new to frontosa... please help

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im worried about one. it has been really dark lately, kinda solitary, stays in his corner, and has long stringy poop. im really worried, but the other one is doing great, eating more and more each day, and very active.
 
They usually get dark when they are stressed out. Is he eating? Does it look like the other has been pick on it? Is he itching himself? Any visable signs of anything on his body/gills or anything? Take a really good look at him and pay attention if the other is trying to pick on him.
 
you stole those fish ... great bargain !!
 
i was looking him over, and one point he looked like he twitched, but not flashing, and scratching himself on rocks. i was looking and at the base of his anal fin he looks like its bulged, looking at the other one who is swimming around and eating, clearly there is something there. from the side its just a bulge right by the end of his anal fin, and a sore above it, from straight on few, it looks like he has a fat stomach. what show i do about this, they were doing a little fighting the first 2 days or so, now the sick o stressed one doesn't move around the tank, and i haven't noticed any aggression lately. i really don't want to lose him, but i have no idea what to do.
 
Oh wow yeah something isn't right. How does he swim? Is there anyway you can get some pictures posted? It is easier to try and help and identify the problem if you can get some pictures. If you can I would separate him out of the tank for right now and get him in a tank where he is one his own and fill that tank with the water he is in now. It could be a virus or infection of some sort. Try to type in a short descrption with the word frontosa in google and see if you cant find anything that sounds or looks familiar. If it is an infection of sorts erythromycin may help, but again it really depends on what it is, but thats what I usually use. Make sure you keep an eye out on your other fish as well as it may or may not spread. If you can get a photo and a good description post this in the disease/health area of the forum because you will probably get some better ideas/suggestions in there.
 
i just noticed some flashing tonight. he swims kinda stiff, but all his fin movements are similar to the healthy one. he always ends up at the top of the tank, and just stays there until i either turn the tank light off, or on. or spook him to the bottom.
 
i just put some epsom salts in to relive any constipation if there is any, and activity has picked up, and so has aggression, but i can't move the sick guy because all my tanks are being used. is there anything i can add to releive aggression?
 
jerzyperson;4818848; said:
i just put some epsom salts in to relive any constipation if there is any, and activity has picked up, and so has aggression, but i can't move the sick guy because all my tanks are being used. is there anything i can add to releive aggression?



Sounds like Bloat. I wouldn't be worried if it had white stringy poop as this can be from not eating but in this case it sounds like bloat. The Swollen anus and sore are a common sign as well as a swollen abdomen. You need to get some Clout and metronidezole! IMMEDIATELY if you want to save it! Turn all of the lights off in the tank and remove the Carbon from all filters on the tank. Follow the direction on the clout box and Do not feed the tank until the bloat is gone. when you do start to feed them soak the pellets or food in Metronidezole mixed with tank water before feeding for a few minutes and then dumo the whole in. but don't worry abuot that until you know that you've stopped the bloat.

CLOUT, CLOUT CLOUT and Follow the directions.

As far the Substrate, I would go with sand in the future bei9ng that they are a bit skiddish and will kick the sand into the water column and it gets into the filters. Florida Crushed Coral is best as it doesn't have any sharpe edges and is heavy enough that it doesn't lift into the water column very high and sink rapidly, clearing the filter suction...
 
alright where can i get the clout, and metronidezole? all i have is a petco.
 
how is the little guy... i hope better..
 
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