Help With Diagnosing Black Skirt Tetra Issue.

Hi,

I would like to ask an aquariumist, if they could help me diagnose an issue with my 5 year old black skirt tetra. Lately it has been rocking while swimming and looks disoriented. It still has a strong appetite. I tried to attached a 15sec video from today, but it would not accept it for upload. So maybe I can email it to someone that wants to help. Also I tested nitrite, nitrite, ph, gH, gC, and ammonia with apI kits. All said safe. The fish is a lone survivor from an original group of five. I inherited it from my girlfriend in a 1 gallon tank, they weren’t going to keep it, so I’ve been taking care of it for about 5 years now.

Thanks,

Steve P.

 

If it lived 5 years in a one gallon tank I'm impressed. Maybe you added it to a larger tank. In any case, they live 3 to 5 years. You are probably seeing the effects of old age.

 

Yeah, it's most likely at the end of its life, often when you buy fish they're already anywhere from 3 months to a year old so after that long it's probably just reaching the end of its time. Good on you for giving it such a long life though!

 

HI Carbeo,

Thanks so much for you input. Moving it to a larger tank might be to much on it right now, since I think that it would need a while to cycle? Can I send you the video?

 

Yeah, it's most likely at the end of its life, often when you buy fish they're already anywhere from 3 months to a year old so after that long it's probably just reaching the end of its time. Good on you for giving it such a long life though!

Thanks I feel sad about it. Even though it’s a small animal you get attached.

 

Thanks I feel sad about it. Even though it’s a small animal you get attached.

Oh absolutely! I was sad when my tiger nerite snail died! It's never easy losing an animal you've cared for, especially the smarter species when they're so personable. Every fish has its own unique personality, if it does pass though it's clearly nothing you've done, keeping any fish for 5 years is awesome.

 

Does it tend to float up or down and have to keep correcting? In which case it would be the swim bladder. You can fast the tank for a couple of days, then cook some peas and mush them up removing the casing.

Also have you tried uploading your video to YouTube, then posting the link on here?

Good luck