White cloud swimming at 45 degree angle?

[liuj1]

Hi all, this is unusual as I am expecting losses from my fishy cycling tank that I unfortunately put too many fish in too quickly.

As it stands, I have only one fish lost so far, a small glowlight tetra that died a week after its occupation. Two of the remaining nine look pale and shimmy a bit, but otherwise the rest of the fish are okay...

Except for one White cloud minnow swimming at a 45 degree angle! The tail drags down like a penguin tetra, and appears to have difficulty swimming. I netted it and examined the fish up close for any signs of disease or parasites, but have not found any.

My water parameters are all fine, and due to some hot weather, the heat in my tank has risen a degree or two to 76-78 degrees fahrenheit, and I have just changed the filter on my whisper filter.

Any ideas? should I put it out of what i perceive is misery, or should i risk it being something contagious?

 

[deocder]

I'd do a water change.

You said you water is fine.....does that mean that Ammonia - 0 and Nitrite - 0?

I keep my tanks between 78 - 80 degrees.

 

[anonapersona]

changing filter bags

Does the whisper have a sponge that remains in the filter when you change a bag? If not, then you ought to cut part of the old bag and put it in the new bag to transfer some bacteria. If it has a sponge, do remember to squeeze it out using dechlorinated water or water you have removed from the tank. This way the sponge will still allow good flow though it.

 

[liuj1]

ammonia is quite low (not sure if it's zero, per se) and nitrite is also close to 0.
The filter does have a sponge, which i did not change.

 

[anonapersona]

ammonia is quite low (not sure if it's zero, per se) and nitrite is also close to 0.
The filter does have a sponge, which i did not change.

So, how is the flow though that sponge?

Ammonia near zero is not the same as ammonia undetectable. Do you have a test kit?

 

[liuj1]

Yes. According to the kit, it's at 0.25. The flow through the sponge is just fine. I changed 2 gallons of water today, for what it's worth.

 

[daveedka]

If your ammonia and nitrite are that low, then your water changes are getting done well (but keep testing and changing water as much as needed to keep them very low). The next concern for me would be O2 levels with the elevated temp. White clouds like colder water, and colder water carries more oxygen. Increase surface disruption, and make sure you have good current throughout the tank. See f it helps.
HTH
Dave

 

[liuj1]

what's strange is that it's only one white cloud. all the others are fine, including all its tankmates. It looks healthy, and looks like swimming is its only difficulty.

 

[TKOS]

White Clouds are tough fish. If they start to show signs of difficulty it generally means they are in bad shape. Cooler water and high O2 levels is the best thing for them. Not really a tropical fish. Water changes as longa s their is detectable ammonia each day may help.

 

[liuj1]

Once again, this is just one white cloud. All the others are fine and dandy.