I have a 4foot tank ( 4x2x2 ) with about 20-30 small fish living very happily in it. I have never had a problem until about 2 months ago I purchased an eight inch comment. My mum brought him home for me and when I got him out the car in the plastic bag he was on his side, he stayed on his side in the tank for quiet awhile and for a few days after he barely moved from the darkest corner of the tank. After about a week he seemed absolutely fine except for an occasional “spastic” outburst where he flips in the water until he gets to the surface and hits the tank glass above it, it’s distressing to watch. About a week ago i saw he had colour loss on some of his body mostly just behind his head and he also has a small bump on his side. then yesterday i noticed he again started hiding in the corner and was fighting to keep upright.. so today i have placed him in a sick tank and treated him with AQUARI-CYCLINE tablets which is an antibiotic.. currently he is sitting on the bottom of the tank, barely moving and using plants to keep himself upright.. can somebody please tell me what i can do for my fish??!
I have the correct amount of salts in the water and my PH is also fine. I have adequate aeration and a good filter and my other fish are healthy.

Study him please. Does he eat? Gills swollen? So far with what you have said, I am going to have to say he is one sick fish. Actually, you are naming a lot of symptoms that spread an epidic that I had. And I am battling my to save my last fish now. Treat the main tank too! There is a parasite going on. Best thing to do is treat it with prazi. And try salt dips too. And pray. You do need to treat the main tank too. Its better to be safer than sorry.

Hi brandi and

I think you may have a parasite problem - flukes comes to mind. Did you put him in with your other fish? Chances are they may now be infected also.

Before we start, would you be able to answer as many of the questions in the red box as possible?

Also, an 8 inch comet is only suitable for an extremely large tank or a pond - and sadly, it sounds as though you are extremely overstocked so this may have added to his stress. What other kind of fish do you have?

Is he spitting out his food at all? Can you see his gills at all? Are they a nice meaty red in colour? It sounds like he may be flashing - which is why I think it may be parasites.

Are you able to get any prazi? It's an extremely gentle med used to eradicate flukes/worms etc so if you can get some, this may be all you need.

Anyhow, please post back soon

Thanks for suggesting Prazi i will give it a go. the majority of my other fish in the tank are very small, the tank is definately big enough. something i should have done before was take a ruler over to the tank an estimate with the ruler his body is about 5 inches. i also knew the lady that i got him off and he looked fine in her tank.
when i just looked at him he was actually eating off the bottom of the tank before sinking to the bottom once again.. and i also noticed he is quite red around the gills. but while i watching i saw him do one flip in the water

Still treat both tanks right away. Even though he looks better, looks can decieve. Some of my fish passed away fast and symptoms was in a hurry while other fish it took awhile. The one that is currently sick with the same thing is having "spouts" of the behavoiur. Fine for a bit, then sysmptoms comes. Rest a bit then symptoms come. So on. Glad to hear he is perkin up though!

Yes, as qt says, it's better safe than sorry so getting a hold of some would be a great idea

Another thing it may be is sheer nerves - some fish go through new tank syndrome where they become nervous... they eventually settle down.

I'd just keep a close eye on him and see how he goes. I'm not sure how salt reacts with the meds you are using, but it may be worth just keeping his water perfect and adding 1 teaspoon of salt per gallon - after the meds are removed from the water. Salt can be one of the best, most natural tonics for fish and can also destroy some bacteria and parasites.

For my money? I'd finish the meds, then remove them and add salt - it may be all he needs

thanks for all your help guys, the Aquari-Cycline medication i used is for a bacterial infection so will give the Prazi a go.

hi
[quote] have a 4foot tank ( 4x2x2 ) with about 20-30 small fish[/qoute]
I have the same tank deminesions so its maybe a 40 galon??
Sorry Hun I dont wanna sound mean but ONE fish needs 10g each
If your tank is 40g then 4 fish is the maxium to keep them happy and healthy
if you got 20 or 30 fish in 40g then.....serioulsy you got to look for new homes
its not possible to have 20 or 20 30 fish in a 40 gallom tank
Sorry to bombard you with a negative coment but, do you realise some of these fish will get to 8 inch long, some will grow to 2 foot long ?

The smaller fish i have i bred myself and i do not keep them. thank you for your concern.

Brandi how is your fish now? Any symptoms showing? If so, what?

Hi everyone, my fish passed away a few days ago.. I treated him for parasites like suggested but he just got worse. Thanks to everyone for your help and concern

I'm sorry to here that Brandi. My condolences.