- Have you tested your water?
- Yes
- If yes, what is your ammonia?
- 0
- If yes, what is your nitrite?
- 0
- If yes, what is your nitrate?
- 10
- If I did not test my water...
- ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.
- Do you do water changes?
- Yes
- What percentage of water do you change?
- 81-90%
- How frequently do you change your water?
- Every week
- If I do not change my water...
- ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.
Recently I had some boesemani rainbowfish die off one by one, with a couple weeks in between each death. The first few I only noticed something wrong when they were struggling to stay upright, and rolling around in the current, and and they died right after putting them into a hospital tank. The next few I noticed excessive darting, which they used to keep upright. I was able to separate these into a hospital tank sooner, but they died within 2 days.
The last one I noticed early that it was staying in one place while moving the tail and fins excessively to keep upright. This one I placed in a hospital tank and noticed the progression of the disease; the fish would try to stay upright and succeed, but overtime would need more effort to stay upright. Eventually the fish expended so much effort keeping upright it would not eat or move, until it flips over and floats around tail and belly up. It eventually wastes away and starves to death.
Initially, I suspected internal parasites and treated with prazipro. The deaths did pause for a month afterwards, however it eventually resumed and fish began to die again. I have one right now showing symptoms, and have begun to treat with erythromycin. As of today (2nd day treatment), the fish is staying in place, with higher than normal tail and fin movement to keep upright.
Symptoms I noticed:
1. Fish stays in place, with unusual fin and tail activity to prevent tipping over on side. Occasionally tips over, but quickly corrects self with quick dart.
2. Fish has slight S-curved spine when looked at top-down, showing up shortly after fish initially begins to tip over.
3. Fish begins to flip over with tail pointing up, but is able to turn upright.
4. Fish stops eating once staying upright requires more effort. Begins to starve and waste away.
5. Fish becomes emaciated, and eventually dies within 2-3 days of not eating.
Currently, I have ruled out parasites due to dosing prazipro and levamisole earlier. I am not sure if this is some bacterial infection or extremely poor genetics. All fish that have died so far are from 2 groups. Group 1 began to die off 4 months after I received them. Group 2 I received 3 months after group 1, and they died off 1 month after the last of group 1 died.
Any ideas on what this may be?
The last one I noticed early that it was staying in one place while moving the tail and fins excessively to keep upright. This one I placed in a hospital tank and noticed the progression of the disease; the fish would try to stay upright and succeed, but overtime would need more effort to stay upright. Eventually the fish expended so much effort keeping upright it would not eat or move, until it flips over and floats around tail and belly up. It eventually wastes away and starves to death.
Initially, I suspected internal parasites and treated with prazipro. The deaths did pause for a month afterwards, however it eventually resumed and fish began to die again. I have one right now showing symptoms, and have begun to treat with erythromycin. As of today (2nd day treatment), the fish is staying in place, with higher than normal tail and fin movement to keep upright.
Symptoms I noticed:
1. Fish stays in place, with unusual fin and tail activity to prevent tipping over on side. Occasionally tips over, but quickly corrects self with quick dart.
2. Fish has slight S-curved spine when looked at top-down, showing up shortly after fish initially begins to tip over.
3. Fish begins to flip over with tail pointing up, but is able to turn upright.
4. Fish stops eating once staying upright requires more effort. Begins to starve and waste away.
5. Fish becomes emaciated, and eventually dies within 2-3 days of not eating.
Currently, I have ruled out parasites due to dosing prazipro and levamisole earlier. I am not sure if this is some bacterial infection or extremely poor genetics. All fish that have died so far are from 2 groups. Group 1 began to die off 4 months after I received them. Group 2 I received 3 months after group 1, and they died off 1 month after the last of group 1 died.
Any ideas on what this may be?
