Okay, I posted this on Fish Profiles and so far the only reply was about my nitrates being dangerous (they are 40) I do do weekly water changes, biggish ones of 1/3 to 1/2 of the 57, gravel vac etc so unless you think that caused this I would love other input.
Running the tank at 80 and an Aqua Clear 70 on it for filtration.
Anyway, have a 4-5 inch Chaca that I have had for a month. He was in the 57 column tank that had zero ammonia and nitrites and 40 nitrates. Harder water than I think he would like but the tank is heavily planted and has wood and will tend to be about a 4 hardness but out of the tap and used for changes it is 13 or so. Whether pH or hardness changes so much during a water change I don't know but the fish in question has developed a water blistered look on his belly. Kinda bloated. Still active (relatively as it is a frogmouth) and eating.
He is in quarantine now and I am treating with maracyn, melafix and pimafix.
But I am just shotgunning it as I don't know what is going on. There seems a little tiny bit of white sliming but not what you would expect.
I haven't found many that keep Chacas so input has been scant locally. I wondered if he is shedding....though if he is he is taking his sweet time as he has been this way a week.
I have nearly any meds available to me as I work in a pet store that has the largest fish dept around. (about 1500 gal of freshwater and 1200 salt) I am just not keen on meding him to death.
TIA
Sonya
Running the tank at 80 and an Aqua Clear 70 on it for filtration.
Anyway, have a 4-5 inch Chaca that I have had for a month. He was in the 57 column tank that had zero ammonia and nitrites and 40 nitrates. Harder water than I think he would like but the tank is heavily planted and has wood and will tend to be about a 4 hardness but out of the tap and used for changes it is 13 or so. Whether pH or hardness changes so much during a water change I don't know but the fish in question has developed a water blistered look on his belly. Kinda bloated. Still active (relatively as it is a frogmouth) and eating.
He is in quarantine now and I am treating with maracyn, melafix and pimafix.
But I am just shotgunning it as I don't know what is going on. There seems a little tiny bit of white sliming but not what you would expect.
I haven't found many that keep Chacas so input has been scant locally. I wondered if he is shedding....though if he is he is taking his sweet time as he has been this way a week.
I have nearly any meds available to me as I work in a pet store that has the largest fish dept around. (about 1500 gal of freshwater and 1200 salt) I am just not keen on meding him to death.
TIA
Sonya
