one of my silver dollar fish and my rainbow shark are sick. they seem to be swimming very unstably. the shark is not using his tail to assist him an is swimming on an angle. the silver dollar fish is also very unstable, turns upside down, will run into things and look like he is dead, but will at times turn back up and swim away. they were fine two hours ago and suddenly this happened. help me out.*SICK*
two sick fish and don't know what's wrong with them...help!
- Thread starter buddhababy
- Start date
Did you do anything with the tank in the last few hours?
What are your readings for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate? If you do not own a test kit, I would recommend large water change with dechlorinated water untill you can get one. Could be ammonia and/or nitrite poisoning. How long has the tank been set up? What size is it? What else is in the tank?
What are your readings for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate? If you do not own a test kit, I would recommend large water change with dechlorinated water untill you can get one. Could be ammonia and/or nitrite poisoning. How long has the tank been set up? What size is it? What else is in the tank?
i put a fish in it from another tank, it was right as i put in the other fish that i noticed these two fish were not normal. i tested the water and all the readings were quite alright. the tank is fairly new, but 3/4 of the water in it is from another tank that all the fish originally came from and the rest is dechlorinated water.. it's a 37 gallon tank. there are two angel fish, 6 tetra a cory fish, the rainbow shark and the silver dollar fish. the sharks behavior has gotten a little more normal, but it has begun to spastically move.
i tested the water and all the readings were quite alright.
the tank is fairly new, but 3/4 of the water in it is from another tank that all the fish originally came from and the rest is dechlorinated water.. it's a 37 gallon tank. there are two angel fish, 6 tetra a cory fish, the rainbow shark and the silver dollar fish. the sharks behavior has gotten a little more normal, but it has begun to spastically move.
You also have too many fish in that sized tank. Your shark (if it lives) will outgrow it. The silverdollars are a schooling fish and should be kept in groups of 5 or more, but your tank is too small for them. They are known to nip at other fish, so your angels will likely be picked on. Cory cats are also a schooling fish and should be in groups of 5 or more.
i do not remember the exact readings, but they were all within the safe range.
There is no 'safe range' for ammonia and nitrite.
I don't think the fish will live long based on how they are acting now.
If your dechloriniator also detoxifies ammonia, you could use that to quickly bring ammonia down until you do a massive water change. Some can also detoxify nitrites by overdosing the amount of dechlorinator. Increased oxygenation must be used if you go that route. Either way, based on just visually watching the fish, it looks like ammonia/nitrite poisoning. They are breathing very rapidly, indicating they cannot get enough oxygen. Ammonia/nitrite poisoning affects how the fish's gills function and they can die from lack of oxygen in a matter of hours.
Good luck!
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