Fish_R_Fantastic
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Hi, I have a green striped swordtail that I am concerned about. I bought him and a pair of females a year and a half ago. I am concerned because he has slowly become more and more old looking. I thought that was all it was but today I noticed that he almost looks like he has dropsy! He is not a fat fish at all but some of his scales are slightly protruding and he looks ruffled. I took a pic but you can't really see the scale problem in the pic, sorry. He also seems kindof bent (like he's got a hunchback now) in the middle. I am really considering doing a temp shock (ice water) euthanasia for this fish as he is so old and now appears to be sick on top of it! Has anyone experienced this before? Any advice? How long do swordtails normally live? All my other fish are doing really well.
Here are some things you may need to know:
Due to a leak in my 30 gallon tank, I moved all my fish to a 10 gallon about a month ago. It is too cramped, I know that but I am doing 25-50% water changes either every day or every other day. These are the fish I have:
1 - pleco about 6 inches
3 - blue gouramis (one male, 2 female)
10 - green striped swordtails (4 males, 6 females)
My tank parameters are:
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrites: 0.25 ppm
Nitrates: between 10-20 ppm
pH: 7.2
I'm using a Penguin Bio-Wheel 150 filter (drops over back)
Also using the same food I've been using for a long time.
Note: I know the nitrites should be at zero, but I think my tank is finishing a mini-cycle because I changed the filter cartridge before I learned that I should try to keep those as long as possible (i read the fishless cycling article on here).
Thanks for any and all help!!!!
Here are some things you may need to know:
Due to a leak in my 30 gallon tank, I moved all my fish to a 10 gallon about a month ago. It is too cramped, I know that but I am doing 25-50% water changes either every day or every other day. These are the fish I have:
1 - pleco about 6 inches
3 - blue gouramis (one male, 2 female)
10 - green striped swordtails (4 males, 6 females)
My tank parameters are:
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrites: 0.25 ppm
Nitrates: between 10-20 ppm
pH: 7.2
I'm using a Penguin Bio-Wheel 150 filter (drops over back)
Also using the same food I've been using for a long time.
Note: I know the nitrites should be at zero, but I think my tank is finishing a mini-cycle because I changed the filter cartridge before I learned that I should try to keep those as long as possible (i read the fishless cycling article on here).
Thanks for any and all help!!!!