I have a pair of bluefin killifish in a 5.5 gallon tank. The female is getting very thin and hollow-bellied. She swims tail down and doesn't seem to want to eat. Other than the hollow belly I can see nothing wrong with her. In the past she has eaten blackworms, mosquito larvae and BBS, but she has never shown interest in a few kinds of flake food that I have offered. Now she doesn't seem to want anything. The male has stopped chasing her around and now appears to be very gentle and attentive, and nuzzles her frequently.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Helen
Bluefin getting very thin
Started by
Guest_HelenB_*
, Sep 19 2008 09:15 PM
8 replies to this topic
#3
Guest_butch_*
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Posted 20 September 2008 - 02:19 PM
Sounds like she has parasites. I personally don't believe that male would stressed the female bluefin out resulted hollow belly, the bluefins are peaceful toward their own kind. And sounds like the help is way beyond for this female when she is in hollow belly state.
Move to the large aquarium won't be help with it, I've kept a pair of bluefin in 5.5gal in past and I never had problems...so space isn't issue in here, its parasites.
Move to the large aquarium won't be help with it, I've kept a pair of bluefin in 5.5gal in past and I never had problems...so space isn't issue in here, its parasites.
#4
Guest_HelenB_*
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Posted 20 September 2008 - 07:29 PM
Thanks for the replies. I'll try some anti-parasite stuff. A few of her offspring are in the tank along with the male.
She's been like that for about a week. I thought that she had had it last weekend, but she seemed to rally, then weakened again. I didn't think that the male's behaviour had caused the problem, I just thought that it was rather touching the way he changed from being a pest to showing what appeared to be gentle affection for a sick mate.
Thanks,
Helen
She's been like that for about a week. I thought that she had had it last weekend, but she seemed to rally, then weakened again. I didn't think that the male's behaviour had caused the problem, I just thought that it was rather touching the way he changed from being a pest to showing what appeared to be gentle affection for a sick mate.
Thanks,
Helen
#6
Guest_HelenB_*
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Posted 20 September 2008 - 09:37 PM
I've had them two months, from Sachs. They have only been in the 5.5 gallon tank since I got them and until the offspring turned up they were the only occupants apart from some snails and hydra that came in with the plants . The hydra got killed by a tiny dose of fenbendazole.
They have been spawning, though not profusely. I removed three eggs from the hornwort, which hatched OK. Two or three young fish have appeared in the tank from eggs I didn't see.
Thanks,
Helen
They have been spawning, though not profusely. I removed three eggs from the hornwort, which hatched OK. Two or three young fish have appeared in the tank from eggs I didn't see.
Thanks,
Helen
Edited by HelenB, 20 September 2008 - 09:38 PM.
#7
Guest_topminnow_*
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Posted 21 September 2008 - 02:45 PM
Did you collect the plants yourself? I've come across harmful bacteria and parasites which hitch-hike along with snails/plants. You might try adding some salt to the aquarium though it will melt the hornwort. Java moss would work well in your situation. It sound like your females been spawning pretty frequently which could lead to a sunken-belly.
#8
Guest_butch_*
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Posted 21 September 2008 - 05:46 PM
Did you collect the plants yourself? I've come across harmful bacteria and parasites which hitch-hike along with snails/plants. You might try adding some salt to the aquarium though it will melt the hornwort. Java moss would work well in your situation. It sound like your females been spawning pretty frequently which could lead to a sunken-belly.
Its doesn't sounds the spawning frequently resulted into sunken-belly. They don't lay 50 eggs everyday, just 2-3 eggs. Its mostly likely that plants carried some tasty snacks just happened to be infected with parasites.
#9
Guest_HelenB_*
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Posted 22 September 2008 - 09:25 PM
Some of the plants were collected from the Delaware and some from the old pond in the back yard, so there is a good chance that something hitched a ride. I did treat some of the plants with potassium permanganate, but maybe not all of them.
I put some salt in the tank, and started treating it with Chem-Marin 'Stop Parasites'. Maybe the female seems to be rallying a little. I guess that my main concern is that the symptoms partly resemble 'fish TB' though the female has no signs of ulcers.
Thanks for all your help.
Helen
I put some salt in the tank, and started treating it with Chem-Marin 'Stop Parasites'. Maybe the female seems to be rallying a little. I guess that my main concern is that the symptoms partly resemble 'fish TB' though the female has no signs of ulcers.
Thanks for all your help.
Helen
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