Sick/dying fish

[Anna94]

I have one fish that is swimming rather weakly. He is so weak in fact that he floated down to a plant and stayed there for a few minutes. He also kind of swims straight up to the surface and stays there. I have great surface agitation though because I have a HOB filter plus my sponge filter. Here are my parameters according to the Aquarium Lab test kit by NT Labs.

Ammonia NH3: 0.2 (tested twice)
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 0 (the test kit says they’re supposed to be 0)
PH: 8
KH: 4 or 5
GH: 15 or 16

 

[SaraB]

What kind of fish? Are there any other symptoms? Any teammates that might be bullying him?

 

[Anna94]

What kind of fish? Are there any other symptoms? Any teammates that might be bullying him?

5 Cardinal tetras, 5 lemon tetras, and 2 rasboras. His belly looks a little fat. My other fish are quite docile so I don’t think they’re bullying him.

 

[SaraB]

He could just be bloated. Try feeding him a cooked peeled cut up pea to relieve any constipation.

 

[Anna94]

He could just be bloated. Try feeding him a cooked peeled cut up pea to relieve any constipation.

He won’t eat though. I fed them today and he didn’t go after the food.

 

[SaraB]

Do you have tongs you can try to put it in front him?

 

[Anna94]

Do you have tongs you can try to put it in front him?

I can try

 

[King Fisher]

Your tank doesn't seem to be cycled with those readings or lack of a nitrates reading.

Hard to tell if your fish has internal parasites or bloating. First thing you could try is dosing the tank with Epsom salt. It's a natural laxative. Get pure Epsom without additives. Dose 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of water.

 

[Anna94]

Your tank doesn't seem to be cycled with those readings or lack of a nitrates reading.

Hard to tell if your fish has internal parasites or bloating. First thing you could try is dosing the tank with Epsom salt. It's a natural laxative. Get pure Epsom without additives. Dose 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of water.

Epsom salt won’t harm my other fish or the Wandering Jew plant in my filter?

 

[King Fisher]

No. It's not really salt it's magnesium. Might actually help your plant before harming it.

 

[Anna94]

No. It's not really salt it's magnesium. Might actually help your plant before harming it.

Do I just put it straight into the tank without mixing it in water first?

 

[King Fisher]

Mix it in dechlorinated water to dissolve then add it to the tank.