Is my Leopard Bushfish Sick?

[tlindsey]

25% water change

What brand of dechlorinator do you add?

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

What brand of dechlorinator do you add?

Prime.

 

[duanes]

I believe your average 8.2 pH, is at least 100 times more basic than bush fish have evolved to live in the soft pH 6 waters of the Congo area, which would make it a cause of chronic disease in low pH species.
You probably need to do better research what type fish work in you water specific parameters, instead of buying just what suits your fancy.

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

I believe your average 8.2 pH, is at least 100 times more basic than bush fish have evolved to live in the soft pH 6 waters of the Congo area, which would make it a cause of chronic disease in low pH species.
You probably need to do better research what type fish work in you water specific parameters, instead of buying just what suits your fancy.

Hmm...it doesn't make sense. I've kept many angelfish, which are typically soft water species, in my tank and they have never had problems due to sickness. I don't understand PH.

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

Ok I looked up the PH range for all my fish here's what I got:

Leopard Bushfish: 5.5-7.5

Oscar: 6.8-7.4

BGK: 6.8-7.8

Striped Raph Cat: 6.5 to 7.6

Syno Cat: 5.6 to 7.5

Pictus Cat: 6.5-7.5

What would be a good neutral, and what chemical should I use to bring it down safely?

Also, you mentioned I should get fish that match my water parameters: I plan on getting rid of everything except for the syno and raph once everything is healed unless otherwise noticed. Can I have mbunas or some African Cichlid?

 

[duanes]

Hmm...it doesn't make sense. I've kept many angelfish, which are typically soft water species, in my tank and they have never had problems due to sickness. I don't understand PH.

Many angelfish have been aquarium bred for over 100 years, so may be more adaptable.
I first started keeping angels around 1960

This is "not" the case with bush fish, they are still barely one step from their wild conditions.

But
As an example
one of my favorite species, is Uaru fernandesyepezi.
This fish comes from the river Atabapo in Venezuela that has an average pH of 5, soft, mineral free.
It has only been in the aquarium hobby about a decade.
Expecting this species to adapt to my hard high 8.2 pH water would be a bit delusional.
And most reports of those who tried to keep them in adverse conditions, have been quite disappointing.
For me, because I always try to acquire at least half dozen of any species, at minimum $60 each, ($360 for the group, add shipping of at least $50 too $100) and having them flounder and die would be a poor investment.
So even though I have wanted them a decade, unless I had perfect conditions for them, I won't get them.

Trying to chase pH, unless you are very adept at chemistry, is not usually recommended. (and it may also have to do with your waters hardness, conductivity and TDS)
The better action, is to try and only keep species that live in your water parameters and conditions.

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

Many angelfish have been aquarium bred for over 100 years, so may be more adaptable.
I first started keeping angels around 1960

This is "not" the case with bush fish, they are still barely one step from their wild conditions.

But
As an example
one of my favorite species, is Uaru fernandesyepezi.
This fish comes from the river Atabapo in Venezuela that has an average pH of 5.
It has only been in the aquarium hobby about a decade.
Expecting this species to adapt to my hard high 8.2 pH water would be a bit delusional.
And most reports of those who tried to keep them in adverse conditions, have been quite disappointing.
For me, because I always try to acquire at least half dozen of any species, at minimum $60 each, ($360 for the group) and having them flounder and die would be a poor investment.
So even though I have wanted them a decade, unless I had perfect conditions for them, I won't get them.

Trying to chase pH, unless you are very adept at chemistry, is not usually recommended. (and it may also have to do with your waters hardness, conductivity and TDS)
The better action, is to try and only keep species that live in your water parameters and conditions.

I see, so the more time the fish has been in the hobby, basically, the better acclimated they become with each generation to harder and harder water. Ok I think I get it.

So now, with my current situation at hand...how do I fix it? I still have sick fish hard ph or no hard ph. I'm not going to get rid of them until they are healed.

 

[duanes]

I see, so the more time the fish has been in the hobby, basically, the better acclimated they become with each generation to harder and harder water. Ok I think I get it. So now, with my current situation at hand...how do I fix it?

One thing to also consider.
Oscars have been in the hobby at least as long as angels, and yet.
at maturity, if kept in hard, high pH water (with nitrate higher than 5 ppm) they commonly get scarred up with chronic HITH.
You have only to peruse the disease section and when the posters post with HITH problems, their water parameters, its obvious, water parameter conditions are the commonly the primary cause.

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

One thing to also consider.
Oscars have been in the hobby at least as long as angels, and yet.
at maturity, if kept in hard, high pH water (with nitrate higher than 5 ppm) they commonly get scarred up with chronic HITH.
You have only to peruse the disease section and when the posters post with HITH problems, their water parameters, its obvious, water parameter conditions are the commonly the primary cause.

I don't have HITH though...do I? Still...how do I fix it, you said you don't recommend doing a ph changer, so do I just keep medicating my fish and hoping for the best or?

 

[duanes]

Chronic, HITH tends to show up at about 3 years of age in Oscars (12" to 15"), and other large, long lived soft water, low pH evolved cichlids kept in hard, high pH water.
Just when they are getting the most impressive.
So unless you've kept them at least that long you may not see the chronic effects yet.