Sick Glowlite Tetra

[tackful]

All my other Tetras and Rasboras are healthy, and the water tests exactly the same as it has all year, but one of the fat glowlites is starting to turn a bit grey. It looks pretty bad. Is there something I can do?

[jpappy789]

What are your EXACT params? Is it still eating? Is the poo normal looking?

[tackful]

Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate all zero; pH 6.0. It's still eating a little, still looks fat, but I haven't seen anything come out.

[jpappy789]

Nitrate zero? Hmmm...how was this tank cycled and how heavily planted is it?

A lot of fish lose color due to stress. Is there any aggression/nipping going on? Anything new added recently?

[faun]

If you haven't seen anything come out it could be constipated do you feed a varied diet as feeding the same thing constantly can lead to constipation. I had this problem with guppies when i first started as i didn't realise a varied diet was important the folks here soon put me right .

[jm1212]

how long have you had them?

what other fish are in the tank?

how many of each?

how big is the tank?

what is the filtration on the tank?

how often do you do water changes?

[tackful]

The Glowlites are about a year old. Other fish: 2 SAE's, 4 Rummynose, 9 Priscillas (total of 5 new ones bred in the tank), and 5 Harlequin Rasboras. Now down to 7 Glowlites as the sick one died. Tank is a 29 gal tall with the original HOB filter, from which I have removed the charcoal. Weekly I change out 1/3 of the water. I feed bloodworms twice a week, and two types of flakes otherwise, with no feeding on water change day. My routine hasn't changed for almost a year.

[tackful]

About cycling, I used a bacteria starter and carefully tracked ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate for several weeks. Added 4 Glowlites a week after all tests showed 0, then weekly a few more fish until I had about 24. This was a year ago. I would say the tank is heavily planted, much like those in the ADA catalog, although recently I have begun thinning out significantly in order to see more of the fish.

[Blue_Ram]

Has there been any sign of aggression in the tank at all. Fish tend to loose color when be bullied around by other fish. Have you noticed any sort of growth on the fish?

Blue Ram

[jm1212]

the tank seems a little crowded. there could be some aggression going on, even though the tankmates are peaful fish.

are you sure you have SAE's?

[jpappy789]

I agree the the tank does seem a little stuffed. That alone could be causing stress and the discoloration is there are any disputes.

Also, do make sure you have true SAE's not false ones...

No signs of disease though?

[tackful]

Yes, they are true SAE's from a very reputable ADA products store in San Francisco. This was confirmed with AC help on an earlier posting, with helpful references having been supplied. And no, I have never seen any agression at all, nor has there ever been any disease in the tank or spots on the fish.

[jpappy789]

While there might not be any visible aggression going on I'm sure some sort of nipping/disputing is going on within the school to cause the fish to lose some of its color. I wouldn't worry as long as it acts and eats normal but definitely keep an eye out.