Unwell Swordtail

One of my dad's female swordtail's is unwell. She hasn't been eating the past few days and today has become pale, sitting on the bottom hidden away with her fins clamped and breathing fast. Her fins are are little tattered too.

I tested the water, ammonia was 0, nitrite was 0, nitrate 5. He did a water change today. Temp is around 76-77. The tank has always been cycled, it's been set up for quite a while, hasn't had anything new (fish, plants) introduced in a while. All the other fish seem fine and are eating fine. She does not appear pregnant whatsoever.

Any ideas on what could be wrong? She doesn't have any other signs aside from what I've mentioned.

 

HI there. Sorry she isn't feeling well

If her fins are tattered, is there a chance she might be being picked on? It's helpful to find a way to spy in your fish sometimes, where they cannot see you. They'll behave differently when you're not around.

 

Well I moved her into a qt tank and she was moving around a bit more, and then she died really suddenly. No idea what was wrong

 

It's either a parasite or fish tb. If fish tb try to replace filters with sterilizing filters. If tjis doesn't work and more fish start showing this symptom, you'll habe to tear the tank down and disinfect everything and start over. It is very important to not touch tank water in case this is tb. Especially is you have gotten a paper cut or something. Toicjing tje tank water when it's infected with tb results in painful sores especially on the hands and arms. And about the tattered fins, you might want to treat the tank with melafix. Hope this helps!!

 

sophie, do you have a picture you could share ? I don't believe its fish TB.

 

This thread is about a week old, I mentioned earlier that she had died after moving her to QT. Thanks anyway guys.

 

Thanks sophie, missed your updated post, sorry for your loss, closing thread.