Is something wrong with my redtail?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Not trying to bash your fish, but something seems very off about that RTC. Is it some sort of hybrid? The eyes are on top of the head instead of on its side, they are also bulging out. Yes, breathing very hard. That tank looks to be a 55, if so need an upgrade soon, will help with stress. After my RTC passed 5" never provided hiding places, just kept lights low and plenty of room. Here's an old video of my RTC, check the eye placement. The indentation you are looking at allows the mouth to open a lot wider than you would think possible. Your's is more noticable because the dark color of your fish stops higher on the head.
[video=youtube;A7_LgZLytdc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7_LgZLytdc&context=C4edeb78ADvjVQa1PpcFM0c5gPDoecz6nzmDj4vwYt sfrfPdWMdVc=[/video]
 
snowhnter said:
Not trying to bash your fish, but something seems very off about that RTC. Is it some sort of hybrid? The eyes are on top of the head instead of on its side, they are also bulging out. Yes, breathing very hard. That tank looks to be a 55, if so need an upgrade soon, will help with stress. After my RTC passed 5" never provided hiding places, just kept lights low and plenty of room. Here's an old video of my RTC, check the eye placement. The indentation you are looking at allows the mouth to open a lot wider than you would think possible. Your's is more noticable because the dark color of your fish stops higher on the head.
[video=youtube;A7_LgZLytdc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7_LgZLytdc&context=C4edeb78ADvjVQa1PpcFM0c5gPDoecz6nzmDj4vwYt sfrfPdWMdVc=[/video]
Click to expand...

He was sold to me as a special spotted rtc. It's a 90 btw. Starting to build my 750 in a week or 2. He's been acting completely normal up until now. Any ideas on what might be stressing him? I can't see your video, it won't load. Thanks for the info about his jaw


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Finally got that video to work. I do notice how my rtc's eyes seem slightly bulgy. I thought that was because he was still growing and he would "grow into them." I'm beginning to feel rather concerned about the health of my fish as I try to take very good care of him. Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated


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Just did a 50% wc. Gonna wait an hour or so and test the water again. For filtration I was running an ac 110 and cascade 300 along with a sponge filter. I just removed the ac 110 and replaced it with a fluval 406 on Monday. Could that be causing this reaction? I purposely left the cascade 300 and sponge filter on to maintain the bb. Temp is 79


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Just watched your video again. It looks like its well fed. What do you feed and how often? Are there any other tank mates that are acting the same way? What's ph?
 
snowhnter said:
Just watched your video again. It looks like its well fed. What do you feed and how often? Are there any other tank mates that are acting the same way? What's ph?
Click to expand...

I alternate between feeding him cut market shrimp and silversides every other day, always with a few massivore pellets. I have a megalodoras uranoscopus in with him that is completely fine and an alligator gar that is also completely fine. The rtc and gar never interact except on several occasions when feeding, in which case the rtc steals food from the gar. They have been together for almost 2 months and have been fine the entire time. pH is 7.4


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Just tested my water again and ammonia is 0 ppm, nitrite is 0 ppm, and nitrate is still 40 ppm even after a 50% wc. What can I do to lower nitrate levels? I do a wc every other day at least, usually every day. My tap water has 5 ppm nitrate but I am generous when using prime to compensate for that.


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Ok I talked to the owner of my LFS. I have a pretty decent strategy to fix the situation. First I'm adding salt to the aquarium. This is supposed to improve ill function. Next I'm going to cut back on feeding to every other day. I'm adding nitrate remover to my filter. If all this doesnt help enough I will get amazon frogbit. It's a plant that is supposed to remove nitrates like crazy. Hope this info can help anybody else in my situation.


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