Just trying to get an opinion on this one. The photos are tough, i did the best i could. This is a checkerboard barb, he eats well, swims around well. He does hide sometimes, he is "red" around the mouth and "beard" area, it seems redder on some days. It looks like his eyes are funny. I did notice today that while looking straight down you can see a tiny blinking red (blood?) come out from his eyes.
thanks
im sorry your fish baby is sick it looks like an ammonia issue that might be turning into popeye what are your water parimeters for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates? how long has the tank been set up? how was it cycled? sorry for the questions but it will help us try to help you better...
125G tank that was cycled back in sept, they came after the fact. i have an ammonia detector that has never given a reading since. as far as i know the amm and nitrites are 0, i did an nitrate test not to long ago and got about 10. i do water changes every week, i do vacuum all the crud out 1/3 each time as well. i lost 1 check - barb about 2 weeks before i noticed this guys physical difference. dont know why the other one died. really the same as every fish i ever lost. they get lethargic, then the hide or just "hover" in one spot for a long time, or they cant swim down to the bottom of the tank because its like they are filled with air.
I am used to seeing fish from front of the tank, side view, not from the top. It seems their scales are somewhat lifted (pine cone), thus dropsy?
How about doing actual test and post results ASAP before any water changes?
If Q/T is possible, how about move them using same water and some gravel from main tank w/ simple box/sponge filter (no carbon)?
Thus when more visible signs are shown, can medicate accordingly w/o further delays!
i'll try with a side but its plastic tank and the pix were all blurred. if its dropsy or eyepop, the same meds, Mardel Maracyn-Two takes care of both. Although, Mardel Tetracycline, mardel 2 and mardel 1 all say they take care of almost the same things so what the heck is the difference between the 3?
i don't see any sign of popeye or dropsey in that fish...to me the scales all look nice and flat to the body and the clear film is not popped out that is the clear lens over his eye. people have that to if you look at the eye from the side...hope you find out what is wrong...good luck
after 5 days of mardel the eyes look better (to me), however it looks like dropsey (i mean this is a checkerboard barb, he has no color and looks almost transparent), i wish i could get a real good picture....
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