FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I have a breeding pair of Nicaraguans and they have bred three times. They are still a pair at the moment but I have noticed the male simply hovering at certain areas of the tank a couple of weeks ago but still eating well. He would swim about but would stop at certain parts and just stay there. I hadn't thought about it much until I noticed that he has either stopped growing or the female is growing faster and catching up to him in size.

Anyway, when I got back from work today I noticed that he is having trouble swimming. He would at some time be upside down and then swimming sideays another. Is it something to do with his swim bladder or something?

He looks okay though, his breathing is okay and not laboured and he tries to get as much food as he can but with difficulty.

Is there anything I can do?

Edit:

Water parameters are as follows:
pH: 7.4
ammonnia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 25ppm

[span class="edited"][Edited by cichlidmad 2004-09-08 16:14][/span]

It does sound like swimbladder, scales are not sticking out like a pinecomb, try a shelled pea and some daphnia first, you will have to use an antibiotic treatment if the swim bladder is not fairly progressed. Good luck.