Sick Bichr PLEASE HELP

[Sithis]

I have a bichr, I dont really know what type he is, but he is gray with a lighter belly. He is only around the size of my middle finger 4-6 inches may be 7 at most.
He is gasping for air and laying at the bottom of the fish tank. He used to be on his side as well as upside down, but he is now on his stomach. His eyes are closed and he has no signs of any spots or red marks. His fins are open and seem to always be so.
I thought maybe it was the chemicals in one of my larger tanks or that he was being picked on by the larger fish, so I moved him to the smaller tank with neons, dalmations, some kind of black smooth fish and a skeleton cat fish (I forgot their real names).
He is really skinny and weak and has been acting strange for the past week or two. Its ONLY him acting this way and I have no idea what to do! DX We are feeding him flakes and angel fish food. I really dont know what to do.

 

[tlindsey]

I have a bichr, I dont really know what type he is, but he is gray with a lighter belly. He is only around the size of my middle finger 4-6 inches may be 7 at most.
He is gasping for air and laying at the bottom of the fish tank. He used to be on his side as well as upside down, but he is now on his stomach. His eyes are closed and he has no signs of any spots or red marks. His fins are open and seem to always be so.
I thought maybe it was the chemicals in one of my larger tanks or that he was being picked on by the larger fish, so I moved him to the smaller tank with neons, dalmations, some kind of black smooth fish and a skeleton cat fish (I forgot their real names).
He is really skinny and weak and has been acting strange for the past week or two. Its ONLY him acting this way and I have no idea what to do! DX We are feeding him flakes and angel fish food. I really dont know what to do.

Welcome to MFK


I think your Bichir is actually dying from not having the proper food to eat. Flake food is not a staple for Bichirs they actually should be offered frozen bloodworms and very small pieces of cut up raw fish at that size preferably Tilapia also small pellet food should be offered as well.

 

[tlindsey]

Welcome to MFK


I think your Bichir is actually dying from not having the proper food to eat. Flake food is not a staple for Bichirs they actually should be offered frozen bloodworms and very small pieces of cut up raw fish at that size preferably Tilapia also small pellet food should be offered as well.

I also suggest lowering the water level in the aquarium so that Bichir can go up for oxygen the Bichir is already weak.

 

[kno4te]

Hard to say what's wrong with it. How are its eyes closed? Post pics of the previous tankmates. Id suggest posting a pic/video of the bichir and your water parameters. That will help.

Could be like tlindsey mentioned as well. It needs a good regular staple. Tilapia is a good option.

 

[magpie]

I second the request to post a picture of your fish as well as water parameters - Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, pH.

Also agree on the diet - in addition to tilapia, you could get frozen silversides from your LFS and cut them up, feed live blackworms, cut up frozen krill, etc.

If you want to make it easy, at least go with a good pellet food made for carnivores. Many here feed Hikari Carnivore, sinking cichlid gold, or NLS Thera-A (3mm is a good size).