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Something strange is going on in my aquarium. To start with, it's 30 gallons, has several plants, and has been up and running for a little over a month. I had been testing the pH and KH, but they reached the correct levels and I stopped several weeks ago. Before you ask, I'll test them tomorrow and let you all know what they are. I did a 50% water change two weeks ago, not sure if/when I should do one again.

The tank had some issues cycling, I accidentally killed a few fish. But, for the past two weeks everything has been perfect. Suddenly last week a tiger barb started acting strange. It acted really stiff. Then I noticed that its mouth appeared to be stuck open. Before the 30 gallon tank, I had a 20 gallon tank for five years...I've never seen this happen to any of my fish before. The poor guy lived like that for a few days then died, and I assumed it was some kind of freak injury.

Fast forward to this past week. I noticed my female swordtail acting stiff. Her mouth was stuck open too! I couldn't believe it. I added some aquarium salt to the water (didn't add any when I started the tank) hoping she might fight and recover. She started getting a few white spots, then one day her mouth was closed again. Unfortunately she still died. As a side note, something happened to my two guppies as well--they were there one moment, then gone the next. No dead bodies, no apparent injuries or sickness. They just disappeared. I know, disappearing fish is not good...no idea where they went. It has a tightly sealing lid.

Today I noticed the male sword tail acting strange. He was hanging out near the surface, which he never does. When I went in to turn off the light tonight I realized one of his fins was stiff and sticking straight out from his body. It looks like the same type of problem that killed my other two fish. What could cause this? Is it some kind of disease, or are they getting hurt somehow? There are no new fish in the tank--all of the fish have been together for several years with no problem. I don't know what could be causing the mysterious stiffness...help!

Thats a strange set of symptoms, Paralysis is relatively uncommon,and can be caused by a number of factors including injury from headbutting tank tops in an effort to escape rough water conditions, its also worth checking your electrical equipment as low wattage shocks can paralyse fish, but may not be enough to give you a direct shock.

After that you have a whole range of protozoa that can affect the neurology of fish, and the damage they do can paralyse fish. There are also myxobacteria that cause muscle damage and that might lead to paralysed limbs and bodily areas.

Whats the complete stocking of that tank?

If possible post a few pics of the afflicted fish, it will give us a bit more to go on.When fish disappear theres only ever four answers, namely theyve been eaten, left the tank, or are trapped and hidden in decor or the filter, or were unchecked for so long the corpse rotted to nothing.

Post a pic of the affected fish and tank and it might give us some clues.

Hello Pepper44
Depending where you are there are some very nasty "nasties" coming through the water. Go to your LFS to see if any one else in the area has been having similar problems. In my area it has been caused by the drought and the very low water supplies.

What else is in the tank decorations, drift wood, etc. Any of these could be releasing a toxin I use the word "Could". Have you done a full water peramiters directly from your water supply.

Many concerns are imported either through, water, plants, and fish.

Keith

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Can you post your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels? The tank might still be cycling if its only been a month since set up.

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I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.
~ Mae West