mandy2936
Aquarium Advice Addict
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2010
- Messages
- 1,909
Emergency: Swim Bladder- Can anyone help my fish to get better?
Brief Info
Hi,
I'm going to try to keep this as brief as possible, simply because I don't want to see anymore of my fish die. I know it looks like a lot, but I spaced everything out for easier viewing and added headings for quick info finding. I really need some help here. My Orange Von Rio Flame Tetras have slowly been dying off one by one. I used to have five, then one died from Popeye. (I treated, but unfortunately it didn't work.) However, he was replaced (with a heavy heart) and then I had five again, until recently another one died.
Symptoms
It started when one of them kept swimming strangly, completely on his side. He was not having trouble with buoyancy, or floating at the top or bottom of the tank. He couldn't hold himself upright. He tried to swim upright, but then leans to one side until he is flat like a pancake, then repeats with the other side. He eventually died. Now, to my horror, I found another out of the now four Von Rios doing the same. He started out as just leaning, but no trouble floating. However, within an hour of noticing the poor fish, I now have to watch in great sadness as this fish almost floats upside down at times.
Water Parameters: Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 15, pH 7.6 (All tests taken with the API Master Freshwater Liquid Tube Kit)
Similar to the Popeye case, I never found the cause because water quality is usually never an issue with my tank. I try never to let the parameters stray from healthy ranges. Ever.
Additional Info
I am extremely concerned with helping this fish recover. What concerns me the most, is that Swim Bladder is not contagious, so the fact that multiple fish keep getting means that there is a cause, but I can't seem to ID it! I will now answer all the questions that I haven't already that are on one of the stickys "Read this before posting about sick fish"
1. The tank is 20 US gallons, established August of 2010.
2. I am using an AquaClear rated for 20-30 gallons. I know, not a ton of filteration, but my water parameters are never a problem. Also, if oxygen is a problem, the filter can have a pretty high flow, but I am definitely open to buying a new one if it will save my fish...
3. For my fish, please see "My Tanks".
4. Under normal circumstances, I do one PWC a week, and usually change about 40% of the water. Is that a lot? I just always felt that clean water is better water, and I am careful to add it slowly. The week that I noticed the first Von Rio swimming on his side, the one who has already passed, I did one 40% PWC, and two 2 gallon PWCs for lack of a treatment. (No ID..)
5. As mentioned above, after the Von Rio had passed from Popeye, I added a new one. There is no way to tell whether the new one is the one that died previously, is the sick one now, or is healthy, as they all look the same. When acclimating, I float the bag in the tank for 20-40 minutes, depending on fish hardiness, and add a little tank water every 5 minutes. I do this rather precisely, with timers going off every 5 minutes.
6.~Have you added anything new to the tank--decor, new dechlorinator, new substrate, etc.? ----> No.
7.~What kind of food have you been feeding your fish, have you changed their diet recently? ----> I used to feed them TetraMin Tropical Flakes, but after running out I bought some Aqueon Tropical Flakes. Oh, and on occasion I give them thawed frozen brine shrimp, and rarely some freeze dried bloodworms. (The brands of these have not been switched.) I don't remember when exactly I switched flake brands, but I know it was after the first Von Rio died of Popeye, then perhaps before or after the second dying. If it makes any difference, I will right away go out and buy those old flakes...
Please, Please, Pleeeeeasse help me identify this illness before it wipes out all of my beautiful Von Rios!! (And possibly other fish, too!) I am willing to do anything within reason that will help my fish. Unfortunately, QT/Hospital Tank is not an option. I know that many in the hobby always do so, but there is not way that I am aloud to have a spare tank up and running in addition to this one..
Thank you.
P.S I heard a good idea is to not feed for a couple days, then try a shelled pea. Also, food expanding in their stomach can be a cause... but really how do I buy food that doesn't do that??? Help in this process is really appreciated. I need a lot of help here! Also, since swim bladder is not contagious, why do multiple fish keep getting it? There has to be something causing it. I am getting very frustrated will all these sick fish, it's awful when you don't appear to be doing anything wrong, and can't ID the cause of an illness.
