Tiger Barb Help!

Cody

I came home today to find one of my Tiger Barbs floating upside down in the upper-corner of the tank behind my heater. I thought he was dead, but he was breathing pretty heavy. He almost didn't respond when I touched him with the net, but he swam, and didn't even try to get out of the net when I got him. I am getting water into a QT tank, but I need help. He looks like he was bleeding near his anal fin, and there isn't almost any skin there. He just sits in the net floating upside down in the net.

Water Params: Ammonia-0, Nitrite-0, Nitrate- >15 PPM, pH-6.9. Temperature kept at a constant 79.5 degrees.
Tank size: 30 Gallons
Live Plants: Yes
CO2 system: Not yet, but ordered. I have been adding CO2 for my plants every day till my the set-up comes in.
Tankmates: 4 other Tiger Barbs, 3 Red Wag platies, 1 Amano Shrimp.

I take it it is the Tiger Barbs. One of my barbs has constantly been chasing 2 of the barbs who don't fight back, which this one is.

I, honestly don't think he is going to make it. I need help. :(

willow

hay,
sorry to see you having a troublesome time. :(
once you have him in the QT tank,add some melafix if you can
sorry i can;t help anymore than that.

Cody

I feel really bad for him. He doesn't even squirm when I take the net with him in it out of the water. :(

I feel I may have to euthanize him...

willow

i know how you feel,it's not nice to have to even think about doing that,
give him a chance in the QT tank,if he don't make it at least you tried.
:(

miagrrl

just read your post, and i was curious, is he still alive or did you have to euthanize him?

Cody

News.

So I put him in QT about 4hrs ago, added some Melafix, turned the heat up a bit and let nature take its course. He ended up dieing not too long ago. :( . It looked like he couldn't swim and his tail fin was almost cut in two. Sorry I didn't realize it sooner buddy.

Thanks for the help guys.

willow

aww cody,i'm so sorry. :(

miagrrl

awwww so sorry to hear that. at least you tried to help him.

cedricb

I'm sorry for you man

I was just wondering something :

How many times are we able to save a fish which is in bad shape? I would be happy to have a realistic number to this question.

To this regard I was wondering if it was better to let them "die" and replace them or better to spend hundreds of dollars in whatever medication and ending up watching them die what ever you could had to the water to cure them.

I was also very sad the first times I've lost fish but now I fill more like I don't want to spend more money in medicins that most of the time (and I didn't say all the time) do not work at all because it just to late or ineffective.
I figured that a fish is 5 dollars and that the medication i had to buy were more in the rage of 15 dollars.

I could seem not delicate or without any compation but that is the way I feel now.

cedric

willow

i would rather spend money trying to save my fish than just"let them die"
i understand that in the wild it's a "dog eat dog " thing,however in the home aquaria it is and should be a different situation.
the fish did not ask to come and live at my house,i chose them,and one should do the very best you can to keep them fit and well,and do our very best.
I can understand that we are not always able to save a fish,however
i feel strongly enough that this living creature should be given a chance,
and why not.