When does an arrow become a senior citizen

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Spaceman Spiff

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 28, 2009
38
1
0
Florida
I have had my arrow for approximately 10 years. It was the reason I got back into the hobby after a five year break and have raised him(?) from a yolk sac youngster.

Any how, here's my current situation. I get home last night and he's doing a headstand, literally he's in a corner of the tank head at the bottom and tail at the top, still breathing but not really swimming. After I'm done freaking out, I get started on a water change and proceed to maintain him balanced. Didn't bother with the params prior to the change which may or may not be a mistake but the water change would be the only remedy anyhow. Current params:

Ph: 6.8 or so.
Ammonia: 0

Couldn't test nitrites as I can't find my color chart.

The arrow is approximately 30" long and currently in a t-shirt hammock at the top of the tank. As today has progressed the clear area of his eyes have turned an orangish/red. He continues to breath though very slow and is fairly unresponsive to my touch, though he does react if I stick my finger in his mouth or put a water jet in the direction of his mouth.

When I did the w/c I added salt to the tank but no meds have been used. I bring up the age thing because there seems to be little out there other than 10-15year approximations. I am assuming he has reached the end of the road, though am hoping others have some info I may have overlooked/not found. It's been a tough 24hrs but I know many of us have or will be here one day.
 
If you don't mind me asking (since i have not kept fish for that long), what is the tank size that you have kept him in?

From what i have been reading, they supposed to live longer than that, but 10 years is a long time to keep an aro in any case.

did you feed him something new?

PS: i assume it is a silver aro
 
Silver arrow. 180g tank (6' x 2' x 2') Tank is a bit small but the pond has been in limbo. As for food, I wouldn't call it new but it wasn't a frequent feeding, he got some shrimp a couple of weeks ago. He ate 4-5 shrimp(people food which he has eaten on occassion) don't recall the type but they were cleaned and shelled.
 
a buddy of mines, his 24'' Aro did the "headstand" and ended up dying. He inspected it after it deid and found a piece of gravel stuck in it's gill. The gills also were covered in pus. I hope this helps. Inspect his gills.
I hope he makes it. You are doing all the right things.
 
Thanks for the support. As of this morning, he was still breathing, moreover breathing better than last night. I hate the fact that I can't keep him completely upright, but hopefully the more pronounced breathing, doesn't seem particularly labored, is a good sign. Really wish there was more info out there.
 
Normal diet was carnivore sticks and Hikari cichlid gold (both red and green - Carni/herbi). The shrimp were completely shelled, no tail and he used to eat freeze dried with no ill effects but it's been some time since I fed that. So far I haven't seen any truely helpful info in that thread and if he's got internal injuries then it will always be a mystery.
 
sounds like a swim bladder prob...if so thers nothing you can do.....i gope he is okay
 
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