help!

[Dee]

My partner has a small cold water tank with just two fish in that I'm
currently looking after. the fish are (I think) ornadas (?) , one black one
gold and white. When I went tot he tank this morning the black one seemed to
be trapped under the airstone. (He forages in the gravel). He swam away as
soon as I moved it but he's very lethargic and although he swims when I go
near, seems to spend the rest of his time on the bottom of the tank.
Any advice?
Thanks

[Geezer From The Freezer]

Dee

What are the water parameters like? Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrates??
Are you over feeding it? How long has your boy/f been away?
When was the last time a water change was performed?

[Mel]

My advice would be to get a test kit for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates
a.s.a.p and check your water parameters. Ammonia should be at 0, nitrites at
0 and nitrates under 20 if your tank is fully cycled and healthy. You
mention that you have recently cleaned your filter. Did you clean it with
tap water or with old tank water? Cleaning filters under tap water would
have killed off your beneficial bacteria so causing water quality problems
which could be why your fish is under the weather. As long as you get your
water quality perfect the fish with missing scales should heal well and
quickly. If the water quality isn't very good and without test kits you can
have no idea about this, then other problems such as fungus etc could occur.
Mel.

"Dee" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Geezer From The Freezer" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Dee
> >
> > What are the water parameters like? Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrates??
> > Are you over feeding it? How long has your boy/f been away?
> > When was the last time a water change was performed?
>
> 1/3 water changed 3 days ago. Water is clear and clean, filter has been
> cleaned out, sorry no idea of nitrate etc but I've added nothing different
> than what the fish have been in for the last 9 months. Only feeding a
pinch
> of flake food twice a day. Other fish seems fine but the black one has
lost
> some of his scales near his top fin and near his eye where is was caught
> under the air stone. When fed he swims around the tank as he always has
but
> when the food's gone he just sits on the bottom. He wasn't doing that
> yesterday
>
>

[Toni]

"Dee" > wrote in message
...
> When fed he swims around the tank as he always has but
> when the food's gone he just sits on the bottom. He wasn't doing that
> yesterday
>


Everyone is giving you really good advice...
I know you're concerned about the fish- you probably check on them fairly
often.
If when checking you offer food to test for responses you could be
overfeeding and adding to any problem. Try to resist the urge to feed too
much- sometimes nursing means witholding food as well.
Just a caution...


--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/aquarium.htm

[Dee]

He (she?) seems to be swimming around fine this morning. I added some
"Disease Safe" to the water (didn't add salt because of the other one and
I've got no way to separate them). The missing scales don't seem to bother
him but I noticed that the eye with the scratch above seems a little cloudy.
I think any problems are as a result of his little escapade not as a result
of a problem with the water etc, although I WILL get a testing kit.

[Geezer From The Freezer]

Keep an eye on your fishes eye!!