I have had 6 Piranha for about 6 or 7 months now. I raised them from 1/2", they are between 4 and 6" now. All are very healthy and have great color. I feed live golds, chopped clams, fresh shrimp, and a good amount of commercial food for added benefits. In the last two weeks one of the fish has started to lean to one side. He only does this when they are just hanging out. He is otherwise healthy and swims normally. The lean is pretty severe. And he swims in a slow jerky circle. Other wise he plays and feeds normally as the rest. Any one have any ideas as to what may be going on with him? Thanks for any input..............Old Vet.
Piranha
- Thread starter old vet
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Hey OrangeCones, it's a 55g tank. Has been up and running for about a year and half. All readings are all but perfect. It is a very healthy system. No other fish are having any issues at all. Never have. Just this one and he juststarted doing this. But as I said not always. It's like he can control it. He swims normal and is plenty active and feeds good. It is just when they are resting he tilts at about 35 to 40 deg. Other than that he is fine.????
What are the actual numbers for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate? 'All but perfect' is not providing any useful information. A test kit will have actual numbers, usually showing in PPM or Parts Per Million.
It sounds like a swim bladder issue by the way you describe it. When he's 'just hanging out' he's not actively swimming. A healthy swim bladder will keep the fish neutrally boyant. If he's able to control the tilting when he starts to swim, he is able to compensate by actively moving. Having to keep moving will wear the stamina out on the fish, and he will get weaker. Unless the issue that is causing it is addressed, he will get worse, and the others will also likely begin showing the same issues.
Without correcting the problem quickly, you risk losing that fish, as the others will take out a weakened individual in most cases.
It sounds like a swim bladder issue by the way you describe it. When he's 'just hanging out' he's not actively swimming. A healthy swim bladder will keep the fish neutrally boyant. If he's able to control the tilting when he starts to swim, he is able to compensate by actively moving. Having to keep moving will wear the stamina out on the fish, and he will get weaker. Unless the issue that is causing it is addressed, he will get worse, and the others will also likely begin showing the same issues.
Without correcting the problem quickly, you risk losing that fish, as the others will take out a weakened individual in most cases.
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Fuzz16, I have two great canister filters rated at 200 gal total. I keep them in perfect condition. I never over feed, [hard lesson learned} and they are very clean eaters. The food I feed is not that messy. As I told OrangeCones my water tests almost perfect. I have a great clean-up crew and the aquarium is pretty heavily planted also. I do a 10gal. water change every other week. Has worked good for over a year.
A cycled tank should not show any ammonia levels.
Why do you use mostly r/o water?
This website show you do not have enough water volume for the 6 fish. Depending on the species of piranha.
http://www.piranha-info.com/default.php?lang=en&id=page_2#2
Why do you use mostly r/o water?
This website show you do not have enough water volume for the 6 fish. Depending on the species of piranha.
http://www.piranha-info.com/default.php?lang=en&id=page_2#2
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I do not assume anything about your experience. You asked what could be wrong, based on your fish's symptoms, your fish has a swim bladder issue, which are most likely caused by water quality issues. You don't seem to believe that, so not much else I can say. Perhaps others can find the solution you seek.
I have nothing against RO water, only asked why you would use it. I use RO water myself due to the fact that I breed fish that spawn more readily in soft water, and my local tap water is very hard. I use RO water to mix with tap water to get the parameters I want.
Algae is caused by an imbalance in light, carbon, and 'other' nutrients. How would RO water control algae growth? Are you adding minerals back in to your RO water?
I have nothing against RO water, only asked why you would use it. I use RO water myself due to the fact that I breed fish that spawn more readily in soft water, and my local tap water is very hard. I use RO water to mix with tap water to get the parameters I want.
Algae is caused by an imbalance in light, carbon, and 'other' nutrients. How would RO water control algae growth? Are you adding minerals back in to your RO water?
i dont think he has anything against it lol sounds like he was asking... i heard r/o water is good if you need soft water or need to manipulate the ph.. what else is r/o good for? i have been looking into getting an r/o machine myself for soft water breeding possibly but im not sure its worth it....
OrangeCones............. I never have liked smart *** like you and never will. Type of water and where it comes from has a lot to do with algae. And from the way you are questioning me you do assume I am an idiot that has never had an aquarium. I am aware of swim bladder issues and am almost 100% sure this is not related to that. That is why I posted the question. I have ran into know alls like you before and don't need your crap I made a mistake using this fourm to ask my question and will not make that same mistake again.
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if your not happy with the replies from certain people ignore them. try to keep the forum as mature as possible. 
otherwise OrangeCones has some good points
are his fins stretched out?
is he gasping?
whats tank temp?
you said cleanup crew, do you have plecos in there? how many, size, kind? they add a lot to the bioload
are his gills red at all?
otherwise OrangeCones has some good pointsare his fins stretched out?
is he gasping?
whats tank temp?
you said cleanup crew, do you have plecos in there? how many, size, kind? they add a lot to the bioload
are his gills red at all?
Tell ya what fuzzy......I'll ignore this whole forum. The questions you ask are childish and demeaning. Just because I just registered and posted for the first time does not mean I am stupid. Most likely I know more about the hobby than you. And you that think you are so much more better and advanced with the hobby than others need to tone it down a bit. You could be a bit more mature your damn self. I wash my hands of the lot of ya............I just had a friend shed much light on my fish problem anyway. Seems it has nada to do with his swim bladder... Thanks for all your "expert advice" and demeaning tho............
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Old Vet, I think you taking everyone's replies way too seriously (not trying to be offensive - just my opinion). When we answer a question we assume that someone is a newbie (starting with basic questions) until they tells us differently (at least I do). Everyone has different experience levels (we know this) but we are all strangers (mostly) on this forum so without additional information we can't know what your level is. Also I don't believe anyone suggested that this forum gives "expert advice"....just advice from people who are passionate about fish. Which often differs...that is the beautiful thing about forums....lots of different information to think on.
I'm curious as to what your friend said the issue was.....I have no opinion on the matter myself.
But I always love learning about fish and fish keeping, which unfortunately includes diseases.
Please feel free to message me the answer if you don't feel comfortable posting on the thread. I'm just curious nothing else!!
I'm curious as to what your friend said the issue was.....I have no opinion on the matter myself.
But I always love learning about fish and fish keeping, which unfortunately includes diseases.
Please feel free to message me the answer if you don't feel comfortable posting on the thread. I'm just curious nothing else!!
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For the benefit of others that may read this: Algae, as any plant, depends on light, a carbon source, and other macro and micro nutrients. The water source (unless you are using water high in dissolved organic waste - like the water you take OUT of an aquarium during a water change) will not affect algae one way or the other. RO water, well water, tap water, makes no difference to a plant. Some plants do not due well in the 'soft' water that RO water will be, unless you are adding back in the minerals that are being removed in the RO process. Using the waste water will surely increase algae growth.
A swim bladder keeps a fish upright when not actively swimming. If the fish is leaning at a 40degree angle when not swimming, and then swimming in a 'jerky circle'....what else could it be but a swim bladder issue? The only unknown is what is CAUSING the problem.
I wish you the best of luck in curing your fish.
A swim bladder keeps a fish upright when not actively swimming. If the fish is leaning at a 40degree angle when not swimming, and then swimming in a 'jerky circle'....what else could it be but a swim bladder issue? The only unknown is what is CAUSING the problem.
I wish you the best of luck in curing your fish.