prm@s.cc.purdue.edu (Phil Moyer) (02/09/88)
I've been fighting with this problem for what seems like a long time now, and the local fish store doesn't seem to have any answers. Setup: 29 Gallon tank undergravel filter Aquaclear 610 power filter Light on from 5 pm to 11 pm. temp from 75 degrees F to 79 degrees Population: I started out with 2 black and white angelfish 1 large white angelfish 1 Redfin (Rainbow) shark 6 Redeye Tetras 10 Jumbo Neons 1 Plecostomus 2 silver dollars 2 Dwarf Gourami (1 M, 1 F) I'm down to 3 Redeye Tetras 3 Jumbo Neons 1 Plecostomus 2 Silver dollars 2 Gourami I took the Redfin Shark back to the store because he was chasing everybody in the tank, and we thought he might be stressing the other fish to death. Problem: I've been losing 1 fish every two or three days. I can tell a fish is "sick" when he starts behaving oddly. A sick fish will: Start swimming franticly in fits. Like it's trying to get out of the tank. Loose it's balance. It swims sideways and upside down. Become paralysed but still alive (usually found in the filter intake this way) die. I've noticed (on one of the Jumbo Neons) a white patch on it's side. I thought this could be an infection from being bitten, or a fungus. I treated the tank with Maracyn tablets as directed, but I'm still losing fish. I medicated the tank last week, and have lost two fish since then. It will take less than a day for a fish to die after it starts behaving oddly. Also, I noticed on one of the Redeyes that his fins seemed to be disintegrating as he started to behave weirdly. What I've done so far is to treat the tank and have the water tested. The water turned out OK. What should I try next? I don't want to end up with a fishless tank. I'm a beginner at this, but it doesn't seem right to be losing fish at this rate. Phil Moyer prm@s.cc.purdue.edu s.cc.purdue.edu!prm