55 Gallon Tank All My Fish Seem Sick

First and foremost I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy through these times. I'm not new here I've posted before when I first started. I'm not a newb but my all means I'm not advanced or super knowledgeable. Trail and error. It seems all my fish are sick except my Cories. They all flash after water changes and every now and then. I observe them as close as I can amd I dont see and ich. I'm assuming some type of parasite. The thing is none of my fish swim. I have 2 male 3 spot gouramis 5 emerald Cories 5 albino Cories 2 veil angelfish and 8 tiger barbs. My barbs stay at the bottom most of the time huddled together in front of the anubias. The barbs almost never come to the top to eat anymore. One gourami stays behind the filter intake while the other gourami stays at the bottom behind the driftwood. My Angel's are fine. They all eat but it's weird. Weird meaning it's almost like they are scared. The Angel's eat fine. Another thing I've had my gouramis for almost the life of the tank at least a year and half and they are very scared. I cant come to the tank without them thrashing like I'm trying to kill them. I love my fish and it's really bothering me. Can someone please help. I apologize if I put this in the wrong spot. Ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrates 5-10. Temp 76. Please dont make fun of my plants lol. They are new. Heres a few pictures.

 

Could the angels be bullying the others?

 

Could the angels be bullying the others?

No. My Angel's are peaceful as far as I can tell. The only fish that are more peaceful are the Cories. All my fish flash (rub against decorations and gravel) but I dont see any signs of ich. The tiger barbs color looks washed out at times even after hours of the lights being on. Its destroying my brain trying to figure out what's wrong with my fish.

 

First and foremost I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy through these times. I'm not new here I've posted before when I first started. I'm not a newb but I'm not advanced or super knowledgeable. Trial and error. It seems all my fish are sick except my Cories. They all flash after water changes and every now and then. I observe them as close as I can and I dont see any ich. I'm assuming some type of parasite. The thing is none of my fish swim. I have 2 male 3 spot gouramis 5 emerald Cories 5 albino Cories 2 veil angelfish and 8 tiger barbs. My barbs stay at the bottom most of the time huddled together in front of the anubias. The barbs almost never come to the top to eat anymore. One gourami stays behind the filter intake while the other gourami stays at the bottom behind the driftwood. My Angel's are fine. They all eat but it's weird. Weird meaning it's almost like they are scared. I approach the tank and the Gouramis thrash like maniacs
The Angel's eat fine. Another thing, I've had my gouramis for almost the life of the tank at least a year and half and they are very terrified amd not as plump as before. I cant come to the tank without them thrashing like I'm trying to kill them. I love my fish and it's really bothering me. Parasites?? Can someone please help. I apologize if I put this in the wrong spot. Ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrates 5-10. Temp 76. Please dont make fun of my plants lol. They are new. Heres a few pictures.

You just posted the same thing someone already replied too. The exact same thing...

 

You just posted the same thing someone already replied too. The exact same thing...

I know what I did. The person that replied didnt answer me. He/she only asked a question.

 

I know what I did. The person that replied didnt answer me. He/she only asked a question.

...
Ok if your angelfish are peaceful then try raising the temperature to about 80 degrees. Angelfish like it warm, and so do Tiger Barbs, also corys, also everything in your tank. Try that and see it if it helps.
Also try adding some hiding spots, like caves and such. They will hide for a few weeks, but then they will feel more safe, and maybe they won't be so scared to see you(a potential predator) walk into the room.

 

...
Ok if your angelfish are peaceful then try raising the temperature to about 80 degrees. Angelfish like it warm, and so do Tiger Barbs, also corys, also everything in your tank. Try that and see it if it helps.

I appreciate the advice. I'll look into it before I take the advice though.

 

The huddling behavior is usually due to ammonia or nitrite spikes and sometimes sudden drop in temperature.

What is the temperature of the water and do you actually see huddling behavior?

 

The huddling behavior is usually due to ammonia or nitrite spikes and sometimes sudden drop in temperature.

