My new piranha is sick!!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
N

noob4lyfe

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 10, 2010
54
0
6
Ontario
Hey MFK,

I bought a piranha couple days ago. Heres what's happened.

History:

I put the piranha into a tank with 3 exodons just 3 days ago. The first day it was shy, i had no gravel no hiding at all. The exo's paced the tank.

2 hours later, i but the plants and gravel back, all washed with water. I boiled the gravel.

It became a whole new fish. Chasing the exos, biting plants. Rare for a piranha to be that outgoing.

Currently:

I woke up 3 days later, and it bit a good chunk of one of the exos fins - See picture.

Also, it had a nip of the other exos as well, but the picture was the most damaged exo. I dont mind tho.

What I'm worried about is, now it is sitting sideways under my drift wood. Just sits there now for long periods of time. It's doing it at the moment as well.

I'm scared that it may have gotten sick. I had a piranha that did the same behavior before, but sitting at the bottom of the tank. It died shortly after. And I dont wish the same fate for this one.

Heres a few pictures to show you20130320_091433.jpg20130320_091440.jpg20130320_104749.jpg20130320_152516.jpg20130320_152616.jpg20130320_152641.jpg

20130320_091433.jpg

20130320_091440.jpg

20130320_104749.jpg

20130320_152516.jpg

20130320_152616.jpg

20130320_152641.jpg
 
Is the tank cycled? You boiled the gravel so it is/was devoid of all benifical bacteria. Have you check the water params and tested for NO2?
 
The tank is plenty cycled. I had tetras and Exos that have been living in it for 6 months. That's not an issue. BUT the tetras did start getting white fin tips. I believe from lack of oxygen. So I think that should not be a problem- I could be wrong.

Water Params. I dont have a tester. A belive a lfs does it for free. Would they give me the #'s your asking for?
 
The gravel was boiled because when every time I vacuumed it,there would be so much black mess coming out of it. So I decided to nuke the tank. But the water was still the same old water. I did a 20% water change 3 days ago.
 
I have a Tetra whisper and I've removed the carbon filter. My filter now only has the rubber wheels to catch clumps of waste. I'm thinking of putting a sponge in replacement for the carbon. Also, that means I have no Biomax pellets.

Second: My water temp is 82 degrees. Is that an issue?
 
Yes they would. Take a sample of your tank water to the LFS and have it tested to be on the safe side.

In the mean time you could do another 25% water change and increase airation by either putting in and air stone or droping the water level to increase surface agetation from your filter outputs. I little aquarium salt wouln't hurt either, add 1 tablespoonfull per 5 gallons of water. The salt will aid in resperation and if there is any ammonia or nitrite present it will decrease the toxic effects.

Your water temp is fine. You want the biomax pellets to remaine in the filter to build up the bacterial colony.
 
Params: You mentioned a few of them (no2 etc.). Can you give a a complete list that I can bring back to you.

The air pump is on during the daytime. The bubbles you see are from that pump. Is that the type of airation you're referring to?

I recently ran out of Aqua Salt. Could I use regular table salt?

Also, I can purchase biomax pellets at my lfs at the same time my water is being tested. As you can see through the pictures. Theres alot of algae stuck to the walls. Is algae=Bacteria? I was planning to remove it, as it's an eye sore
 
Have them check for Ammonia, Nitrite & nitrate and Ph. Leave the air on 24/7 for now, yes that is the type of airation I was referring to. No do not use table salt get aquarium salt. Algae is not bacterial but leave it for now bacteria is growing on that too.

I use some HOB filters and I fill them with bio-media. I use water changes to remove waste.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom