Whats He Doing?

T

tenlientl

AC Members
Sep 2, 2004
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One of my female guppy is floating like she's dead. Her mouth is kinda out of the water yet her tail is pointing right down. Like she was standing, lol. I thought she was dead at first, but when I came to scoop her up, she swam away. 2 minutes later, she's doing the same thing. Why? Is it okay?

Also, there's hydra in my tank. Kinda a lot just to inform you. And 2 of my male guppies died a few days ago(the female guppy that "seems dead" attacked one of the male but I dont know about the other one).


Also. Can I use table salt for my tank since I read a lot and "adding salt" is a good idea. And I'll be going to a lfs soon. Does anyone know any good products for treatment for these kinda things. I don't have a hospital tank. Also, what's good for hydra? I want them out.
 
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LittlePuff, Don't put salt in the water.

Your little guppy sounds like she may not make it. Adding salt will make things harder on your other fish. Just keep the lights out after dinner and worry about your other fish that are currently Okay.

Moving her to another tank will not amke her more comfortable. Just be sure your aquarium has been cycled, and the paremeters and temp are stable.

If she's in good water, she'll make it or she won't.

Is your tank new?

PS Any salt is fine. It's a myth that iodized salt is harmful. Although I wouldn't salt a SW aquarium with iodized salt, in the qualitities needed for medicinal use in FW tanks, it's a none issue.

Salt is only useful during times of NitrIte poisoning or for the treatment of ich microbes. Otherwise, your fish will do fine without it. Don't "just add salt" as it will likely only stress the already weak fish out...

Hope your fish does okay.

Read this:
http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-cycling.html
 
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Tank is cycled. No signs of nitrite and ammonia. Do you think the test kit is like "too old". It is pretty old...
 
A couple of points:
Table salt is, if memory serves, about 98% sodium chloride.

It is iodized, by the addition of sodium or potassium iodide, to prevent people who don't eat seafood from getting goiters.

It's iodide (I-) not iodine (I2). There's a world of difference between the ionic form of a compound and the covalently bonded molecular species. I2 is an antiseptic, kills pretty much everything, I- is an electrolyte required in small amounts for proper metabolism in all vertebrates.

Another example of the difference: chloride (Cl-) is the much loved electrolyte from salt, chlorine (Cl2) is a poisonous gas, infamous for its use in WWI.

I could go on, there are lots of subtle differences between similar and similar sounding chemicals. But the point is made, there's nothing wrong with table salt.

Perhaps the more relevant point is that the amount of I- in salt is so small that your fish would be killed by the salt long before the I- became a problem.
 
How frequently do you perform water changes? Even without ammonia/nitrite, other toxins can build up which will stress and can contribute to other ailments.
 
Well, ever since I added the fishes in. I've been doing weekly water change. About 50%. And it's only been 2 weeks since I got them. I actually did 3 water change in 2 weeks.
 
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