Severum breathing fast, but otherwise normal. Possible hidden parasite?

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DustinGerard

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 12, 2013
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Louisiana
I noticed in my 55 gallon over the past few days that my Golden Sev is breathing very fast compared to all my other fish. The others all all doing fine but I went get my water tested anyway and the LFS store said my water is perfect. I have been observing the fish and also noticed that my Krib is chasing the Sev quite a lot but he doesnt seem to actually nip him. I'm running 2 Magnum 350 canisters with carbon as well as 3 airstones. Temperature is at 82 F which to me is fine for my South American cichlids, but Ive recently heard Sevs like it cooler. I vacuumed about 10% of the tank water Sunday and again today. The Sev is eating normally, swimming normally, and not going to the top for air either.

Here is a link to a video, sorry that it is sideways, but I hope it may help give some idea on what it could be. i'm very worried about him :/ (i am also a paranoid person when it comes to my fish so I could be overreacting)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O13M_sLVd_M
 
only way to tell if it's just caused by stress of chasing is to separate or partition him off from bullies & see if it stops when he is safe.
never good to keep a fish under constant stress as his immune system could get over taxed and make him susceptible to disease which normally would be fought off.
 
I actually showed a guy I know at the local fish store and he said its the Kribensis (noticed the fish in the video who lunges at him around the end). I actually decided to sell the Krib today because he was doing that to all the fish and has been nipping at them recently. Im hoping that helps. I sold him this morning and I came back and the Sev was still breathing fast. Its possible he caught a bacterial infection from constant stress as you have stated. Sound about right?
 
Oh and Empyreal, yes, I'm running three air stones and both my canister outputs are facing upward to disrupt the surface at all times from both sides of the tank.
 
DustinGerard said:
.................... and the Sev was still breathing fast. Its possible he caught a bacterial infection from constant stress as you have stated. Sound about right?
Click to expand...
sevs fins are also frayed. should check ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. should be zero of first two and keep nitrates no more than 20, IMO.
he is breathing real fast, hopefully that slows down. you have plenty of circulation. might try a very low dose salt.
can't say if he has anything, especially specifically at this point.
ich may first attack inside gills with no outward spots.
I would not medicate if unsure, because wrong meds are stressful too. see if lowering stress helps. might help to cut light except for feeding and to observe fish condition. floating plants can help them feel calmer.
 
Sorry for the multiple posts, but i was racking my brain about this and I was remembering that someone said incorrect pH can affect the respiratory system of a fish. I tested the water with my own API pH kit (only shows up to 7.6) and it came out a little darker than the 7.6. I wish I had an exact number, but i sadly do not :/ anyone think that maybe the pH being on the higher end could be hurting my Sev?
 
I did have an ich outbreak about 3 weeks ago on a few fish. The Sev seemed to just begin to get it on its tail when i noticed it so I raised the temperature to 86 F for 10 days. No salt (i have clown loaches and cory cats and I hear its bad for them, idk how true that is tho with small doses as you suggested) and it seemed to have cleared it up. Maybe it got into his gills like you said :/ i hate seeing him like this though!

By the way, I just want to thank everyone who has provided input so far. I've posted this question onto about 3 other fish forums through the week and no one even replied, whereas on here Ive had you all try to help within minutes of me posting. You are all very kind!
 
really, only ph swings are hard on domestic fish strains. yours is not wild. I have 2 sevs in ph 7.8, thriving & growing.
the previous water parameters I mentioned are more important than ph.
 
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