Pepsi216
Member
Well, Polaris was doing great until this evening. He'd recovered from his bout with the gourami, his fins are back, and he seemed very happy. But tonight he was very listliss and just lying on the bottom of the tank on his side, rapidly pumping his gills. I watched him for awhile, and while he could go to the surface for air, it was hard for him, and after breathing, he would just sink right back down to the gravel. He didn't even have the strength to lie in the tall plants I have in the tank for him.
I added Marycin 2 to the water, but he kept looking worse so I moved him into a small plastic container so he wouldn't have to go as far to the surface. It's attached to the inside of his tank to keep the water warm during the night, and filled with mostly tank water and some dechlorinated tap water of the same temperature. As soon as I put him in there however, a small pool of blood collected in the bottom, coming from his gills. It's stopped, but I'm very worried for him. He's completely on his side at the moment, and while he has no trouble reaching the surface, he still looks very bad.
Tank readings are:
Temp: 81-82*
Ammonia: 0-.25ppm
Nitrates: 5ppm
Nitrites: 0ppm
Last water change was yesterday, about 50%. Used plenty of dechlor (but not too much), so it can't be a chlorine problem. There's nothing sharp in the tank that he could have hooked himself on, and there are no aggressive fish in there with him; in fact, the two Ottos that share his tank are very happy and swimming about eating algae. I don't think it's constipation; I've been careful feeding him, and I've seen him pooping recently. He's not bloated, just very dull in color. I'm at a complete loss.
I'm desperately hoping he gets better, but this came on so suddenly and he looks so sick that I honestly don't think he'll live the night. Please, does anyone have any advice?
~Kelly
I added Marycin 2 to the water, but he kept looking worse so I moved him into a small plastic container so he wouldn't have to go as far to the surface. It's attached to the inside of his tank to keep the water warm during the night, and filled with mostly tank water and some dechlorinated tap water of the same temperature. As soon as I put him in there however, a small pool of blood collected in the bottom, coming from his gills. It's stopped, but I'm very worried for him. He's completely on his side at the moment, and while he has no trouble reaching the surface, he still looks very bad.
Tank readings are:
Temp: 81-82*
Ammonia: 0-.25ppm
Nitrates: 5ppm
Nitrites: 0ppm
Last water change was yesterday, about 50%. Used plenty of dechlor (but not too much), so it can't be a chlorine problem. There's nothing sharp in the tank that he could have hooked himself on, and there are no aggressive fish in there with him; in fact, the two Ottos that share his tank are very happy and swimming about eating algae. I don't think it's constipation; I've been careful feeding him, and I've seen him pooping recently. He's not bloated, just very dull in color. I'm at a complete loss.
I'm desperately hoping he gets better, but this came on so suddenly and he looks so sick that I honestly don't think he'll live the night. Please, does anyone have any advice?
~Kelly