What is the temperature of the water and do you actually see huddling behavior?

Um he said the temp in the first post. He said the ammonia and nitrite is 0, while nitrate is 5-10.

 

The huddling behavior is usually due to ammonia or nitrite spikes and sometimes sudden drop in temperature.

What is the temperature of the water and do you actually see huddling behavior?

I do see huddling behavior with the barbs. The temps are usually 76-78. I have the api master test kit and it read 0 ammonia 0 nitrates and between 5 and 10 nitrates. I've had the test kit for a little over a year.

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Ok if your angelfish are peaceful then try raising the temperature to about 80 degrees. Angelfish like it warm, and so do Tiger Barbs, also corys, also everything in your tank. Try that and see it if it helps.
Also try adding some hiding spots, like caves and such. They will hide for a few weeks, but then they will feel more safe, and maybe they won't be so scared to see you(a potential predator) walk into the room.

Thanks. I'll definitely add more hides and plants

 

Do you have a video of the fish? Your tank seems fine then based on the parameters alone. There's also not a lot of hiding spots so the fish can be skittish.

 

Do you have a video of the fish? Your tank seems fine then based on the parameters alone. There's also not a lot of hiding spots so the fish can be skittish.

Not to be rude but you are saying everything that was already mentioned.

 

Do you have a video of the fish? Your tank seems fine then based on the parameters alone. There's also not a lot of hiding spots so the fish can be skittish.

Yes I'll post a video right now. I had a bunch of fake plants that I removed to add live plants. Even with the fake plants they was skittish. Also at times they all run against the glass and gravel. Could that be ich that I dont see? I'll add more hides and plants asap.

 

Not to be rude but you are saying everything that was already mentioned.

Okay great you already mentioned it. Sorry didn't see your response, I tend to browse and respond quickly in-between my work

 

I'm trying to upload the video but the files to large. Bare with me please.
Passionfish we had a terrible introduction. If I got your panties in a bunch I apologize.
I cant upload the video. It's really frustrating me. Do you have any idea what would cause flashing and sort of like a cloudy color in the barbs. When the lights first come on they are always less colorful but every now amd then they'll stay like that not all but a few.

Not to be rude but you are saying everything that was already mentioned.

I dont mind. But if you do then please feel free to mod elsewhere. You're extremely rude. Expect the same from me.

 

If your fish are flashing repeatedly it indicates that something is irritating them. I had a similar experience a couple of years ago. My fish were flashing and itching on things and it got slowly worse over time. My water parameters were fine and I couldn’t see any spots so I ruled out Ich. However one day on very close inspection I noticed a bit of extra mucus (slime coat) on a couple of them. I dosed with praziquantel and it fixed the issue so I think it may have been skin flukes.

 

If your fish are flashing repeatedly it indicates that something is irritating them. I had a similar experience a couple of years ago. My fish were flashing and itching on things and it got slowly worse over time. My water parameters were fine and I couldn’t see any spots so I ruled out Ich. However one day on very close inspection I noticed a bit of extra mucus (slime coat) on a couple of them. I dosed with praziquantel and it fixed the issue so I think it may have been skin flukes.

Yes thank you. That's what all the research I've been doing is telling me. Flukes!! I'll order some meds and treat. I appreciate the help.

Okay great you already mentioned it. Sorry didn't see your response, I tend to browse and respond quickly in-between my work

Thanks boss. I appreciate the help a ton.

 

They might also appreciate some more plants in the tank. Your set up is beautifully simplistic, spotlighting the fish great but maybe they might also like more plants an stuff to hide in? Especially Angels and Barbs, they love plants because they don't always want to see everyone else in the tank. It helps them have kind of their own space to get away if they're annoyed by everyone, even us as their caretakers.

If they do have flukes, I hope they all recover!

 

Do you turn the light off every night? If the light is on 24/7 it can make fish act weird.

Your tank is pretty bare right now. Consider re-adding some artificial plants while the live ones grow in. And double check that your angels aren't pairing off or fighting. They're cichlids and can get more aggressive as they grow.

