Fish Q&A Section: Changes In Behavior
Q:
My fish are listless and just sit on the bottom of the tank or
Koi pond.
A: Try checking the water temperature
first. If the weather has changed and it is cold outside, or
your heater is malfunctioning... this could cause this condition.
If the temperature is fine, this sounds like a bacterial infection.
Treatment: Treat the fish with
TMP
Sulfa -or-
Gentamycin Sulfate.
Q:
My fish are breathing heavily. I used an anti-parasitic
treatment but it didn't work
A: This sounds like the pH could be
too high (alkalosis), or there is an Ammonia or Nitrite problem.
Check all water parameters with a test kit.
Treatment: Do some partial
water changes and make sure to use a dechlorinator. If the pH
is too high for the species of fish, use some Sodium Monophosphate
to lower it. If the Ammonia is too high, increase the aeration
and use some
Aqua-Gold.
Q:
My fish cannot swim correctly and whirls-wobbles around the tank
A: This sounds like a bacterial
infection of the swim bladder.
Treatment: Use Erythromycin
powder for 10 days.
TMP Sulfa is also a good treatment for swim bladder disorders.
Whenever you suspect a
swim bladder problem, do not pop your fish with a pin or needle!
Q:
My fish is stuck
at the top of the water, and fights to swim down to the bottom.
A: This could be an internal parasitic
problem, especially in large cichlids.
Treatment: Treat the fish with
Paracide-D Mix the medication in the food and feed it
to the fish for 3-5 days.
Q:
My fish has turned dark and hides all the time. The fish
seems "spooked".
A: First check to see if there is
another aggressive fish in the tank, that is picking on this
particular fish. If you have small children or adults tapping
on the glass, this could be the case. Also, too much movement
around the tank, or too much cleaning and disturbing the tank, might
be the problem. Water quality could also be an issue.
Treatment: If none of the
above, treat the fish with
Parinox.
Q: The
fish look fine, but then suddenly jerk and dart around the tank or
pond.
A: Your fish are affected by
Parasites.
Treatment: Treat the fish with
De-Los
in freshwater tanks
-or-
Praziquantel. in marine tanks
Q:
My fish hang at the top of the tank, or underneath the waterfall
in the pond, and gasp for air.
A: Your fish are affected by Gill
Flukes
Treatment: Treat the fish with
De-Los
in freshwater tanks
or
Praziquantel. in marine tanks
Q:
My fish used to
eat readily, but now he won't eat at all. His stomach is all
bloated up.
A: Sounds like the fish has internal
Hexamita (Malawi Bloat).
Treatment: Treat the fish with
Metronidazole powder. Try starving the fish for 1 week and
feed him some
Metronidazole in some frozen food. Use 1/2 teaspoon per
1/2 pound of food. Feed it to the fish once a day for 5-7
days.
Q:
My fish eats like a pig, but his belly is all swollen up.
A: This sounds like internal
parasites, worms probably.
Treatment: Use
Paracide-D in the feed. Use 1/4 teaspoon per 100 grams
of food. Feed the medicated food to the fish once a day for
3-5 days.
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