Maxy Posted May 29, 2005 Report Share Posted May 29, 2005 Have just got home to find my red tailed black shark lying on his side on the tank floor. He is trying so hard to live but I dont know whats wrong with him or what to do. I have put him in an isolation trap and added tonic salt but dont know what else to do. He is struggling to breathe. All the other fish, including another shark the same as him, are fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PENEJANE Posted May 29, 2005 Report Share Posted May 29, 2005 sorry I can't help maxy as I have no idea. I so hope that it comes right. The one bad side about fish keeping is watching them die even after you have done all you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted May 29, 2005 Report Share Posted May 29, 2005 Sorry Maxy...I wish I could help...I'm sure someone here will be able to though. I lost a neon tonight...Penejane is right on...sad to watch them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billaney Posted May 29, 2005 Report Share Posted May 29, 2005 Hi Maxy I'd do the full set of test , Ph ,ammonia etc but also a water change would not be a bad idea. not to big say 25%. Keep and eye on him but don't mixed medication , you have tried salt and thats good just give it time to work. Good luck I hope he's going to be ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxy Posted May 29, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2005 Have just done my weekly 25% water change on Friday night, my ammonia is up but at the same level it always is, cant seem to get it to 0 (see post in beginners corner) and can only do ammonia nd pH as they are the only testing kits I have at the moment. Have added salt but I fear Im too late as he isnt improving much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxy Posted May 31, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2005 Update: red tailed black shark has taken a ride on the porcelain express. Thanks for the info tho guys, he tried and I tried but it was too late for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted May 31, 2005 Report Share Posted May 31, 2005 Maxy, how old is your tank, if the Ammonia is still up the Nitrite and Nitrate probably are as well, you may need to do more than weekly water changes to keep the Ammonia and Nitrite levels down until it cycles properly, how often are you cleaning out the filter? It does sound like a very heavily stocked tank, just under 50 fish by the sounds of it. You may find it is hard getting the tank to cycle properly with a heavy load straight away, usually you start out with a few fish (say 1/2 a dozen or so) and stock up slowly allowing enough time for the bacteria to adjust to the waste load. Doing extra water changes will help, 10% daily would be a good way to keep the Ammonia & Nitrite levels down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxy Posted May 31, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2005 Tank been operational since 18/2/05 with first fish introduced 25/2. Have noticed a few minutes ago that my dwarf blue gourami is behaving v strangley. Has always been a very timid fish and is now out in the open and looking a little bloated. Keyholes are now inhabiting the shipwreck he called home. Is this a standoff or something more serious? Am feeling like crap at the mo, as everything I seem to be doing is wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxy Posted May 31, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2005 Snowman, I have ammo-lock but dont like using it as then my ammonia test kit doesnt give a true result, but should I anyway to correct levels? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted May 31, 2005 Report Share Posted May 31, 2005 If you are close to a fish shop i would say take some water in and get it checked, cheaper than buying the test kits and will either find it is the culprit or rule it out, although you should get them at some stage, it's hard to say with the Gourami as i'm not sure how aggresive the Keyholes are. Personally i would be trying daily water changes to see if the fish perk up, it's hard to treat them when there is no sign of what is wrong with them. Try not to clean your filter to often, i find with my Eheim that the hoses slowly block up so try giving the hoses a quick clean when you notice the flow slowing down and if that doesn't restore the flow then clean the filter. I would try the water changes before i would use the ammo-lock as the water changes will make for less chemicals in the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiverJohn Posted May 31, 2005 Report Share Posted May 31, 2005 MAxy, I notice you say on your profile you are a farm worker. Maybe some contamination off teh farm or something getting in to teh tank some other way? HAve you got lids on your tank? Have you tested the water you are adding?? It is unlikey but worth checking... HTH John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxy Posted May 31, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2005 Shouldnt be any contam probs as I never touch my tank, food etc till Ive washed my hands and thoroughly rinsed off any soap residue. Snowman, cleaned filter for 1st time last week, and used siphoned off water to do so, just rinsed, didnt scrub etc. I thought I was doing ok, but now not sure what to do. Not that close to the LFS so have ordered test kits for future use. Am pleased about the no to the ammolock as I dont really like it. Need to destock and fast. Have the 4footer arriving on sat but am not ready to set it up as per ants suggestion (freshwater) and that won't solve anything anyway. Have glass coverlids and lighthood. The water pH here is about 7.6 but I use Proper pH7 to adjust it to neutral. Today is turning into a give up all together day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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