Hey guys my abei *polly* usually active and always swims around the corner of the tank because i sit next to it where my computer is at. I realize today he's breathing heavily laying in his hiding place and dont know whats the cause. I did feed him today and he was eager to eat then back to his hiding place again.
tank water readings are
ammonia=0
ph=8
nitrite=0
nitrate=20
temp=80
Did a 40% water change after to see if he will get better.There's no tankmates inside with him. Aswe all know abei are extremely aggressive. There's driftwood and live plants inside using flourite substrate. tank is fully cycle for a yearall plants are live,very green and well. So i dont know whats going on but one thing he's kinda fat. i feed him every other day frozen blood worms and nothing else. Got him about month ago. Should i add some salt? What you guys suggest?Thx in advance.
ABEI *POLLY* BREATHING HEAVILY
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.
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plurmaster
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plurmaster
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Re: ABEI *POLLY* BREATHING HEAVILY
Just update before i head to bed. I have added little bit of aquarium salt and air stone. Hope he feels better when i wake up.
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Pufferpunk
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Re: ABEI *POLLY* BREATHING HEAVILY
In was going to recommend the airstone. I hope he's better in the morning.
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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StormySkiez
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Re: ABEI *POLLY* BREATHING HEAVILY
What is his size? Just a suggestion as I have no idea what is wrong. Perhaps vary his diet and feed him less? Do you soak his food in fish vitamins to ensure he is getting all the nutriments he needs. I hope he is ok.
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dab335
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Re: ABEI *POLLY* BREATHING HEAVILY
I was gonna suggest the airstone and water change as well. Let us know how hes doing, hope he gets better soon!
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plurmaster
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Re: ABEI *POLLY* BREATHING HEAVILY
He's still breathing heavily and look even worst. I can move him to another tank but is occupied by other puffers. i dont know what to do.
I dont soak his food with vitamins i enevr did not even with my other puffers.Can he be constipated to cause this heavy breathing?
I dont soak his food with vitamins i enevr did not even with my other puffers.Can he be constipated to cause this heavy breathing?
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plurmaster
- Green Spotted Puffer
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Re: ABEI *POLLY* BREATHING HEAVILY
I just look polly is in the bottm of the tank breathing heavy but i realize his tail is sticking kinda high
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Pufferpunk
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Re: ABEI *POLLY* BREATHING HEAVILY
Another WC won't hurt. Did the last one perk him up at all? Did you add an airstone?
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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plurmaster
- Green Spotted Puffer
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Re: ABEI *POLLY* BREATHING HEAVILY
yes i added the airstone and aquarium slat but doesnt seem like is helping. This is odd
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Agnate
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Re: ABEI *POLLY* BREATHING HEAVILY
If he's still eating, try to find some LIVE daphnia for him. Also, pick up some Epsom salt and dose his tank at 1 tbsp per 10 gallons of water.
If he's constipated, this should solve the problem. I'd do this as quickly as possible, though, as he sounds like he's not doing very well.
Adding an airstone isn't always as effective as it sounds. You need to make sure the bubbles are VERY fine and that there is good water circulation to push the oxygenated water around. My roommate ran into the same problem: he had an airstone, but it wasn't doing anything and his fish were getting worse, so he put the air stone UNDER the intake of a powerhead (so that the powerhead would chop up the bubbles and shoot them across the tank) and his fish were better by the next morning!
Hope he starts to get better!
If he's constipated, this should solve the problem. I'd do this as quickly as possible, though, as he sounds like he's not doing very well.
Adding an airstone isn't always as effective as it sounds. You need to make sure the bubbles are VERY fine and that there is good water circulation to push the oxygenated water around. My roommate ran into the same problem: he had an airstone, but it wasn't doing anything and his fish were getting worse, so he put the air stone UNDER the intake of a powerhead (so that the powerhead would chop up the bubbles and shoot them across the tank) and his fish were better by the next morning!
Hope he starts to get better!
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StormySkiez
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Re: ABEI *POLLY* BREATHING HEAVILY
I would try what Agnate recommended for constipation. It wont hurt and might help. A varied diet for your Abei would be best when he gets better.
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Mareva
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Re: ABEI *POLLY* BREATHING HEAVILY
Abei are fresh water puffers so I'm not sure the aquarium salt is going to help him much. But if he looks bloated (or fat) it really sounds like constipation and epsom salt is quite an effective solution. You'll find it in any drugstore, usualy sold as feet bath! I hope he does better soon!
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plurmaster
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Re: ABEI *POLLY* BREATHING HEAVILY
Thank you guys. As of now he still breathing hard. Im going to the drugstore in a minute and get the salt. Im crossing my finger and will try to save my friend polly.