blink Posted May 6, 2013 Report Share Posted May 6, 2013 I've come home to a bit of a mystery, one of my MacCulloch's rainbows is ill. It's coloration is off, looking very dark along it's back and sort of a patchy appearance on the body. It is swimming oddly, seems like he's having trouble staying upright and going in straight lines. It is also hovering around the surface of the water. Here is the sick one And here is a healthy one I realize it's probably tough to see the difference, but the black lines in the sick fish's patterning are much darker and heavier and it looks darker over all. Any guesses? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blink Posted May 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2013 Looks like he didn't make it and I've got another one acting strangely, very listless but at the same time frentic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cainechow Posted May 7, 2013 Report Share Posted May 7, 2013 Doesn't swim like he's chasing his own tail sometimes does he? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blink Posted May 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2013 No, not really. The frenetic one is just zipping around the tank at full speed from corner to corner looking like it's trying to hide but not hiding when it gets to a nice quiet spot. I've turned out the lights to try and help them keep calm and of course I've done a water change, first step as usual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geleen Posted May 7, 2013 Report Share Posted May 7, 2013 These guys seem very sensitive. What is the temperature? I find them susceptible to worms when only slightly stressed. They absolutely need clean water and I closely watch the nitrates in the tank they are in....I like that value to be < 20 Adding some new fish recently? Hth John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blink Posted May 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2013 I can't think of anything that has changed. Weekly 30% water changes Temperature has been steady even with the increasing outdoor temperatures Nitrates seem alright, I didn't test them before today's water change but I've been keeping an eye on them and they've always been around 10-15 No new fish since I put the rainbows in the tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geleen Posted May 7, 2013 Report Share Posted May 7, 2013 The frenetic darting might well be a response to irritation in the gut...this fish will likely die as well. I have seen it before. Unfortunately without the right equipment or other visual symptoms treating the whole tank is irresponsible in my opinion. I have removed all the macollochi in the one with the sick ones, to a hospital tank and treated them only, with some success.....they survived. Perhaps start with a wormer. With mine levamisole helped BUT will cause some or (semi) permanent sterility. Good luck John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blink Posted May 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2013 The darter seems better, moving much more normally. The other three fish seem fine, are all behaving normally today. I'll try a de-wormer and keep watching them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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