Swimming in spirals???

[nightowl1350]

I have had my apisto cacatuoides for almost 3 weeks and have one that is swimming in spirals and breathing very hard. Is there anything I can do for it.

They were purchased at an auction and are quite yound. Currently in a 20g with some panda cory. I have been feeding flakes and decap brine shrimp 2x's a day. W/c done with dechlor or aged water....2 or 3 very small ones a week and a 20-30% change weekly. A cycled sponge filter was used to set up the tank.

 

[fishgeek]

ammonia levels? elevated will lead to neuro and respiratory signs

andrew
if the pH is increasing then more toxic to fish

 

[nightowl1350]

This happened about 8 hours after I did a 20% w/c. None of the other fish are having any problems, just the 1 apisto. For a 20g tank it is not over stocked and I clean up the bottom every few days, then min once a week do a w/c, so I don't think it is amonia levels.

 

[fishgeek]

check them and then you will know it isnt

 

[aspen]

first things first, check your water thoroughly.

rick

 

[nightowl1350]

Water checked out fine, after a w/c I would hope so , but it was still doing the spirals. I added a small amount of hydrogen peroxide (tip from other forum when there are breathing problems) and it seems much better today. It is swimming normal and it's colour is normal now....not eating yet, but I hope it will later.

 

[Sallywally]

You do realize that if you put hydrogen peroxide in your main tank and filter system, you have most likely wiped out all of your nitrification bacteria? Perhaps I misunderstood and this was in a hospital or quarentine tank that is having daily water changes anyway..............

 

[fishgeek]

how does H2O2 kill nitryfing bacteria in the filter ?
does anyone have any duration of effect/stability of peroxide compounds at differing temperatures and differing dose's

is it just the oxidative effect?

andrew

 

[nightowl1350]

At a very low dosage I don't think it will do anything to the bio balance. I only used 1/2 cap in a 20g tank. I have heard of it used for angel fry that seem to have bacterial problems (early stage) and it only takes one dose.to work. It does break down into water and oxygen.

I will keep an eye out for signs of bio balance out of wack. I do small w/c a few times a week just to clean up the bottom so they should be fine. Thanks for your input.

 

[aspen]

fry will often flash if exposed to amm or nitrite. or, they will start to die off. i don't believe a single doasage of 1 capful of H2O2 in a 20 gal will kill off your bio-filter btw. but it is ceratinly worth keeping your eye on for the next few days.

rick

 

[nightowl1350]

8) All is fine in the tank and so are the apistos. Don't know what caused the heavy breathing, but the peroxide worked and didn't do anything to the bio balance