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i've had my 7 cory juilis for nearly two years

two died a week or so ago, which i put down to being stressed by my bristlenose pleco, who then moved into different tank, and all was fine.

then yesterday i noticed one of the corys swimming upside down unable to correct it's self, when i got back from work it was dead. today i've noticed a second cory doing the same, he keeps sticking himself under leaves to stop himself from floating upside down.

the other corys seem fine eating and acting like normal?
the water readings are fine, i've down nothing different in terms of water changes or food.

What is the problem?

Please help Shekoi.

www.blooming-brilliant.co.uk

Chances are thats a neurological problem, that can be shock, protozoa in the brain or nervous system or possibly chemical poisoning as you'd get from fly sprays , flea killers, and non ionic surfectants.Even swim bladder issues can cause upside down swimming, although more typically the fish either float or sink.

Odds on its protozoa as the most likely cause. Protozoa often really proliferate in multispecies tanks from different regions of the world, so its not surprising protozoa is becoming one of most common complaints in the hobby. Some fish live with low level infections all their lives because their immune systems have an evolutionary history of coping with such infections. Stick those fish with species from other parts of the world with no defence, and well, you can guess what happens.

The nasty thing about protozoa is that theres no immediate reaction, sometimes it takes months or even years for the levels of protozoa to reach critical levels, it depends on the species. Its often their surprise appearance that makes so many people take a long time to reach a diagnosis or effect a cure.

Last edited by longhairedgit at 22-Nov-2005 12:05