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Ok so 2 days ago i cleaned my 20G H and did a gravel vac like I normally do, added 5 gallons of new water and some Novaqua + for the chlorine and everything. Then I transferred my 20 to the bottom of my new 55G stand and then later that night my golden ram was breathing rapidly, sitting on the bottom, and now this morning he's breathing rapidly and hanging out at the top with his head up, his colors are a lil bit pale but not really too much.
Water
Ammonia:0
Nitrite (note the “I&#8221:0
Nitrate (note the “A):i dont know
pH:7.2
Temp:76-77F
Tank Size: 20G High
Stock List: 3 swordtails, 3 neon tetras, 6 black neons, 1 RTBS, 1 albino cory, 1 crab, 1 rams horn snail, 2 CL's til my 55 is cycled
Fish size: my ram is 2"
Filtration: Whisper 20-40

Please help!

There could be lots of causes for this, sounds like a few hangover symtoms of thermic shock, which often starts issues with swim bladders, and leads the fish to exhaustion.This you can do little about except keep water temps and qualities as stable as you possibly can.

Sometimes gastrointestinal bacteria , and tissue damaging bacteria or septacaemia can lead to gas production in various layers of skin and organs can produce bouyancy issues.Treat with a broad spectrum anti bacterial med to be sure.Melafix would probably do the job.

Sometimes moving a tank and thereby disturbing substrates can release toxins into the water, and moving filters can lead to bacterial death in 20 minutes to an hour. Fish can also be shocked simply by a change of scene or being netted.

You could try pimafix or similar to reduce stress a little.

Last edited by longhairedgit at 16-Oct-2005 00:38

Thank you for the reply! So what would be the best thing to use? Pimafix on Melafix or can I use them both at the same time? This lil dude doesn't wanna die, hes been alive since thursday when all of this started to happen. Thank you for the help!

yes, you can use them at the same time.The symptoms he has could be a number of things, so id probably use both.


Last edited by longhairedgit at 16-Oct-2005 15:12

I have been using Pimafix since sunday, and my ram was starting to look better. Then today when I was examining the lil dude I noticed that there was red at the base of all of his fins, and a red spot on one of his sides...is this ulcers? What should I doooooooo??? Help...

it died today thanks for the help

Sorry the advice was a bit late, but its sounds like ich or trichomoniasis, unfortunately the characteristic symptoms came a bit late to save it, thats fishkeeping for you.
Treat the tank with metronidazole or protozin to save any other fish that you have. Even very experienced keepers probably would have been too late to save that fish, feel no guilt.

Sorry for your loss.



Last edited by longhairedgit at 29-Oct-2005 00:04

Thank you very much for the reply anyway I appreciate it