Okay, here's some quick info:

20 gallon running for 2 and a half months
2 fish...all under 2 and a half inches
ammonia = 0
pH 7.5
150 Aquaclear and UGF

Okay, I've had a small (inch and a half) fantial for about a month and a half now, and he's been sick pretty much the whole time. First had ich, treated it with IckCure and went away in a few days; then got some wierd greyish film near one gill, and has been gasping for air at the surface all the time since then. I've tried treating with Quick Cure and salt, salt sips and a hydrogen peroxide dip, and the tub-to-tup method. But the film hasn't gone away, and he is still having breathing problems. He appeared healthy in all other ways, eating and swimming around fine. I stopped treating him about 2 weeks ago, deciding to see if he could get better on his own.
But, I just went over to the tank about 20 mins ago, and was watching him swim around. He was twitching and flashing and swimming very erratically. I tested my ammonia and pH, which were 0 and 7.5 respectively. I decided to change some water anyways, since I don't have nitrite or nitrate testers, and I thought maybe that might be affecting him. While I was changing the water, I was watching him swim around, and he was starting to flip over while swimming, and at one point he was floating at the surface. I splashed the water near him, and he revived, and is still swimming around. I put about 35% new water in...but don't know what else to do!!?? I feel like I'm losing him! Should I seperate him completely and put him into a 2 and a half gallon tub I have?
Please help!

He now seems to really be having trouble staying upright...he's basically swimming right at the top of the water, gasping for air, and his belly keeps floating up to the surface, then he rights himself, and he floats up again. What's going on? Anything I can do???

bubble, I am so sorry. I am not sure what may be going on with your little guy. If I had some advice to give you then I would.. I do know that when fish stay up at the top for extended periods of time that it sometimes indicates lack of oxygen.

Perhaps gill flukes? Flukes are not easily killed by most common parasite treatments. I believe the treatment of choice is Prazi Pro, which is available mail order. But that isn't going to help you right now.

I hope your fish survives. Good luck and let us know how things turn out.

He's still kickin', though not looking very good. He just can't seem to breath, and now seems to be acting like he has swimbladder problems...though maybe it's just a sign of him weakening. I feel so bad for him. I also have noticed that my other fish seem to be spending more and more time at the surface, gasping too. It seems like there's something wrong with the water...though my ammonia tested 0 (and I did a water change), and my pH is 7.5 (usual)...I need to get myself some nitrite/nitrate testers ASAP. Anyone have any ideas of what I can do in the meantime? (that is if my fishy is still alive in the morning ...it looks so exhausting! I hope he's got some fight left in him!)

It really does sound like you have flukes here. Until you can get your test kits and some meds to treat with (if it is flukes), then I'd be doing 30% water changes daily which will hopefully reduce the numbers of the critters in your water and so stop them irritating your fish so much.

Well, he's still alive! I really did think I was going to wake up to find him belly up, but nope, he's actually looking better! Last night before I went to bed he was having some serious trouble with his balance...basically floating at the surface, gasping, almost on his side. But yet, somehow, miraculously he made it through the night...at a good breakie...and is even swimming much straighter now! I can't seem to figure out where the swimming problems came from...and why he got so ill last night. I had just changed the water a day before...and then 2 days before that...wierd. Well, at least he's looking better.
I suppose I should try treating for flukes? I had tried a hydrogen peroxide dip before (which didn't even seem to faze the little guy), which is suppose to treat flukes...but it didn't help at all. What meds do you guys recommend? I'll have to traval across the city to find some decent ones, so I'd like to go prepared (as the people in the fish stores know surprising little about fish). Any thing else I should be doing right now along with water changes? Is salt a good idea? or could that just cause him more stress?
Thanks for the help!

Your fish may have a parasitism (which could be many things besides gill flukes), but without knowing what your water quality is, using meds is ill-advised. Get your nitrites checked FIRST. In the meantime, yes, you could salt. Salt will kill or slow down many parasites, as well as prevent nitrite absorbtion, so it's a good in-the-meantime option (.3-.6%). Do get your nitrites checked ASAP, though.

Good luck.

Guys, I really need some help! My fish was doing much better earlier today, but as the day has progressed, has only gotten worse and worse. And the scariest part is that now all my fish are acting strange...all floating around at the top of the water, gasping for air, and having trouble keeping themselves upright. I changed 35% of the water both yesterday and today (tonight actually, about 3 hours ago), but it hasn't helped, and they just look worse as the night progresses.
I really need some advice. I'm headed to the petstore tomorrow to pick up some nitrite and nitrate testers, but also need to have an idea of any meds I should get. I will also pick up some salt, and see of that helps at all.
I'm so worried about my fishies!!!
Please help!

If your water params check out alright (meaning 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites), then it's pretty safe to assume your fish is suffering from a parasite infestation. I would suggest a med containing formalin if you can find it, or a combo of formalin/malachite green (you can buy each of these things individually in bottles). Formalin/MG will kill off a broad range of parasites, having a great kill rate of the "quick killers". Quick Cure is a formalin/MG med. Be sure to remove any salt that may be in your tank before treating. Let me know what you can pick up.

Good luck.

Thanks. I actually have some Quick Cure, and treated the tank with 2 rounds of it, maybe 3 weeks ago...didn't improve the situation at all. Does that rule it out? or should I try again?
I didn't make it the the petstore today, but am headed there tomorrow...so I"ll find out my water parameters, and let you know.
By the way, all fishies are currently alive and well (or at least alive).
Thanks again.

The fact that you treated twice with it doesn't necessarily mean that you don't have a parasitism that you'd want to use formalin/mg to kill off. QC is a pretty low dosage of both meds, so you would most certainly need to dose more than twice. It is a pretty harsh med, though, so do test your water parameters before you decide to treat again to be sure that is not the problem, and do NOT use formalin with salt in the water.

No salt eh? Well, last time I treated with QC, I was also keeping about a 0.3% salt solution in the tank...so could that have innactivated the meds? Or is it just harsh on the fish?
Also, over the last 48hrs, I've added salt to bring it back up to 0.3%, and the fish seem to be doing better...or at least the two fish that were just recently showing signs of lack of oxygen aren't gasping as much. The littlest one still appears pretty sick, but definitely better then he was a few nights ago.
So, I'm headed to the petstore today, to pick up testers and anything else I might need. Should I try a different med? or should I stick with the Quick Cure?

Also, how would you recommend treating with Quick Cure? I've heard different things from different sources...like should I cover the tank with a towel? and how often should I be doing water changes?

Thanks for the help!

Mixing salt and QC can be hard on (or kill) the fish.

Your nitrites are high, and that could be your (and your fishs') only problem. I wouldn't advise treating with anything now. The salt will help protect them from the nitrites. If, when your water params are *perfect*, your fish still don't seem to improve, they might need medication, but don't try to do that now. Take care of your water quality, and let the water take care of the fish.

Good luck.

Thanks for all the help...I will definitely hold off on the meds until the water quality is perfect.

Even with perfect water quality, I wouldn't advise medicating any time soon unless something takes a drastic turn for the worst. The nitrite exposure and frequent medication could have significantly damaged the fish's ability to "breathe", so give it a good while in nice, clean water, maybe with a little bit of salt before jumping to meds.

Cool. Thanks again for all the help.