View Full Version : something wrong with my rainbow
Today I noticed a clear string like thing coming out of (well it looks like it's coming out of) my rainbowfish. The fish is staying on one side of the tank, and appears to be gasping for air. I tested the water and it came out perfect, so it's not that. At first I thought she was pooping, but this thing is clear, and has been hanging there all day now. I had ich in my tank about 3 weeks ago, but it has since cleared up. The tank is 55 gallons and is currently housing 5 rainbow fish, 3 cory's and a small pleco. All other fish seem fine.
dorkfish
05-06-2006, 3:47 PM
Roan gets that to:
http://bowheads.org/forums/showthread.php?p=2022#post2022
It's culumnaris, and it's caused by stress.
Ahh thanks. I guess the fish could possibly be a bit stressed from the temperature going way up to treat the ich? That's the only thing I can think of anyway.
dorkfish
05-06-2006, 4:17 PM
probably. the most you should keep rainbows at is 79F and even then thats kind of on the hot side.
Roan Art
05-06-2006, 6:23 PM
This sounds more like a parasite of some sort. What kind of bows are they, Erynn? Where did you get them? Have you introduced any new fish lately?
What is the temperature of the tank? Please add a bubble wand and get the surface aerated as much as you can. Bows are VERY O2 intensive fish and this will help him/her.
Rainbows CAN take heat for ich treatment. Short term, as with salt, is not a problem so long as the water is aerated. The warmer the water, the less oxygen is in it and bows need oxygen.
An interesting fact about rainbows is that most of them can also live -- temporarily -- in water up to 17ppt salt, very very high-end brackish. Not too long ago it was actually thought that bows were brackish water fish because those that live near marine water often travel to and fro. Those particular species of fish are also found to live in freshwater lakes and rivers, however, and thus the brackish fish myth fell.
Anyhow, please post more information, Erynn.
Roan
I can't remember the name of these ones, something like neon dwarf rainbows maybe? Anyway, they are pretty small, have shimmery silver bodies and the males have red on the tip of their fins. I got them from an excellent LFS, very clean, very big, this is the only place I'll get my fish. I haven't added any new fish to the tank recently. Right now the tank is at about 81 degrees.
The clear stringy thing fell off yesterday evening, but this morning I noticed another, smaller one, it really looks like it's coming out of her. She's still hanging out around the surface breathing rapidly. I feel so bad for her.
Roan Art
05-07-2006, 12:07 PM
Neon Rainbowfish, Melaenotaenia praecox, commercially called "Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish".
Please turn down the temperature to 77-78*. 81*F is too hot for praecox rainbowfish.
Can you get a picture of the "parasite" and the fish in question? It would really help if I could see what you were talking about.
Did you add the bubble wand?
Is she swimming in circles at all?
Roan
Added the bubble wand, no she's not swimming in circles, just staying at the surface and breathing rapidly. I'll try to get a picture posted tonight.