exhausted, ill scat

paulatheo

My silver Scat is obviously stressed and exhausted. He hasn't been eating with his usual gusto for a couple of days. Yesterday, he was breathing very hard and his mouth and gills are pale. Now he is having trouble swimming and drifts listlessly. He had a red spot at the base of one fin a couple of days ago but that is gone now.

My water tested OK.

Any suggestions on how to treat? Quickly before he dies. He is the coolest fish and I'm very worried.

paulathoe

xingumike

I have zero exp. with brackish fish but in general it will help if you post your actual parameters rather than 'my water was ok' ie

ammonia
nitrate
nitrite
pH
salinity
temp

any new additions to the tank?

squiggles1

yes salinity can be an issue in these hot months. since the water evaporates so fast, i have a brackish tank with an eel and constantly have to add water to keep the salinity stable since it goes up a the water evaporates. Though with brackish fish they are usually used to slight salinity swings.

paulatheo

pH = 7.6
Salinity - 1.004
nitrite 0.10 (I've made 2 - 10% water changes in 12 hours)
ammonia - 0
water temp - 80 °C

I don't have a nitrate test kit.

No new fish but a white tipped shark did die last week. It appeared to be a skin condition with the rear of the body showing skin reddening/peeling and fin problems. I treated that with melafix.

My son thinks that Scat's eyes are a bit bulging. I don't think it is very obvious.
paulatheo