Baby Gator gar very sick-possibly on death bed

[monstermansj]

My friend picked up a baby Gator gar and does not have access to a computer, but wants me to see if some of the more knowledge containing individuals can help.

He had just got this guy almost a week ago. He was told it is about a month old. Housed in 30gal. It always stays on top of water in one corner.He has not seen it eat-no feeders missing. First few days temp was 76-78. He up'd the temp to 80-82-added salt- katapa leaves and a piece of driftwood to help with his ph that was 8-9 1/2 ish. Today he noticed some red coloring along its lateral line, and what appears to be pink circular marks in that same area. I seen first hand that this fish seems to struggle to swim-gets blown around by filter, and seems to twist when swimming at lower levels when pushed off of top of water.

I always thought gator gars are very hardy. As babys at 5in are they more prone to not surviving?

 

[justonemoretank]

What are his ammonia, nitrite, nitrate levels? Has he added any meds to the tank? Were the feeders quarantined? Are the feeders acting okay, or are they showing the same-type symptoms as the gar?

 

[monstermansj]

feeders are healthy-alive still. red minnows and a couple goldfish.
ammonia, nitrite, nitrate levels are fine

he said he added ph down yesterday. other than than no meds.

 

[SimonL]

he said he added ph down yesterday.

Ph down is nothing but acid in a bottle. Too much (and that's a tiny amount) can burn the fish...

 

[monstermansj]

well its dead.

see the marks?

....My friend is not very happy

 

[justonemoretank]

It would probably be best to get the water chemistry right before bringing the fish home. If his pH is really that high, he's got to work out a tried-and-true method of lowering it, because he's going to have to do it for the rest of the fish's life, and to large volumes of water, if he keeps another gator gar. If he can get internet access somewhere, that's what he should start looking at, I think.

 

[monstermansj]

It would probably be best to get the water chemistry right before bringing the fish home. If his pH is really that high, he's got to work out a tried-and-true method of lowering it, because he's going to have to do it for the rest of the fish's life, and to large volumes of water, if he keeps another gator gar. If he can get internet access somewhere, that's what he should start looking at, I think.

waters the same in 3 other tanks he has.

 

[justonemoretank]

Okay, but he was doing all kinds of stuff to it to lower pH. That's what I'm referring to. So he must have been trying to lower it. I'm saying he should get it to where he wants it and make sure he can keep it stable prior to getting another fish. That's all.

 

[monstermansj]

he wanted me to ask if spotted/floridas ph is different from gators.

 

[justonemoretank]

IMO, a stable pH is better for the fish than trying to fiddle with it and stressing the fish out. I have very low pH and 0 KH, so I add a mix to raise pH somewhat and raise KH. I also have the same pH and KH in all of my tanks, which is 7.2/3. I have 3 Florida Gars, and they are fine with it. However, this pH is very, very high. Hopefully, someone can chime in on what to do with very high pH, because most would say that if it's stable, you should leave it alone, but they might feel differently about this... Does he lower pH in all of his tanks? How does he do it, and keep pH stable between and after waterchanges? Good luck to him.