My electric blue is about 3 years old and he is the biggest in the tank. This morning I found that my plecos wheir chewing on him as wheir the other fish. He was swimming odd and was white and bitten. I have never experienced this before so I called my local aquarium store and the clerk told me I should quarantine him or uthenize him. He is barely moving now and is flipped on his backside and his eyes are clouded. I used some melafix and salt. Will he survive this ordeal or would I be better to remove him. I don't really want to mix any medications with the other fish in the tank and I dont have a substitute tank available. I will try to fnd an inexpensive one if I can, I hate to lose this fish he was my favorite.
Malawi Mother Messages: 1215 Registered: February 2007 Location: Phoenix AZ
Senior Member
I know what you mean about losing your fav fish. However, I am sorry to say, it sounds like it's just too late for this one. If he is floating and eyes are cloudy, he is right there at deaths door. You can try to save him but I really think it would be a waste of your time. I hate saying that and I am sorry. You can put him in another tank if you want, treat with darkness, lots of oxygen, melafix and salt.
I am curious as to what caused this behavior all the sudden. Did you recently put new fish in your tank?
Did you notice anyone picking on it before?
Are you chemicals okay in the tank?
Just seems kind of odd for any electric blue of any species to become picked on.
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Well he did die, the tank just doesnt look the same. I tested the water with my freshwater kit and everything was in range. I did a partial water change as well(after sampling the water). I had noticed he was hiding beneath a rock for long periods of time, but I never noticed the other fish picking on him, he was usually the bully. I have a 72 gallon bow front tank and the fish have live and fake plants, not to mention rocks lots of hiding places. I really dont know what his weakness happened to be, non of the other fish are showing any signs of illness or odd behavior.
Malawi Mother Messages: 1215 Registered: February 2007 Location: Phoenix AZ
Senior Member
Well I am sorry for your loss. Sometimes a fish just gets sick without any signs and the other fish notice the weakness and will go after a sick fish. Again, I am sorry.
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You seem knowledgeable on this subject, it is happening again with another large fish of mine. My husband and I did a partial water change and vaccumed the gravel. This morning I see the other fish are picking on him and he looks a little bitten up but not nearly as bad as the last guy. At the moment he is seperated from the other fish. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You
Malawi Mother Messages: 1215 Registered: February 2007 Location: Phoenix AZ
Senior Member
Could you please tell me what the other fish all are? You may have a fish in there that needs more of it's own kind or can't be mixed with the fish you are currently buying.
Please come visit me at www.atozthatsme.com