Harlequin missing stomach, wtf ?

[depthC]

Today i noticed one of my harlequins was swimming a little weird, gasping for air, pale, pink or redish near stomach, and looked like he got a chunck took out of his stomach or area were most fish crap.

So when i checked the tank later he was sucked onto the filter intake tube and gasping for air. So i pulled up the tube to cut off the impeller force and netted the poor guy. When i examined him that area was gone and i could see inside the guy. It sure didnt look like a bit so im guessing it was some gut rot or something of that sort. Anyone have this happen to any of their fish before?

- depthC

 

[Colisa lalia]

I've had this happen to my harlequins and to some of my other rasboras. I think now looking back that it was almost certainly nitrates being too high. So do a big water change and stay on top of that nitrate.

 

[depthC]

I dont think that will be the case I just did a water change a few days ago. So im pretty certain that its not high nitrates.

- depthC

 

[sinasster]

do you know your nitrate level? doing regular water changes does not insure proper nitrate levels. you should test it to be positive.