Help!
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What are your water tests showing for levels? pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and water temp. A photo of the gills would also help if possible.
Also, are you giving the tank plenty of air? This would be unrelated to something behind or in the gills, but it might help it breath a little better if you get more oxygen into the water.
I'm not sure I can help much, but getting that information up will give you a better chance of someone recognizing the problem.
Also, are you giving the tank plenty of air? This would be unrelated to something behind or in the gills, but it might help it breath a little better if you get more oxygen into the water.
I'm not sure I can help much, but getting that information up will give you a better chance of someone recognizing the problem.
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I just finished looking through this list:
Aquarium Fish Deals - Tropical Fish Stress & Disease Identification, Diagnosis & Treatment: Sick Fish
What you describe regarding the breathing and gills seems to line up with Gill Flukes, #17 on the list... but I can only guess at this point. I'm not experienced with this sort of thing, I can just google around a bit to find other people describing similar circumstances.
Aquarium Fish Deals - Tropical Fish Stress & Disease Identification, Diagnosis & Treatment: Sick Fish
What you describe regarding the breathing and gills seems to line up with Gill Flukes, #17 on the list... but I can only guess at this point. I'm not experienced with this sort of thing, I can just google around a bit to find other people describing similar circumstances.
Yes. I have plenty of filtration and airation... and i also read that if a black lining was to appear around the fins, that it may be because of toxins in the water.... including nitrite and ammonia. i have a strong feeling this was caused by my water changes which may have caused rising ammonia levels... i'm going to check the water params and get back to you guys. Thanks. Once again if anyone can help please do so quickly.
So I agree, it does sound like some kind of toxin. But a water change shouldn't cause ammonia (unless it's in you tap water anyway). That's why I was asking about the Dechlorinator and bubbles (that would indicate H2S gas), to me it sounds more like a chemical burn than anything else. Could also be nitrite, at highlevels it reduces the fish's bloods ability to carry O2. That said though I don't recall seeing any slime build up around the gills in NO2 toxicity cases. Either way doing the tests is a good thing.
Gill Parasites are definitely a possibility if he is the only one in the tank affected though. How are the other fish? Did you JUST notice the build up? or was it there for days? How big of a water change did you do?
Chris
Gill Parasites are definitely a possibility if he is the only one in the tank affected though. How are the other fish? Did you JUST notice the build up? or was it there for days? How big of a water change did you do?
Chris
I'd pop him out of the tank and put him into an emergency tank if you have one and dose melafix or some treated food. I've only ever had 1 sick fish so far (knock on wood) and he exhibited some problems that 2 days in a melafix treated tank resolved. Granted I know it isn't for everything, but that stuff is wonderful.
How's the fishy doing now?
How's the fishy doing now?
Don't worry about water changes ever causing rising ammonia levels. Water changes are the solution for lowering ammonia, not a direct cause. The only way that could happen is if you also killed all your bacteria with chlorinated water, and still it would take at least a day, probably more, for your fish to excrete enough ammonia to poison themselves.
I hope you figure out what's wrong with your fish.
I hope you figure out what's wrong with your fish.
I just have to interject here that my tap water actually does have ammonia in it, so when I do a water change I'm actually adding some ammonia into the tank. I let the water sit with Prime in it for at least 12 hours, usually 24 to 48, and it's been fine, but it's there. I think it's in the form of ammonium, because there's chloramine in the tap water. I think that the Prime helps keep it non toxic, but I do try to not do water changes too often because it is there. I don't know that that's related to your problem, but I thought I'd share.