Small Red Cap is clamped and hiding.

Robbw

You know..sometimes no good deed goes unpunished!

Switched over to the 55 gallon tank to give my fish enough room. Doesn't seem that one of my red cap orandas was very happy with the move.

Truthfully, he'd been spending a bit of time in the little rock cave before the move. Well...he ate a little tonight but was swimming around awkwardly, and with clamped fins, and is now in the cave, sort of suspended at an angle, moving around a little but not too much.

Checked my water and my ammonia is at 0, Nitrite is at .5, Nitrate is at 20, ph is around 7, gh is 120 and kh is around 100. There is also approximately 1 tsp per gallon of salt.

I've done a 10 gallon water change since that's all the room temp water I had. Added more salt to keep the 1 tsp level.

I think I need to do something drastic or that fish isn't going to make it. I'm thinking of transferring the fish into a bucket with fresh water, a heater and an airstone.

Previously my tank had ick so I treated it with some salt and that Jungle First Aid medication. Also, made the change two nights ago to the new tank. I suppose it could be just too much stress from all the changes, or...who knows.

I'll keep you posted.

Robbw

Decided to give the little guy a salt dip at 6 tsp per gallon for 5 minutes. He tolerated it pretty well and is now back in the main tank.

gm333

Sounds like you are doing everything that needs to be done. This is one of the downsides to cycling a tank with fish.

Robbw

Update: He's doing a little better today, especially since I really didn't expect him to last the night. He still has claimped fins and is lethargic after just eating with the others (seemed pretty interested in food though).

Someone recommended Prazi for possible flukes. I've read about it and it seems pretty safe.

When I switched over, I used all of my gravel and ornaments from the old tank, and the old filter too. I also used just about all of the water from the 29. I was hoping I wouldn't have to go through a full blown cycle. Numbers aren't perfect but they are fairly steady anyway.

Robbw

Little guy is still with us but not looking too good, sort of hanging out at the bottom. Water parameters are about the same except for a nitrite spike to around .5. No ammonia and nitrates at about 20. Did a 30 percent water change, maintaining my 1 tsp per gallon salt levels.

Robbw

Another update. Added quick cure and Prazo Pro. But the red cap is in a "hospital tank" right now and not doing great.

BMueller777

Oh god lol I just got 6 of these today, I hope I don't encounter this problem.

BMueller777

Can you snap a pic of the clamped fins?

Most of my Red Cap Orandas have black eyes but one has 2 orange looking ones and another one has one black one semi-orange, is that normal?

Robbw

Lost the little guy. Hopefully the remaining 4 goldfish will do well.

The red caps were hardy. I had them when I was cycling the tank (didn't know what that was at the time).

Robbw

Lost the other red cap today. It seemed fine.

Amazing that you can set up a bigger tank for them, buy the best filters and testing equipment, travel hours to get the right meds, and carry 15 gallons of water a day up the stairs and you still can't keep them healthy. Not happy with the situation.