PlanetCatfish.com

1. Water parameters
a) Temerature range: 25-26 celcius
b) pH: 6.8
c) GH: very soft Melbourne tapwater
d) KH: see above
e)Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite, levels: 0,0,0 - as accurately as the colors tell me - maybe leaning towards the next color of 5ppm nitrates
f) Water change frequency: 30% weekly

2. Tank set up
a) Size: 32x25x18cm = ~15l
b) Substrate: 3mm gravel
c) Filtration: Hydor EKIP 250
d) Furnishings: One Radican Sword, one large piece well-chewed driftwood (also from the dolichopterus tank)
e) Other tank mates: none
f) How long has it been set-up: very new
g) When was the last new fish added: all 3 yesterday

3. Symptoms / Problem description
I have admired these fish for a long time and finally bought a trio, two 2.5cm and one 3cm (who appears to have the beginnings of a bristle). The breeder is a local guy rather than a fish shop (where the breeder would probably also be a local guy I suppose). Since being put in their new tank they have no touched any food and have stayed up at the top of the tank right near the waterline. Sometimes a nose is just poking out of the water, sometimes a fin. They also like to hang around on the filter.

Because I did not have tank room for them I got my small tank out of storage and shared gravel, filter media and water from my other bristlenose tank, adding water to the other tank as if it were just a water change.

Thinking they might have been up high due to low O2 I allowed some air into the filter stream (these filters have an air intake that can be opened or closes for aeration) but this morning they're still doing it. They didn't touch JBL Novochips or Novotab and appeared not to even look at some fresh zucchini I left in overnight.

They do not appear sick or sluggish or physically damaged in any way. When they move, they move quickly but they just don't like going down below the waterline. All my plain BNs dive straight down and find the nearest piece of wood or stone to hide under.

Any ideas on what they might be missing? Could it be they were raised in a very shallow tank and are used to being so close to the top? Could they be hanging around the filter because it is black and they are camouflaged?

edit: think I found a problem. One fish has now gone down to his home in the driftwood, looks happy - it's the bigger one with the bristle. The other two are still up high and I think it is because they have swollen bellies. Pictures:

http://www.users.on.net/~aeberbach/swollen_side.jpg
http://www.users.on.net/~aeberbach/swollen_under.jpg

Looks like air to me, which would explain why they can't swim down. What to do?

edit: sure enough the littlest fish died and he was full of air

This sucks.

It's gas caused of a bacteria infection, they had probably this before you baught them. When raising fry it's important with clean water and to clean the surfase in the grow up tank (gravel, glassbottom etc.) which are contaminated with bacteria and against them even Pseudomonas which are dangerous for fry and if it's heavy even for adults. Not so much to do when they have reach that level with gasbloat.

Janne

The two that survived are now looking healthy and hiding under the driftwood. Could it have been that they simply got too cold in transport? They were delivered by the breeder and came in a fast food container. It is winter here now.

The belly was that big that she couldn't attach her mouth to the glass. I was 90% shore that she was going to die but somehow she made it. I was planing her for spawning and now shes useless because the belly is always flat, and I think the illnes afected her ability to produce eggs.

Maybe these symptoms can be caused of to cold water or if they get quickly chilled, I dont know but this symptom is common when fry or youngster are hold in tanks with to high bacteria level.

Janne

Oh well. I'm happy to say the two survivors have made a complete recovery and are doing everything little peppermints should, even getting bold enough to come out and scavenge during the day while I am right next to their tank.