fluval 405 in 54g, arowana breathing fast

[Just Toby]

In 54 gals the Redtail will be producing a LOT of waste, I assume the ARO eats similar food, I think the choking action is his reaction to Ammonia or Nitrite burning his gills.

I doubt this is oxygen but I would have the fluval rippling the water as much as poss as Nitrite reduces the amount of oxygen uptake that the gills can take.

Some fish are more sensitive to Ammonia and Nitrite and I think this is why the Aro is reacting more - or more obviously.

I imagine the Redtail will begin to eat the others soon anyway LOL

I have never heard of bottom dwellers being more affected but I am sure someone can correct me? If so, why would they be more affected?

Please test Nitrite, Nitrate and Ammonia - if these are not present in big numbers then and only then would I look to other issues.

54gals is easily unbalanced due to the relatively small volume, I would forget the basic "inches of fish" calcs as monsters that are growing as fast as your RTC throw away the rule books!

 

[2songbirds]

ok, the o2 is between 5mg and 8mg, close to both. Ph right now is 7.6, ammonia is still not traceable...I do weekly cleaning of the tank. This is my hubby's tank, so he's in charge of the temp.

I know about the rtc, how fast they grow, the waste (and plecos poop al lot more) and yes I am watching him. THAT is not the issue right now. I know about the smallness of the tank and how things can be quickly off balanced. My biggest tank right now is a 265, with a 75g and 125g used as a grow out. I will be doing an indoor pond in the future for the bottom dwellers. In my past, the bottom dwellers have always been affected more by bad water, and rtc are extremely sensitive to it.

anyways, is the O2 too low? I did have the outlet agitating the water in the last week, but did nothing for this problem.

 

[2songbirds]

Does he look like he is trying to clear his throat? like stopping backing up with his mouth wide open? Maybe does this 2-3 times then starts swimming normal again for a while?
I have always kept my Aros in 82-84*F.

yes, that is basically it. While he swims around, I can see him opening his mouth. Then he will stop and do the choking motion like he's trying to gag something out. He sometimes swims a little off than usual too. I believe I have a parasite problem in another tank, hole in the head, that I treated, but don't think it's rid of. That tank doesn't have a uv light, whereas this one does. I've been trying to see if there's anything abnormal about the arowana. As for food, no live food. My hubby feeds this tank. I believe he does MS, bloodworms, and cuts up frozen shrimp (for human consumption) into little pieces, tail off of course.

 

[2songbirds]

ok, I'm afraid now as to the reason of his actions from what I just noticed. At the bottom of his mouth, underneath him where the gills/mouth whatever there's a clear translucent flat thing floating out. No movement from it, there's no redness around it. I doubt it's from him hurting himself. A pic won't show this, I know