Swordtail on it's last legs/fins

[ken1508]

Bought him from the most reputable lfs in town last Sunday. Last evening noticed he was not eating and seem to be struggling. Now he's just laying on the bottom holed up next to the driftwood. He's on his side but breathing.
Should I try some procedure to revive him or is a lost cause at this point?
All my other fishes seem normal.

[RobbieG]

If it was my fish I would either move him to another tank or (if this is not possible) put him in a gallon of either spring water or fresh dechlorinated water in a brand new plastic container.

He sounds like he is stressed out from the move to his new home and unable to deal with the water he is in. (Like the stress from moving kept him from properly acclimatizing to some part of your water chemistry)

I have had success just moving a fish like this to a different environment

[RobbieG]

I would also double check your water parameters - something wierd could be happening with them. If he is the weakest of the fish he could just be the first affected.

[Kuli_Loach]

If you have a hospital tank, do that, never take him out of the water if you can, use a specimen container and keep him in it. Add aquarium salt and stress coat. This is what I have done for years and have saved many MANY fish this way. I lost my first fish in 3 months the other day and that is because it was really bad when I got it.

[ken1508]

Didn't have time to deal with him this morning because I had to go to work and when I got back he has expired. Bummer. He was doing so well from the very first day you wouldn't have thought anything was wrong with him. If it was stress related, wouldn't he show symtoms right away? If there's something wrong with the water parameters wouldn't my other fishes be affected?
I'm getting a couple of platties next week from someone who doesn't want them anymore and if they survive and the other fishes survive, I can conclude the problem was not the water parmeters.

[Kuli_Loach]

Do a water change anyways and test your water.

[RobbieG]

Kuli is right - your fish may be being affected by the water but are just being weakened. If it was ammonia poisoning (just as an example) the weakest fish would go first - the ammonia would continue to rise and then others would be affected. I don't think it was ammonia poisoning - that is just an example but the same concept would apply to most toxins/diseases.

If you have no way to test the water do a change to be on the safe side.

[Kuli_Loach]

Yay I was right about something.:19: Good luck with this and if you can eventually, post your water paramounts.

[RobbieG]

Good job Kuli thumbs2:

[gm72]

If you keep fish you MUST be able to test water parameters. Robbie and Kuli both have it right. Buy a liquid test kit and get back to us with the water parameters so we can move you forward.

[ken1508]

Test strip shows pH 6. I need to get test kit for the other parameters. Should I get test strips or the liquid test kit for ammonia and nitrites/nitrates. Thanks to everyone for all the advice.

[RobbieG]

Get the liquid kit - it costs a little bit more but the strips are not accurate.

[gm72]

Robbie is right--the liquid tests are far more accurate. The strips may get you in the general ballpark, but as aquarists we need more accurate measures.

[Kuli_Loach]

Amen to that and they last a LONG time.

[ken1508]

Liquid it will be. You guys have all the right answers. I'm very glad I found this forum. Thanx again.

[Kuli_Loach]

No problem, that is why we all registered, to learn and to help others.

[ken1508]

Got the water tested at lfs and nitrates is 20 ppm and nitrites is 0, didn't test ammonia but assumed it is ok since the existing population shows no signs of distress. Must of been just a sick fish.

Added three platys last night and if they survive then I can definitely conclude it was not the water but the fish that was bad.

[RobbieG]

One thing I noticed is that your PH is a little low - this isn't really necesarily a problem - but you should probably take a little extra time acclimating the fish that you add.

[Kuli_Loach]

Yes and you should of had everything tested. I know what mine are but I test them just incase. Mine are always the same for the past month, pH-7.2
Nitrite-0 Ammonia-0 Nitrate-5. That is what mine is and it stays there. On acclimating your fish, I love a specimen container. I pour the fish and just enough water to keep the fish under in a specimen container. I place it in the water to even the temp. and every 5 min for 30 min I add a little of my tank water in. Then since it is mostly my tank water anyhoo I let them swim from the specimen container unless the fish was ran from a single system or if there was a dead fish in the tank when I purchased him(probably wouldn't if there was a dead fish in there).