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HELP! Sick Zebra??
Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 12:55 pm
by andrewcoxon
hi, i was just watching my tank this morning after doing a water change 25 mins ago and the smallest of my male zebras suddenly started swimming around in a abnormall erratic way. he kept sucking on to the rock and then falling off and nearly goin unside down. he's gone into a slate rock ledge.... whats wrong with him and what can i do?
water parameters are:
Nitrate 0
Ammonia 0
Temp 82
ph 7.2
please help im worried!
Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:00 pm
by Alistair
Sounds like something in the water change!
Are any other fish affected?
Did you use a dechlorinator?
Could you have over dosed the dechlorinator (they contain a reducing agent which can effect the capacity of the gills to absorb O2)
Have you checked the Nitrite (NO2 not NO3)?
Can you get some carbon into the filter to take out any nasties?
Al.C
Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:06 pm
by andrewcoxon
i used a new dechlorinator that iv never used before so i could of over dosed... what do i do? a water change with pure tab water?? will it die? it seems ok ish now...??
no other fish affected as yet....
Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:12 pm
by andrewcoxon
sorry that was meant to be nitrite not nitrate.
so there is def no nitrite in the tank. i didnt check nitrate
Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:15 pm
by Alistair
Could be the dechlorinator I reckon, I wouldn't change any more water (more stress), just try and agitate the surface as much as possible to get the O2 levels up in the water.
Al.C
Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:17 pm
by andrewcoxon
i think so too. it looked like it was trying to get into the bubble stream and it was breathing pretty rappidly... it seems to be ok now tho! fingers crossed they will all make it... the 2 1 year olds look fine too....?
Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 3:31 pm
by ExoticStripes
You could try adding a polyfilter and some carbon. It might help if there is anything in the water.
Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 10:43 pm
by andrewcoxon
panic seems to be over, the fish seems fine.... and all the others look normal. will he be ok or could it of damaged him for ever?
Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 11:46 pm
by eklikewhoa
didnt see it in your post but how much % of water did you change?
i try not to change too much at one time on my tanks to keep the stress level and change to min.
Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:02 am
by andrewcoxon
i changed a 12 liters, its a 94 liter tank. thats not too much is it?
Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:41 pm
by Plastic Mac
I normally do about a third of my tank...so 12 litres out of 94 is fine.
Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:55 pm
by andrewcoxon
hmmm its happening again, same fish.... but i havent done anything to the tank today, he was shuffling around on the ground like he allways does but then he spirals off and starts swimming eraticly, bumping into things.... i dont know whats wrong with him. there's no marks or any sign he's un well, he's a little pink but he's obviously stressed. all the other fish are fine, even the tetra and endlers....
what should i do?
Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 1:09 pm
by hamish99
ive had the same thing happen with youg'ish fry, what size is he?
i would put him in a hospital tank and treat him for an internal bacterial infection and keep an eye on his poop to see if he's eating,
also change back to the old water treatment you were using
good luck mate
Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 1:18 pm
by andrewcoxon
he's about 2 inches, but quite small compared to the other males, he's always been quite skinny ever since iv had him but he was getting better... gutted! ok il see what i can do to help him.
thanks for the help guys
Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 12:16 am
by andrewcoxon
UPDATE:
he's still alive, swimming better than before, however i noticed today his tail was nibbled quite a bit, it wasnt like that yesterday... so my question is... could it be that he is getting bullied by the bigger males? i noticed the big male have a go at him yesterday and today his tail is badly bitten or do i have some sort of fin rot in my tank? iv never seen fin rot before so i dont know what to look for....
advice please?
cheers,
adrew