Why Ar my ropefish dying?

[Firewitch]

Hi there!

About two weeks ago one of my Erpetoichthys could not keep its tail down. After a while it was floating at the surface or tumbling through the tank. There were no marks, injuries or little worms on the skin - nothing i could see as a reason for this behaviour. After four days the fish died.

When the next fish started to do the same i called a friend who lives two villages away - he had the same problems this summer with his ropefishes. He solved the problem with icecold waterchanges, no more were dying.

I also tried to do so - with no success. At the moment there are two eel dead, three with bigger problems - and now my polypterus senegalus and delhezi also can't keep their tail down.

What could be the reason for this? Can you help me? What further information do you need?

 

[predatorkeeper87]

Hi there!

About two weeks ago one of my Erpetoichthys could not keep its tail down. After a while it was floating at the surface or tumbling through the tank. There were no marks, injuries or little worms on the skin - nothing i could see as a reason for this behaviour. After four days the fish died.

When the next fish started to do the same i called a friend who lives two villages away - he had the same problems this summer with his ropefishes. He solved the problem with icecold waterchanges, no more were dying.

I also tried to do so - with no success. At the moment there are two eel dead, three with bigger problems - and now my polypterus senegalus and delhezi also can't keep their tail down.

What could be the reason for this? Can you help me? What further information do you need?

what are your water parameters? what are you feeding the fish? whats your aeration in your tank like?

Try feeding your fish Epsom salt soaked food, that's the best I can give you without pictures and more info. Sounds like some type of air trapped in the fish but it could be swim bladder as well. do NOT freeze out your fish with a freezing water change...if anything bump your temp up slightly.

 

[Firewitch]

Well, my parameters are (hope, there's no difference between german and english):
PH 7, 6
Kh 13
Gh 16
No2 0
No3 10
Po4 0,1

My filter is a Fluval fx6, so there's always movement on the surface of the tank ( btw. 1,5mx0,5mx0,6m).

Temperature between 19°C after WC and 22°C before it. It takes about 45 minutes until the new water is in the tank - so i hope, i don't freeze them. Maybe i wrote it wrong, i didn't cool down the water with icecubes or so. I used to take tempered water until my friend told me not to do so. Now i change the water with normal cold water from the waterpipe. WC is every week and 50-60%.

Most i feed them with frozen shrimps or pellets. I tried to feed them with "frutti di mare" but they didn't accept it.

And instead of pictures - two videos ( hope, the links are working)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ujstngmud8tbwam/20161026_170313.mp4?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ogrkcyqwndwx1uz/20161013_221641_1.mp4?dl=0