Need help with a Rainbow Shark..

First of all hello, first post here.


Right, the problem is that our fairley new rainbow shark seems to be having trouble swimming. I first noticed this a few days ago.

Then it was at the very top of the water, but it was upside down. Over the last few days nothing much has changed apart from that it is now swimming vertically. No matter what it does it doesnt seem to be able to dive. Infact it cant even get its mouth unfer the surface. I saw it try last night and it managed to get perhaps 6 inches down but it was a struggle for it before it gave up and just floated back to the top.

Oh and a quick edit, the fish has no damage to its body and none of its tank mates attempt to bully it.


Help!

 

Sounds like it could be swim bladder problems.

Is he bloated?
What other fish are with him and how big is the tank?
What are your readings for ammonia, nitrIte, and nitrAte (actual numbers please)?
Is he eating?
How does he look otherwise? Good color? Fins not ragged?

-Chelle

 

Nope he/she isnt bloated at all.

Right in the tank there are - 2 Cherry Barbs, 1 Silver Molly, 2 Buenos Aries tetras, 2 Bleeding Hearts, 6 Neons, 5 golden barbs, and a coupkle of cat fish buy i cant remember the breed :roll:

"What are your readings for ammonia, nitrIte, and nitrAte (actual numbers please)"

Taking a water sample tp be tested somethime this weekend.

Yes he is eating.

And apart from being "stuck" to the surface he looks fine.

 

I'd try to isolate him from the other fish and not feed him anything for a few days. Or you could give him a pea (regular frozen pea nuked in the microwave for a few seconds to thaw, then remove the shell). One of the causes of swim bladder problems is constipation (their swim bladder empties into their intestines). Peas act as a laxative in fish.

-Chelle

 

He's fine again today :y_the_best:

 

thats what happend when i put my piranah in my tank he slamed right in to the side of the tank and he was swimming goofy to he got better