sitting at bottom

One of my fantails (4 years old) has been periodically sitting on the bottom
of the tank for the last few days. He swims about every so often, then
returns to the same corner of the tank and sits there for a while before
going off for another swim again. He has also been yawning frequently. He is
eating as usual and has no other symptoms.
My water parameters are fine (ammonia 0, nitrites 0 and nitrates 10, PH same
as usual) and I haven't introduced any new fish for at least 2 months.
Has anybody got any idea as to what could be the problem? It's quite
distressing to see him sat there looking so miserable and I desperately want
to get him back to his usual self.
Mel.

Mel wrote:

One of my fantails (4 years old) has been periodically sitting on the
bottom of the tank for the last few days. He swims about every so
often, then returns to the same corner of the tank and sits there for
a while before going off for another swim again. He has also been
yawning frequently. He is eating as usual and has no other symptoms.
My water parameters are fine (ammonia 0, nitrites 0 and nitrates 10,
PH same as usual) and I haven't introduced any new fish for at least 2
months. Has anybody got any idea as to what could be the problem? It's
quite distressing to see him sat there looking so miserable and I
desperately want to get him back to his usual self.
Mel.

Is the temp warmer than usual?

Anyhow, it can't hurt to go with a 50% water change with treated,
temperature matched water. See if that perks him up...

Others may have additional advice...

-D
--
"There is nothing so strong as gentleness, and there is nothing so
gentle as real strength." St. Francis de Sales

Thanks for replying. In answer to your question, no the temperature hasn't
changed at all. And as for the water change, I did replace 40% yesterday and
it has made no difference to his behaviour at all. I'm at a loss here.
Mel.

"Donald Kerns" wrote in message
...
Mel wrote:

One of my fantails (4 years old) has been periodically sitting on the
bottom of the tank for the last few days. He swims about every so
often, then returns to the same corner of the tank and sits there for
a while before going off for another swim again. He has also been
yawning frequently. He is eating as usual and has no other symptoms.
My water parameters are fine (ammonia 0, nitrites 0 and nitrates 10,
PH same as usual) and I haven't introduced any new fish for at least 2
months. Has anybody got any idea as to what could be the problem? It's
quite distressing to see him sat there looking so miserable and I
desperately want to get him back to his usual self.
Mel.

Is the temp warmer than usual?

Anyhow, it can't hurt to go with a 50% water change with treated,
temperature matched water. See if that perks him up...

Others may have additional advice...

-D
--
"There is nothing so strong as gentleness, and there is nothing so
gentle as real strength." St. Francis de Sales

Mel wrote:

Thanks for replying. In answer to your question, no the temperature
hasn't changed at all. And as for the water change, I did replace 40%
yesterday and it has made no difference to his behaviour at all. I'm
at a loss here. Mel.


OK, somebody else might know different, but I'd isolate the fish to a)
make any specific treatment easier and b) prevent any possible cross
infection.

If it we ME, I'd go tub-to-tub as described at the following link...

http://users.megapathdsl.net/~solo/p...htm#TUB_TO_TUB

http://users.megapathdsl.net/~solo/p...htm#diagnostic
techniques

Yawning can be "rock-itis" or toxic water or gill problems with bacteria
or parasites...

Again, others may have different advice, but if it were me, "Sleepy"
would be heading for a 18 gallon rubbermade tub, with clean, treated
and temperature matched water...

-Donald
--
"There is nothing so strong as gentleness, and there is nothing so
gentle as real strength." St. Francis de Sales

http://users.megapathdsl.net/~solo/p...m#peroxide_dip
the new fish might have brought something in. I take it you did not quarantine the
newcomers?
do you have gravel? if yes, it is time to move the fish to a bucket of water, drop in
an airstone. then clean the gravel in the tank completely... using treated water.
5 - 30-50% water changes every day for a week. add 1 teaspoon salt per 5 gallons, no
additives, dissolve first, add slowly. Ingrid

"Mel" wrote:

One of my fantails (4 years old) has been periodically sitting on the bottom
of the tank for the last few days. He swims about every so often, then
returns to the same corner of the tank and sits there for a while before
going off for another swim again. He has also been yawning frequently. He is
eating as usual and has no other symptoms.
My water parameters are fine (ammonia 0, nitrites 0 and nitrates 10, PH same
as usual) and I haven't introduced any new fish for at least 2 months.
Has anybody got any idea as to what could be the problem? It's quite
distressing to see him sat there looking so miserable and I desperately want
to get him back to his usual self.
Mel.




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