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Fresh water, 20g. Had 2 cories and added 2 more juli-cories about a week ago. One seems fine, the other is on its side with its back arched, i thought it was dead. I went to net it out and it started moving. Once I let it loose it took a nose dive and as it tride to swim it just kinda spins on its nose in circles not going anywhere. Any idea what could be wrong, is it contageous or curable?
any help would be great.
thanks

It sounds like it got shocked from the changing water qualities from the LFS and your tank.

How long did you acclimate them?

Is this tank cycled? Do you have the ability to check ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

Did you float the bag when you brought the new fish home to get it use to the new temp?

Did you compare your pH to the pH at the fish store (if the fishstore is local you can ask them if they add anything to change the pH after it comes out of the tap. If not, it should be ok).

If it is not environmental, it could be bacterial. Look at the base of the fins, especially the pectoral fins (bottom front). Do you see redness - spots or blotchiness? Look at the belly for the same?

If so, you are seeing the end stage of a severe bacterial infection that was probably made worse by the transfer. This is not anything you did wrong, but simply the fish had a pre-existing bacterial infection. When they are transferred, they experience stress and stress results in lower immunity. This lower immunity allows a low-lying infection to just take over.

Once a fish is disoriented it means the infection has spread to his central nervous system. Chances are, he will soon pass.

If you find the redness, then please inspect the other fish. I bought a pair of cories and didn't see the red blotches and redness at the base of the fins until I got them home and under good light.

There is a new medicine on the market called Anti-Bacteria from Jungle Labs. This is medicated feed and the only place that sells it right now is Pet Smart. It can be crushed to a smaller size. This is really the only hope if the other fish is sick, but not yet dying.

tank is many years old, Yes, I aclimated the fish and also addes small amounts of water to the bag so I would avoid any ph shock, plus the lfs is less than a mile away so probably the same water source. I dont see any red except what appears to be his vital organs beneath his skull making his cheeks look pink. I am stumped. The most alarming thing is the severe curvature of the sick fishes body. He was well for a few days ( I brought him home on saturday ) But now... =(

I would still test your pH to see what the number is. And, contact the fish store to find out what their average pH is. If you tank is aged, you could really have a difference. Fish should not be exposed to more than 0.2 change in 24 hours. It would not cause the curvature of spine. One such possibility is piscine tuberculosis. You should not put your hands or arms in this tank if you open wounds. This type of TB is transmissible to humans, but generally results in difficult to heal wounds, not the type we think about in the lungs. Also watch siphoning techniques. Rather than using your mouth, consider a siphon starter, like the one sold at http://www.drsfostersmith.com. However, TB isn't the only thing that can cause such curvature. If the fish is afflicted with something that did not enable it to eat well (such as internal parasites), the emaciated fish can lose muscle support.

This really warrants either quarantining or euthanizing. It's one thing if a fish has something that is not potentially transmissible to other fish (i.e. genetics, starvation, etc.). However, what you are describing could be rooted in something can be caught by others.

If you feel the fish is suffering (constant fear from an abnormal condition can be suffering), then please consider euthanizing. There are many humane methods and you'll get varying opinions. I personally use about 9 drops of clove oil (health food store) shaken vigorously in about a cup of dechlorinated water (I put it in a used water bottle). I then transfer the fish to a disposable container capable of holding 1/2 to 1 gallon of tank water. I transfer the fish with the tank water, then dribble the solution in. The fish may react to the solution, but within seconds goes to its side. At this point, surgical procedures are done and then the fish is placed back into fresh water where it recovers from the "anesthetic". However, if left for a prolonged period at this stronger amount, the fish can expire (gills are completely still). In spite of still gills, I still follow up by putting it in a little water in a baggie into the freezer to ensure death since they can recover in fresh water.

If you feel there is hope, or if you just cannot bring yourself to euthanize, then please quarantine into another container - at least 5 gallons. Use as much tank water as you can spare without depleting 25% of the original tank's water and transfer the fish into that. THen slowly add more water to make up the difference over several hours. Temp should match the container water temp to prevent shock. An airstone will make it easier for the fish to respirate.

I have a friend who owns a fish store and cannot euthanize. He has a dedicated "hospice" tank where he just keeps it dim, well aerated and lets nature take its course.

Don't share nets or equipment between any other tanks you have and let your tank rest, with no new additions for a good 4-6 weeks to make sure whatever it is, hasn't spread.

Last edited by Cory_Di at 04-Nov-2004 11:56