Salinity ~ 1.007
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate ~ 10
80 degrees F
37g brackish tank
2 figure 8's, 1 knight goby
A couple of days ago my water randomly got cloudy. Fish seemed normal.
The next day, however, their behavior changed; everyone seemed lethargic, no begging faces. Archer fish began to show stress coloration. All fish breathing heavy.
Did a 30% PWC, tank didn't clear up as much as I expected.
The next day the archer looked even worse; dark grey coloration on his sides, heavy breathing. I began to start worrying at this point. I looked all around the tank, and found a piece of uneaten shrimp in a cave. I figured that the decaying shrimp had caused an ammonia spike and making the fish ill. Ammonia tested ~ 0.25-1.5. I removed the shrimp and did another 30% PWC, as well as replaced the filter floss in the filters.
Found the archer fish dead later that night and removed him.
After a day I tested the water, and now all the parameters are as posted above, fine.
However the water is still slightly cloudy, and the fish are acting lethargic and breathing heavy. Their gills seem almost inflamed, but that may just be in my mind as I've never really paid much attention to their gills until now. I've found them laying on rocks and the substrate , or just floating near the top, which is all very atypical behavior for them. No begging for food. They both are clamping a fin occasionally, and I found one earlier sideways near the bottom, curled tail, and he seemed to have trouble righting himself. However when he saw me he began swimming completely normally.
Not sure of the goby's condition as she has been in hiding for a day or two.
I tried feeding them, and though they are interested in food they don't swallow it. One took a few pieces of krill, and actually began begging a bit. I thawed out some bloodworms and they ate them but spit most of them out, it seems like they were almost having trouble swallowing it.
I'm at a loss right now, I have no idea what's going on. I haven't changed anything, added anything, changed their diet, etc.
Anyone have any ideas?
Any input is appreciated,
Thanks.
Cloudy water, archer fish died, puffers not looking great
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.
-
Dadof4
- Tech Team
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- Location (country): United States
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Re: Cloudy water, archer fish died, puffers not looking great
I would add an air stone and do another WC but about 75%. Did something stir up the substrate and cause an anaerobic bacterial to be released? Could there be another dead fish or piece of shrimp in there that you are not able to see?
"Darwin swings...annnnnnd a miss. Boy Jim, Chuck's suffered at the plate tonight. He's 0 for 3 and I'm not sure he's recovered from that shoulder pull a few weeks ago. I'll bet the front office is re-thinking that contract."
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edmlfc1
- Mbu Puffer
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125G:Fahaka (Annabelle) - Location (country): U.S.A.
- Location: Texas
Re: Cloudy water, archer fish died, puffers not looking great
This may sound strange but test your ph. I noticed when I was first starting to do hypo my ph dropped and my water got cloudy within a few hours. I slowly raised the ph and the cloudy water cleared up. It took a couple of hours to get it back to normal and for the water to clear. Like you I had tested everything and it was all normal. Then I tested the ph and wow 
it had dropped to someing like 7.4. Now I make sure I test my water in the drum before I do my water change.
it had dropped to someing like 7.4. Now I make sure I test my water in the drum before I do my water change.Need to know what kind of puffer you have? Click on Puffer ID.....Puffer ID: ug.php/v/PufferPedia/
What to feed your puffer? Click on Feeding......
Feeding: library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/
Have a GSP, need more information......Click on GSP Article.....
GSP Article: library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
What to feed your puffer? Click on Feeding......
Feeding: library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/
Have a GSP, need more information......Click on GSP Article.....
GSP Article: library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
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Christemo
- Suspended
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2 Figure 8s (Cupcake and Sprinkles) - Location: Marlton, NJ//Emmitsburg, MD
- Contact:
Re: Cloudy water, archer fish died, puffers not looking great
I think it could be a bacteria bloom.
Two F8's, two tiny fantails and a pleco call me mommy.
Re: Cloudy water, archer fish died, puffers not looking great
Well, I think it's ammonia poisoning.
The decaying shrimp must have caused an ammonia spike, which caused the cloudy water, and during the several days of high ammonia levels the fish must have gotten ammonia poisoning. They are still lethargic and hanging around the surface, even the goby, which is very very unusual for her. The inflamed gills probably weren't just in my mind.
They seem to be getting a little better, one of the puffers is begging for food a little, and he eats it, but spits it out. It's almost like he can't swallow it. I imagine ammonia poisoning can damage tissues, etc.
I've been doing daily water changes, and I'm going to do another one tonight and add another powerhead for extra aeration; other that I don't think there's much else I can do but hope that the damage isn't too great and that they can recover.
Any advice?
I wonder if Melafix would help if there is any tissue damage?
The decaying shrimp must have caused an ammonia spike, which caused the cloudy water, and during the several days of high ammonia levels the fish must have gotten ammonia poisoning. They are still lethargic and hanging around the surface, even the goby, which is very very unusual for her. The inflamed gills probably weren't just in my mind.
They seem to be getting a little better, one of the puffers is begging for food a little, and he eats it, but spits it out. It's almost like he can't swallow it. I imagine ammonia poisoning can damage tissues, etc.
I've been doing daily water changes, and I'm going to do another one tonight and add another powerhead for extra aeration; other that I don't think there's much else I can do but hope that the damage isn't too great and that they can recover.
Any advice?
I wonder if Melafix would help if there is any tissue damage?
-
Jase
- Mbu Puffer
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Re: Cloudy water, archer fish died, puffers not looking great
can't hurt...CoreyK wrote:I wonder if Melafix would help if there is any tissue damage?
-Jase
edmlfc1 wrote:A house without a puffer is not a home.
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Christemo
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2 Figure 8s (Cupcake and Sprinkles) - Location: Marlton, NJ//Emmitsburg, MD
- Contact:
Re: Cloudy water, archer fish died, puffers not looking great
It worked on the ammonia burns on one of my comets in 3 days.Jase wrote:can't hurt...CoreyK wrote:I wonder if Melafix would help if there is any tissue damage?
Two F8's, two tiny fantails and a pleco call me mommy.
Re: Cloudy water, archer fish died, puffers not looking great
I know it's not as dramatic as Annabelle's saga, but after about a week, both the puffers ate quite a bit today! Fat little tummies full of bloodworms. They seem to be feeling a lot better, back to their normal selves for the most part.
This is the second day I've been treating the tank with Melafix and it seems to be working. Dramatic difference from Monday for both puffers.
Water is completely clear and stable.
Mrs. Goby unfortunately still isn't feeling well, not interested in food at all, just lays about. Scares me because half the time she's at awkward angles. I hope she pulls through.
This is the second day I've been treating the tank with Melafix and it seems to be working. Dramatic difference from Monday for both puffers.
Water is completely clear and stable.
Mrs. Goby unfortunately still isn't feeling well, not interested in food at all, just lays about. Scares me because half the time she's at awkward angles. I hope she pulls through.
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julianchan
- Fahaka Puffer
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Re: Cloudy water, archer fish died, puffers not looking great
Glad to hear things are better in there....I hope Mrs. Goby starts eating soon.
