I think my fish is sick - HELP!

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Pyramid_Party

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Aug 6, 2008
4,916
4
68
Monterey, CA
Today I noticed my Firemouth (T. meeki) acting a little odd. I came to the tank to feed my fish and all the other fish were ready in position to eat and the firemouth was on the other side of the tank. I didnt participate at all in eating. I watched some pieces of food pass right by it and it didnt eat any.


This is unusual for this fish, it always wants to eat and it is ready always at chow time. So I looked at the fish some more and noticed that its been staying about mid level of the tank right next to the filter intake.

And it faces the back of the tank, only turning around sometimes. I noticed the fishes mouth seems like its halfway open most of the time and its moving constantly up and down. Ive never seen this before with this fish. And I also noticed its gills moving more than usual. I wouldnt say it looks like labored breathing but its irregular for sure.


Tonight when feeidng the fish, the firemouth was doing the same. Midlevel next to the filter intake on the other side of the tank, facing the back of the tank and mouth and gills moving irregular.


I added some salt, but only half dose strength. I tested my water and this is what I have:


Temp: 79
Ammonia: 0
NitrIte: 0
NitrAte: 40
Hardness: Hard
PH: Around 7.8


I dont know whats wrong but I can tell something is wrong. I thought maybe it was stress, but the fish isnt bothered that much and no fish was currently bothering it. Only time theres any aggression is during feeding time, and theres a few chases here and there. I did notice the firemouth pooing earlier and the color was kinda clear, but looked normal. The fish itself looks normal too aside form the symptoms I named. I dont know whats going on, any suggestions? Thx
 
try a 10-20% water change daily for awhile...

wouldnt hurt to put some stresscoat/melafix in every once in a while..

dont know what else to tell ya... no marks or scars or anything that would indicate it having some sort of disease?
 
No

Today the fish is still the same condition. I dont get it, but I know something is wrong it looks like it having a hard time. Im thinking about removing it and treating it but I dont know what I'd be treating. I got Maracyn and Quick cure.
 
Well I removed the fish and put it in a hospital tank, added a little salt and dosed some quick cure. The fish was low to the ground when I took it out of the main tank. Ive also noticed some of its fins have a dark outlining to them. They even look a little whitish on the actual fins too.


So I still dont know what the fish has.
 
Oh man... I'm sorry.


That sucks big time. I just heard about this thread on your other one, and that's terrible.
 
check your water params again to see if anything has changed. Did you turn up the heat on your tank? What is your aeration like in the tank?
 
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