multiple problems in my 20g

[b_evans06]

To start off my tank is a 20g with 6 gold barbs, 6 black ruby tiger barbs, and 3 julii cory cats. Has been set up for nearly 2 years with 0 problems. Is medium planted and I do regular water changes. Usually I have time each day to sit and watch my fish for a few minutes but this summer I have been working more than usual and wake up, turn on the tank lights, feed the fish and go to work. Come home and turn off the lights and go about the rest of my night.

Problem 1: Well today I had some spare time and was watching the fish and one gold barb is getting picked on by another. It has a big wound on its side that is white and missing a few scales, it has been hiding in the corner and one of my bigger gold barbs will come over occasionally and kind of run it off so that it swims to another corner. Like I said it has been setup for nearly 2 years with 0 problems why would they suddenly start beating up on one another? Nothing new has been added with no recent changes to anything.

Problem 2: Another gold barb I noticed has a bulged out eye. I can tell a difference between its right eye compared to its left eye, also can tell difference between its eye and the other fishes eyes. I don't know how long it has been like this.

Both fish seem healthy and are eating normal. The only difference in behavior is the beat up fish hides in the corners when it is not eating.

I don't really know what caused these problems after 2 years of running so smoothly.

 

[jenratico]

Sounds like there is a bacterial infection in the tank - this could cause the pop-eye and affect the other fishes wound. It may have started out with the fish getting scraped on decor or something, but gotten worse as the bacteria took hold. The other fish may be picking on him because he's sick and they can. Do you test your water, or were you just assuming all is well because of the water changes? It's possible that something changed in your tap caused the tank to turn south. I suggest you test your water and do a larger water change so that things are really clean and treat the affected fish with an maracyn 2 or something similarly anti-bacterial. you could treat the whole tank, or pull those fish into a hospital tank. Good luck.

 

[Mexican Racoon]

can't say why they are fighting. sounds like pop eye, maybe from stress or fighting or the stress of fighting. you probably want to put the wounded fish in a separate tank with some medicine ASAP.

sorry, I don't even remember the name of the meds, you will have to research that or wait for better advice.



also, maybe get a timer for the light. cheap and easy, it's like buying a three dollar robot to flip the switch for you.

 

[b_evans06]

I am going to the local pet store for a water test tomorrow morning. The store is not the normal petco or petsmart its a local owned one so the people actually know what they are doing. I am thinking the barb may have scraped its side on the rocks because the fish always swim around frantically around the rocks when I feed them.

 

[b_evans06]

Upon further watching it looks as if the wound is just on the surface. The fish is normally yellow being a gold barb and the spot is white. I can still see lines in the white spot that look like scales. I don't know what a fish looks like without scales. The fish looks normal except the white spot on its side about 1/8th of an inch in diameter. I don't think the bigger gold barb is the reason behind the white spot, it has always been kind of nosy with the other fish so I think the wounded one is just scared of it since it's hurt and swims away from the bigger one.