My Fish Babies.
Aquarium Advice Activist
1~What type of fish is afflicted?
Male Black Moor. I am about 98% sure it is swim bladder issues. He has been struggling with this for over a year now. Its not to the point where he is upside down yet although he has done this a few times for an hour or so at a time. He more waddles then swims any more. Will float in the corner of the tank always after eating.
2~What are your tank parameters (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, temp, pH)? Please give exact values.
I use test strips right now all seems to check out good even at my LPS.
3~ How large is the tank? How long has the tank been set up?
It is a 30 gallon set up for two years now.
4~What type of filtration are you using? Please give the name and number (i.e. Fluval 304) and amount of gph if known.
I am running a Marineland Penguin Bio Wheel 200
5~How many fish are in the tank? What kinds of fish are they and what are their current sizes?
His tank mates are another female Black Moor and a male telescope.
6~When is the last time you did a water change and vacuum the gravel? How often do you do this? How much water do you remove at a time?
I do a 50% waterchange with a vacuum every Monday. I treat with prime and add aquarium salt with each change I sometimes add stress coat when I think I have taken out too much water.
7~How long have you had the fish? If the fish is new, how did you acclimate it/them?
I have had all three for about 4 years.
8~Have you added anything new to the tank--decor, new dechlorinator, new substrate, etc.?
NO
9~What kind of food have you been feeding your fish, have you changed their diet recently?
Omega one sinking pellets and mysis frozen shrimp alternating. I also feed them peas at least three times a month.
MORE BACKGROUND INFO..... His name is "BIGGIE" he and his original tank mate a smaller female Black moor started out life with me in a 15 gallon. He always seemed a bit slower to me I always attributed it to his size. Within six months I moved then to the 30 gallon and added the telescope. (I was still leaning and still am) He damaged one of his eyes that first week in the new tank because he kept trying to swim behind the filter wand. The smaller two would do this on occasion its the small amount of space between the glass and where the arm of the filter rests in the tank. I blocked with a plant which prevented this. So one of his eyes is damaged and the other is fine. Three weeks into the new tank he is the only one of the three to come down with ick. The smaller moor started to as well but salt treatments and PWC cured them. He's always had issues swimming very awkward and clumsy. I have been battling swim bladder issues with him for about a year now. I will fast them for about three days and feed a diet of peas to them for about three days as soon as I go to the reg diet Biggie shows the same symptoms floating in the corner not being able to swim to the bottom. This will last for hours. I feed them in the evening by morning he seems to be able to move better. This week he began to show the signs of fin rot. I am sure I caught it early. I did a 90% WC salt and stress coat and have been doing 50% changes every other day his tail is looking better much better. The other moor and telescope continue to be healthy. I am moving them all to a 55 gallon soon I worry about him being able to take the stress of the move he is so fragile it seems. Will I ever be able to fix his swim bladder issues? I am doing everything I am supposed to be doing or at least following all the advice I am reading here. I love them all dearly but I am frustrated with how easily Biggie seems to fall apart.
Male Black Moor. I am about 98% sure it is swim bladder issues. He has been struggling with this for over a year now. Its not to the point where he is upside down yet although he has done this a few times for an hour or so at a time. He more waddles then swims any more. Will float in the corner of the tank always after eating.
2~What are your tank parameters (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, temp, pH)? Please give exact values.
I use test strips right now all seems to check out good even at my LPS.
3~ How large is the tank? How long has the tank been set up?
It is a 30 gallon set up for two years now.
4~What type of filtration are you using? Please give the name and number (i.e. Fluval 304) and amount of gph if known.
I am running a Marineland Penguin Bio Wheel 200
5~How many fish are in the tank? What kinds of fish are they and what are their current sizes?
His tank mates are another female Black Moor and a male telescope.
6~When is the last time you did a water change and vacuum the gravel? How often do you do this? How much water do you remove at a time?
I do a 50% waterchange with a vacuum every Monday. I treat with prime and add aquarium salt with each change I sometimes add stress coat when I think I have taken out too much water.
7~How long have you had the fish? If the fish is new, how did you acclimate it/them?
I have had all three for about 4 years.
8~Have you added anything new to the tank--decor, new dechlorinator, new substrate, etc.?
NO
9~What kind of food have you been feeding your fish, have you changed their diet recently?
Omega one sinking pellets and mysis frozen shrimp alternating. I also feed them peas at least three times a month.
MORE BACKGROUND INFO..... His name is "BIGGIE" he and his original tank mate a smaller female Black moor started out life with me in a 15 gallon. He always seemed a bit slower to me I always attributed it to his size. Within six months I moved then to the 30 gallon and added the telescope. (I was still leaning and still am) He damaged one of his eyes that first week in the new tank because he kept trying to swim behind the filter wand. The smaller two would do this on occasion its the small amount of space between the glass and where the arm of the filter rests in the tank. I blocked with a plant which prevented this. So one of his eyes is damaged and the other is fine. Three weeks into the new tank he is the only one of the three to come down with ick. The smaller moor started to as well but salt treatments and PWC cured them. He's always had issues swimming very awkward and clumsy. I have been battling swim bladder issues with him for about a year now. I will fast them for about three days and feed a diet of peas to them for about three days as soon as I go to the reg diet Biggie shows the same symptoms floating in the corner not being able to swim to the bottom. This will last for hours. I feed them in the evening by morning he seems to be able to move better. This week he began to show the signs of fin rot. I am sure I caught it early. I did a 90% WC salt and stress coat and have been doing 50% changes every other day his tail is looking better much better. The other moor and telescope continue to be healthy. I am moving them all to a 55 gallon soon I worry about him being able to take the stress of the move he is so fragile it seems. Will I ever be able to fix his swim bladder issues? I am doing everything I am supposed to be doing or at least following all the advice I am reading here. I love them all dearly but I am frustrated with how easily Biggie seems to fall apart.