I know, bad on me only running back to the forums for help. But I do have a problem. Just this morning I noticed that Romeo, a tiny black moore of mine was basically not moving/being swept away by the tank currents. He's never been a really strong swimmer, but today it's like he can't swim at all. I know he's alive because when I fed he tried to get to the food, but it was like he couldn't. A few minutes ago I looked over to check up on him and he was stuck to the filter intake. I know that he's alive, but this seems very odd to me. I've now rigged up a little floating bucket thing for him to rest in, since he doesn't seem to be able to fend for himself (I did try moving him to a tank with a little gentler water flow, but he's so small the other fish thought he was snack).

In summery, Help!

Ammonia Level: 0ppm
Nitrite Level: 0 ppm
Nitrate level: 5ppm
Ph Level: 7.8 (this is what really worries me)
Ph Level out of the Tap: 7.4
Tank size(How many Gals) and How long has it been running: 29 us gallons, it's been up for about a month and a half (we just moved)
What kind of Filtration: whisper for a 30-60 gallon (no idea how many gph)
How often do you change the water and how much: Once a week, usually between 25-50%
What kind of Water additives or conditioners: Stress Coat by Aquarium Pharm. (I just switched from amaquel due to finacial and transportation issues)
Any Medications add to the tank: Nope
How many fish in the tank and there size: 3 fish (Jester 5", Mr. Right 4", Romeo 2.5")
Add any new fish to the tank: No
What do you feed your fish: Peas, freeze dried misquito larvea, and progold
Any unusual findings on the fish: Nope
Such as "grains of salt", bloody streaks, frayed fins, fungus: Nope, just normal looking fish
Any unusual behavior: See above
If you can what is the chloramines Level from the Tap: I can't test this

does this sound like the fishes symptoms?


The fish swims lethargically and the flee reflex is absent. The eye reflex is disturbed or absent. They do not seek cover

Yes, it does. He's also kinda flipped to the side.

I've done some searching around the net and I can't seem to find anything Is there any way someone could help?

Why does the Ph scare you? Is he pooping?

because it's higher than normal for my tanks.My other two tanks are registering at 8.0 and 8.2

My tanks usually have a ph of about 7.2

OOh, I'm so sorry about your fish. I'm sure someone will come along to help. DO you have a quarintine tank so at least he's a little safer? Good luck!!

This sounds a little like my black moor who was became lethargic (thought this was related to his fins being stuck together but found this was related to genetics - not illness). Then from lethargy, he degenerated quickly - he stopped moving, stopped eating, started to arch on his side while his eyes became coated and milky. After removing him from my main tank (was flung around from the current which would have stressed him more) I isolated him and often wondered if he was still alive so after trying salt baths - which didn't work, I hastily treated him with a broad spectrum medication. I couldn't work out if it was bacterial, fungal or parasitic and was running out of time fast but thanks to a reply to one of my threads, it was recommended I get these meds(I'm unable to get medicated food which was recommended).

He's doing that much better (almost 100%) and perhaps this is similar to what your fella is suffering?

I hope he gets well very soon (poor little thing)

before looking at what ive found below maybe doing lots of water changes to bring the ph down may help as some fish dont take too well to fluctuations in the ph. have you any decorations or stones in the tank that could possibly raise the ph? and maybe dosing with some aquarium salt may help. .1% helps as a tonic, 1 level tablespoon per 5 gallons and dissolve it first. the local authority may have added something to the water to change the chemistry of it as well, so i would say get a dechlorinator that takes out the chloramine and heavy metals if it doesnt already do that. maybe to treat him you could get him a seperate container, maybe a rubbermaid or something similar, but he would need an airstone to keep the oxygen level up.





there is a condition called sleeping sickness which is caused by blood flagelletes and i dont know if it would only affect one fish (treatment is with 5 drops of methylene blue per 5 gallons). so the other thing im looking at is your fish is suffering from a severe condition of the internal organs.

if it is to do with the internal organs then the treatment is with gentamycin sulfate
"Probably the most powerful gram-negative anti-bacterial on the market today. Effective in fresh and salt water aquariums. Only 1 dose is usually required. One of the few drugs that is absorbed into the blood stream through the gills."

Use Gentamycin Sulfate for 10 days. Treat once every 5 days, with a 50% water change before each treatment.

i dont know where you will find this and maybe there is a treatment with this in it, or maybe a vet could help you out.

this is all i can find with the symptoms. good luck and keep us posted.

Thanks guys, I was really happy to wake up and find a reply this morning. I'm off today to get a ten gallon from nnnnnn so I can watch him more closely by himself. Will try water changes and salt first.

And Jen that sounds exactly like Romeo - except for the milky eyes.

I'm really hoping the ph is the problem and it can be fixed quickly - I'm not to sure my finances will allow to much else.

Thanks again for your help and I try to keep you updated.

I think the milky eyes were an infection brought on by being flung around - was told this can happen if his eyes make contact with rocks and the like. Other than that, if it sounds the same then there is great hope. Even perfect water conditions with salt additives had a positive effect on my black moor - he just needed something stronger for his eyes.

My fingers are crossed (and my toes). I hope Romeo makes a speedy recovery - black moors are a personal favourite of mine - they're just that darn cute.

Unfortunatly I lost Romeo night before lat (for some reason I haven't been able to get to the boards). When I pulled him out of the tank he was pine coning, which I know to be a sure sign of dropsy. Were any of his symptoms dropsy like? I looked it up on like, 10 different sites yesterday and none of them discribed how he was acting as dropsy like.

Anyway, what do I need to do now to

1. DIssinfect the quarentine tank

2. Make sure his tankmates don't get it.

He had bubble eye and fantail tank mates I would hate to lose. Right now I'm feeding medicated food that I bought yesterday. Is this even necessary???

thanks, Tabi