When I have an unknown and not instantly fatal disease in my tanks, I usually try aquarium salt following aquariumcoop's directions for a week before switching to a stronger medicine since other meds can mess with your bacteria cycle, live plants, stain the silicon, or hurt some fish depending on what you use.

 

They might also appreciate some more plants in the tank. Your set up is beautifully simplistic, spotlighting the fish great but maybe they might also like more plants an stuff to hide in? Especially Angels and Barbs, they love plants because they don't always want to see everyone else in the tank. It helps them have kind of their own space to get away if they're annoyed by everyone, even us as their caretakers.

If they do have flukes, I hope they all recover!

Thanks. The plants night take a few days to get here I just ordered some. Tomorrow I'll go to petsmart and or petco to check out some hides. The keywords I keep seeing from you guys are HIDES. I appreciate you all even passionfish.

 

Thanks. The plants night take a few days to get here I just ordered some. Tomorrow I'll go to petsmart and or petco to check out some hides. The keywords I keep seeing from you guys are HIDES. I appreciate you all even passionfish.

You're welcome, check out wateriswet's reply too - we all just want happy fish and owners.

 

Do you turn the light off every night? If the light is on 24/7 it can make fish act weird.

Your tank is pretty bare right now. Consider re-adding some artificial plants while the live ones grow in. And double check that your angels aren't pairing off or fighting. They're cichlids and can get more aggressive as they grow.

When I have an unknown and not instantly fatal disease in my tanks, I usually try aquarium salt following aquariumcoop's directions for a week before switching to a stronger medicine since other meds can mess with your bacteria cycle, live plants, stain the silicon, or hurt some fish depending on what you use.

I was considering aquarium salt but I've read that the salt actually accumulates in the tank and takes a while to dilute out. I just ordered API General Cure. So far I've only read and heard good thing about it as far as deworming. I'll re add the fake plants on my next water change. I just fed them and they are all going crazy. It's really weird. I keep the lights on 7 hours a day on a timer since I got the plants. Before the plants I left them on for about 9 hours. It kind of hurts to hear my tank is bare lol I'm not going to lie. I'll spice things up for the betterment of fish keeping.

 

Yeah aquarium freshwater salt

I was considering aquarium salt but I've read that the salt actually accumulates in the tank and takes a while to dilute out. I just ordered API General Cure. So far I've only read and heard good thing about it as far as deworming. I'll re add the fake plants on my next water change. I just fed them and they are all going crazy. It's really weird. I keep the lights on 7 hours a day on a timer since I got the plants. Before the plants I left them on for about 9 hours. It kind of hurts to hear my tank is bare lol I'm not going to lie. I'll spice things up for the betterment of fish keeping.

Yeah aquarium freshwater salt I only ever use or advocate for really beat up fish, like a ton of fighting and damage, etc. It's true it isn't removed unless through water changes so it should be sparingly in my opinion and only as one of the last resorts.

Mainly because a lot of fish can have a bad reaction to it just like with meds, so you never really know. Just remember if you add meds to the water, if you have a carbon filter take it out while the meds do their work then put it back in. Carbon is great for getting meds out of the water, plus water changes.

Oh please don't feel bad about a bare tank! It really is spectacular, showing off the fish. We all just have to remember that fish are like us - we like our own spaces sometimes when we need them. Kinda like a house, if you think of it that way. Without "bedrooms", we're all stuck with each other out in the open whether we like it or not. Sometimes it's okay but sometimes we get annoyed and even swimming away, we can still "see" each other so having "bedrooms" helps. I hope that makes sense, LOL.

 

Yeah aquarium freshwater salt

Yeah aquarium freshwater salt I only ever use or advocate for really beat up fish, like a ton of fighting and damage, etc. It's true it isn't removed unless through water changes so it should be sparingly in my opinion and only as one of the last resorts.

