I am in Phoenix so our water is pretty hard. Lots of buildup around the tank. According to the report, our water naturally contains a lot of calcium and magnesium. Perhaps it is not a calcium deficiency? Here is a link to the article. http://www.goodyearaz.gov/index.aspx?NID=3140 I was really hoping this would be the solution. Kinda losing hope again. Your suggestions have helped me learn some things I didn't know before though. Thanks.
Oscar needs help, research proving futile... video
- Thread starter Musicmeg
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I think calcium deficiency is one of the more plausible explanations for HITH in general but there could be multiple causes.
You don't have a water softener, do you?
Another possibility is that your test kits aren't working and you have ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate at levels that would cause neurological problems. Usually, you suspect a nutritional deficiency or toxin with neurological signs. It could be caused by something more exotic but you wouldn't be able to treat it anyway.
It could also be that the HITH and neurological issues are completely unrelated.
You could contact these folks...they offer free consultations:
http://http//www.fishyfarmacy.com/contact_us.html
And they're also located in AZ.
A last resort would be a veterinary hospital with an aquatic service. They can do more thorough tests of your water and examine your fish. I've taken my fish in before.
You don't have a water softener, do you?
Another possibility is that your test kits aren't working and you have ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate at levels that would cause neurological problems. Usually, you suspect a nutritional deficiency or toxin with neurological signs. It could be caused by something more exotic but you wouldn't be able to treat it anyway.
It could also be that the HITH and neurological issues are completely unrelated.
You could contact these folks...they offer free consultations:
http://http//www.fishyfarmacy.com/contact_us.html
And they're also located in AZ.
A last resort would be a veterinary hospital with an aquatic service. They can do more thorough tests of your water and examine your fish. I've taken my fish in before.
Looking at your town's water quality report, arsenic and nitrate are right at the EPA limit. It'd be interesting to know if your nitrate test kit gives results as nitrate (NO3) or nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N). The EPA limit is 10 ppm NO3 or 45 ppm NO3-N (the conversion factor is about 4.4). You might actually be starting with nitrate (NO3-N) levels at 45 ppm which may be brought down over time by any live plants you have in the tank. Then when you do a water change, you end up with a jump in nitrate levels once again, corresponding with the onset of your Oscar's symptoms.
Squint, your point about tap water is interesting. I kept discus a couple years ago and was having problems keeping them healthy. I remember testing the tap water and it was about 30ppm. Above the limit. It seems something in my tank, probably the plants, is getting levels back down. I am going to test the tap again to see if levels are up above epa limit again. As for the fish vet, good to know. Thinking it may be too late though. Poor guy is still not eating. If water changes are killing him, there isn't much I can do. None of my other fish are visibly affected by the water though, so I am not convinced that is it. Better than anything I can come up with though.
Some fish are more tolerant of ammonia/nitrites/nitrate or other pollutants than others and others who are slightly less tolerant will lose equilibrium. When I was a kid, I had a poorly maintained and overstocked tank and the fish weren't all affected equally. Most acted normally but once in awhile one would no longer be able to cope and just start twirling around the tank.
30 ppm is above the limit for nitrate (10 ppm) but below it if it's nitrate-nitrogen (45 ppm). Your test kit is probably giving you values in nitrate-nitrogen otherwise your tap water is way over the limit.
You could always use reverse osmosis-deionized water if your tap water is no good. Some fish stores that cater to the saltwater crowd sell RODI water if you want to try it, say, if you have a small hospital tank you could put him in.
See the section on the bottom regarding organic nitrogen conversions for more detail:
http://www.kordon.com/kordon/aquatru/nitrate_high.htm
30 ppm is above the limit for nitrate (10 ppm) but below it if it's nitrate-nitrogen (45 ppm). Your test kit is probably giving you values in nitrate-nitrogen otherwise your tap water is way over the limit.
You could always use reverse osmosis-deionized water if your tap water is no good. Some fish stores that cater to the saltwater crowd sell RODI water if you want to try it, say, if you have a small hospital tank you could put him in.
See the section on the bottom regarding organic nitrogen conversions for more detail:
http://www.kordon.com/kordon/aquatru/nitrate_high.htm
I appreciate your help and attention to Otto. He took a turn for the worse today and I had to euthanize him. Poor guy was bent and unable to swim. He could only move one fin and wiggle a little. Stroke? Here he is in better times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVZimORIVy8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVZimORIVy8