Brief Info
Hi,
I'm going to try to keep this as brief as possible, simply because I don't want to see anymore of my fish die. I know it looks like a lot, but I spaced everything out for easier viewing and added headings for quick info finding. I really need some help here. My Orange Von Rio Flame Tetras have slowly been dying off one by one. I used to have five, then one died from Popeye. (I treated, but unfortunately it didn't work.) However, he was replaced (with a heavy heart) and then I had five again, until recently another one died.
Symptoms
It started when one of them kept swimming strangly, completely on his side. He was not having trouble with buoyancy, or floating at the top or bottom of the tank. He couldn't hold himself upright. He tried to swim upright, but then leans to one side until he is flat like a pancake, then repeats with the other side. He eventually died. Now, to my horror, I found another out of the now four Von Rios doing the same. He started out as just leaning, but no trouble floating. However, within an hour of noticing the poor fish, I now have to watch in great sadness as this fish almost floats upside down at times.
Water Parameters: Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 15, pH 7.6 (All tests taken with the API Master Freshwater Liquid Tube Kit)
Similar to the Popeye case, I never found the cause because water quality is usually never an issue with my tank. I try never to let the parameters stray from healthy ranges. Ever.
Additional Info
I am extremely concerned with helping this fish recover. What concerns me the most, is that Swim Bladder is not contagious, so the fact that multiple fish keep getting means that there is a cause, but I can't seem to ID it! I will now answer all the questions that I haven't already that are on one of the stickys "Read this before posting about sick fish"
1. The tank is 20 US gallons, established August of 2010.
2. I am using an AquaClear rated for 20-30 gallons. I know, not a ton of filteration, but my water parameters are never a problem. Also, if oxygen is a problem, the filter can have a pretty high flow, but I am definitely open to buying a new one if it will save my fish...
3. For my fish, please see "My Tanks".
4. Under normal circumstances, I do one PWC a week, and usually change about 40% of the water. Is that a lot? I just always felt that clean water is better water, and I am careful to add it slowly. The week that I noticed the first Von Rio swimming on his side, the one who has already passed, I did one 40% PWC, and two 2 gallon PWCs for lack of a treatment. (No ID..)
5. As mentioned above, after the Von Rio had passed from Popeye, I added a new one. There is no way to tell whether the new one is the one that died previously, is the sick one now, or is healthy, as they all look the same. When acclimating, I float the bag in the tank for 20-40 minutes, depending on fish hardiness, and add a little tank water every 5 minutes. I do this rather precisely, with timers going off every 5 minutes.
6.~Have you added anything new to the tank--decor, new dechlorinator, new substrate, etc.? ----> No.
7.~What kind of food have you been feeding your fish, have you changed their diet recently? ----> I used to feed them TetraMin Tropical Flakes, but after running out I bought some Aqueon Tropical Flakes. Oh, and on occasion I give them thawed frozen brine shrimp, and rarely some freeze dried bloodworms. (The brands of these have not been switched.) I don't remember when exactly I switched flake brands, but I know it was after the first Von Rio died of Popeye, then perhaps before or after the second dying. If it makes any difference, I will right away go out and buy those old flakes...
Please, Please, Pleeeeeasse help me identify this illness before it wipes out all of my beautiful Von Rios!! (And possibly other fish, too!) I am willing to do anything within reason that will help my fish. Unfortunately, QT/Hospital Tank is not an option. I know that many in the hobby always do so, but there is not way that I am aloud to have a spare tank up and running in addition to this one..
Thank you.
P.S I heard a good idea is to not feed for a couple days, then try a shelled pea. Also, food expanding in their stomach can be a cause... but really how do I buy food that doesn't do that??? Help in this process is really appreciated. I need a lot of help here! Also, since swim bladder is not contagious, why do multiple fish keep getting it? There has to be something causing it. I am getting very frustrated will all these sick fish, it's awful when you don't appear to be doing anything wrong, and can't ID the cause of an illness.