Mainly because a lot of fish can have a bad reaction to it just like with meds, so you never really know. Just remember if you add meds to the water, if you have a carbon filter take it out while the meds do their work then put it back in. Carbon is great for getting meds out of the water, plus water changes.

Oh please don't feel bad about a bare tank! It really is spectacular, showing off the fish. We all just have to remember that fish are like us - we like our own spaces sometimes when we need them. Kinda like a house, if you think of it that way. Without "bedrooms", we're all stuck with each other out in the open whether we like it or not. Sometimes it's okay but sometimes we get annoyed and even swimming away, we can still "see" each other so having "bedrooms" helps. I hope that makes sense, LOL.

That absolutely makes sense. Great analogy! They really are like us in a way if you really think about it. Small world. Take care and stay as safe as possible. Thanks again to all of you.

 

Can’t speak as to the flashing, hopefully someone else will address that. As for the spooking and bottom sitting, I would think it is because they have absolutely nowhere to hide. Makes them feel insecure. A dark background, plus one or both end walls covered, and some taller decor/plants (real or fake) should help them settle some. If you can see nearly all your fish at once, there isn’t enough stuff in the tank.

 

Can’t speak as to the flashing, hopefully someone else will address that. As for the spooking and bottom sitting, I would think it is because they have absolutely nowhere to hide. Makes them feel insecure. A dark background, plus one or both end walls covered, and some taller decor/plants (real or fake) should help them settle some. If you can see nearly all your fish at once, there isn’t enough stuff in the tank.

Hides coming tomorrow morning. Thanks for the advice.

 

I actually have a large amount of fake plant tank decorations I’m trying to give away. I wouldn’t charge you a thing if you wanted them, they are a touch dirty and may need to be soaked in diluted bleach or cleaned how you are comfortable before they go into your tank. I can send you some pictures if you’re at all interested.

 

I actually have a large amount of fake plant tank decorations I’m trying to give away. I wouldn’t charge you a thing if you wanted them, they are a touch dirty and may need to be soaked in diluted bleach or cleaned how you are comfortable before they go into your tank. I can send you some pictures if you’re at all interested.

Thanks. That's extremely kind of you. I would appreciate it but I wouldnt want you to go through that hassle of sending me the plants. That was so kind. I'm speechless to be honest. Bless your heart.

 

Thanks. That's extremely kind of you. I would appreciate it but I wouldnt want you to go through that hassle of sending me the plants. That was so kind. I'm speechless to be honest. Bless your heart.

Its certainly not a hassle on my part, I do fear the hassle may be cleaning them which is why I couldn’t charge anything. There’s some algae growth on a few that I didn’t have the patience to clean. The offer still stands so long as you are comfortable so please do consider!

 

First and foremost I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy through these times. I'm not new here I've posted before when I first started. I'm not a newb but my all means I'm not advanced or super knowledgeable. Trail and error. It seems all my fish are sick except my Cories. They all flash after water changes and every now and then. I observe them as close as I can amd I dont see and ich. I'm assuming some type of parasite. The thing is none of my fish swim. I have 2 male 3 spot gouramis 5 emerald Cories 5 albino Cories 2 veil angelfish and 8 tiger barbs. My barbs stay at the bottom most of the time huddled together in front of the anubias. The barbs almost never come to the top to eat anymore. One gourami stays behind the filter intake while the other gourami stays at the bottom behind the driftwood. My Angel's are fine. They all eat but it's weird. Weird meaning it's almost like they are scared. The Angel's eat fine. Another thing I've had my gouramis for almost the life of the tank at least a year and half and they are very scared. I cant come to the tank without them thrashing like I'm trying to kill them. I love my fish and it's really bothering me. Can someone please help. I apologize if I put this in the wrong spot. Ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrates 5-10. Temp 76. Please dont make fun of my plants lol. They are new. Heres a few pictures.

Are any fish new? Anything new around time this started to happen? With it being winter be careful to temp match your water during WC i have a few friends who lost fish and we cant figure out why. We think maybe too big of temp change on WC day.