. I think the temperature has been stable, although it has been getting cold lately so it may have dropped by a few degrees.
how are the fish looking now?
We all know we should water change weekly but life gets in the way now and then and when we're busy it's easy to forget. Try to change some water at least once a fortnight if you are too busy to do it weekly. I try to set aside some time on a Sunday morning to change some water and clean filters if they need it. It's often once a fortnight for me so don't feel guilty.
I think you are right to wait to add the new guys until the old fish have perked up. If this is stress related (and I'm starting to suspect it may be) adding new fish will only add to the stress
We all know we should water change weekly but life gets in the way now and then and when we're busy it's easy to forget. Try to change some water at least once a fortnight if you are too busy to do it weekly. I try to set aside some time on a Sunday morning to change some water and clean filters if they need it. It's often once a fortnight for me so don't feel guilty.
I think you are right to wait to add the new guys until the old fish have perked up. If this is stress related (and I'm starting to suspect it may be) adding new fish will only add to the stress
My one platy looks like she's dying, she's at least a couple years old now and the younger males have been pestering her a lot lately. I don't think her immune system can cope 
I did a water change yesterday and cleaned the filters out but they're still flicking against things, the danios mostly - flicking against the sand.
I did a water change yesterday and cleaned the filters out but they're still flicking against things, the danios mostly - flicking against the sand.are they flicking a lot or just occasionally?
I see mine flick on the sand now and then but there's nothing wrong ... they just seem to do it for no reason. My SAE's are the main culprits and it seems to occur when they are bickering over food so I've put it down to a stress thing.
I think it's a case of checking things daily at the moment. Water test daily and change water if you see anything rising and just monitor the fish for signs of white spot or anything else external
See what the others think though cos I may be wrong
I see mine flick on the sand now and then but there's nothing wrong ... they just seem to do it for no reason. My SAE's are the main culprits and it seems to occur when they are bickering over food so I've put it down to a stress thing.
I think it's a case of checking things daily at the moment. Water test daily and change water if you see anything rising and just monitor the fish for signs of white spot or anything else external
See what the others think though cos I may be wrong
I did have just 2 female platies but then one had babies and the survivors grew up to be 2 males. Just found my poor little platy dead had her at least 2-3 years so I am a bit gutted! Weird how she deteriorated so quickly over a couple days, I'm hoping it's nothing bacterial. For some reason the males were only interested in chasing her, not the other one. Anyway just got 1 female now, 2 young males, and one really young one that isn't old enough to know yet.
I'm wondering if the danios flicking is some weird courtship behaviour because they're so weird and always chasing each other, always doing something!
On the bright side my otos and shrimp are doing really well, all really active. I'll have to get more otos soon since I only have two.
had her at least 2-3 years so I am a bit gutted! Weird how she deteriorated so quickly over a couple days, I'm hoping it's nothing bacterial. For some reason the males were only interested in chasing her, not the other one. Anyway just got 1 female now, 2 young males, and one really young one that isn't old enough to know yet.I'm wondering if the danios flicking is some weird courtship behaviour because they're so weird and always chasing each other, always doing something!
On the bright side my otos and shrimp are doing really well, all really active. I'll have to get more otos soon since I only have two.
just to make you feel better ... my Dad got 5 males platies just over a year ago and he's lost 4 one after another in the last 2 months. Livebearers just don't seem to live long now. Anything up to 2 years seems normal and as we don't know how old they are when we buy them I think you've done well to keep them alive this long
I'll be honest with you. I don't think there's anything wrong with your tank or your fish. The more I read about these fish the more I think there's very little wrong. Oto's can be delicate and I think they'd be the first to drop if there was
I'll be honest with you. I don't think there's anything wrong with your tank or your fish. The more I read about these fish the more I think there's very little wrong. Oto's can be delicate and I think they'd be the first to drop if there was
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