Hey,
My fahaka is swimming and now resting on his side. I can't figure out whats wrong. He has been in this 135g for about 6 months now.
pH 7.4
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
If anyone has any suggestions, I would really appreciate it.
Fahaka swimming/resting on his side.
Forum rules
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
-
Pufferpunk
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Re: Fahaka swimming/resting on his side.
NItrate? Water change schedule? Tankmates? Feeding schedule?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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btmachone
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Re: Fahaka swimming/resting on his side.
Water Changed once a month, 15-20%. He gets fed every other day, but that depends on if he seems interested at feeding time. Diet consists mainly of frozen raw shirmp. His tank mates are a few gourami and a rainbow shark. Current temperature is around 82 degrees. I dont know what the nitrate level is as I dont have a nitrate test, but I will pick one up on my way home this evening. Last water change was on saturday.
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cobra1713
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Re: Fahaka swimming/resting on his side.
well first off i would definitly increase the frequency and amount of water changed if you have other tank mates with him in a 135g im just gonna guess your nitrates are gonna be pretty high when you get a test kit.
60g with 2 angels, 1 yoyo loach, Upside down catfish, Clown Loach, 1 leopard Ctenopoma, 12 black skirt tetras and a L201 Pleco
30g GSP tank (soon to be 35 gal Hex)
30g GSP tank (soon to be 35 gal Hex)
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btmachone
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Re: Fahaka swimming/resting on his side.
Nitrate 20ppm
Re: Fahaka swimming/resting on his side.
What size is your fahaka?
The frozen food is being defrosted for an hour?
I would be tempted to do a 80 percent water change.
Try getting fresh mussels, small crabs and ramshorn snails if you can.
The frozen food is being defrosted for an hour?
I would be tempted to do a 80 percent water change.
Try getting fresh mussels, small crabs and ramshorn snails if you can.
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Fahaka swimming/resting on his side.
Is he still eating?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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btmachone
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Re: Fahaka swimming/resting on his side.
he is a little over 5 inches. the frozen food gets defrosted for about 15 minutes. He hasn't eaten in a couple of days. I did a 50% water change after testing the water today. he isn't moving much, but his breathing seems to be stronger than it was earlier today.
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Fahaka swimming/resting on his side.
Have you fed him anything different lately? Does he look swollen/constipated?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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btmachone
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Re: Fahaka swimming/resting on his side.
No, nothing out of the ordinary. He looks pretty normal other than being mostly immobile and being slightly on his side.
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Fahaka swimming/resting on his side.
This is not good... Have you sprayed anything toxic in the room(hairspray, perfume, anything?)--painted a room nearby?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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btmachone
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Re: Fahaka swimming/resting on his side.
No, haven't sprayed anything or been doing any painting. He does seem like he is a little more aware of his surroundings though. How much water should I be changing, how often?
Edit: is there anything other then looking swollen that could indicate that he might be constipated?
Edit: is there anything other then looking swollen that could indicate that he might be constipated?
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Pufferpunk
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C valentini
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DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
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Re: Fahaka swimming/resting on his side.
Not deficating is a good sign.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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Re: Fahaka swimming/resting on his side.
If water changes seem to help, you can do 75% daily with no risk to the biofilter, more even. The biofilter is mostly in the gravel and filter.
No matter how magnificent your successes or devastating your failures, the worlds' approximately 5 billion impoverished people could not possibly care less.
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btmachone
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Re: Fahaka swimming/resting on his side.
Thanks for all the help everybody!