I have a 18 inch Red Bellied Pacu Named Reggie. The guy who used to service my tank has disappeared and left me on my own to take care of it. This would be fine, but now Reggie is belly-up in the tank with slow breathing, a clouded up eye that he cannot see out of and his fins are fraying away. I've gotten help from others on an online fish site (thegab.org) but they say it's best to talk to someone who knows large fish. I've done a 50% water change today and that's all I've done. I bought some Maracyn and aquarium salt but haven't used them yet. The people said to wait and the water change might be all he needs. But he looks pretty bad so I would really like to know if I should treat with the meds and salt. His tank temp is around 77 and the water test showed everything was normal except the ph was at 6.0 and the ammonia was between .25 and .50. I don't know if this was the problem but I really need help to save this fish, he's huge and really beautiful. I've had him for 8 years. Usually he's pretty hearty and any weird stuff I see on him is gone the next day, but this time it looks like he can't fight whatever is killing him. Mostly I wanted to know, what can I do for him now that will help him or have I done everything I can? He looks pretty bad. Thanks for any advice.
My Pacu is going to die, please help!
- Thread starter Shannon71
- Start date
Def sounds like you need to keep up with your water changes. What size tank is it and what other fish do you have in there?
He is by himself because he eats anything else I put in the tank. It is a 75 gallon tank. I know it is too small, we bought the biggest one we could afford about a year ago. To tell you the truth I can't fit anything bigger in my place anyway. If i get him through this maybe I can find a home for him with someone who has a big enough tank. I don't really want to do that because I've had him for 8 years and I love him, but i will do whatever is best for him. Until then, i'm just needing help getting him back to health.
Yeah, temp raise, salt, meds, water changes. You can try and put some stress coat in there to lower stress. He's a big boy and a hearty species. Think positive.
Yes, yes that's what I'm wondering if aquarium salt would be good for him. Should I put it in now? I need to do stuff quickly because I doubt if he's going to make it through the night.
Like I said all I've done so far is a 50% water change today. Please tell me step by step what to do next. I have Maracyn and maracyn-Two and aquarium salt and have no idea what to do with them. HELP!
he may have ich and fin rot. aquraim salt helped my oscar when he was like your pacu.be quick its almost to late for him by your discreption of him