red empress

[Incaico]

I have a red empress that for some reason is acting strange. He sits up near the top corner. He is also breathing really fast. I don't think this is because of a lack of oxygen because no other fish hangs out near the top. I have a lot of water movement and powerheads with the air hose connected. He does not want to eat. He is losing his color and whenever I go near the tank he hides in the holey rock. I don't see any signs of ick either. I was thinking maybe he was getting picked on but his fins are not nipped. I'm just confused as to what it could be...any ideas? readings are 0 ammonia 0 nitrites 20 nitrates and my ph is 7.8

[tsunderl]

Does he look bloated?
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[Incaico]

not really...his belly isn't arched nor is it bulging

[bra8ndy8]

He sounds like he's getting beat up........move him!

[Incaico]

brandy, that is what I thought as well but I watched him for about two hours and no one is messing with him. His fins are not nipped at all. Now he is in the middle of everyone just sitting there breathing heavy. I did notice that his belly isnt really bulging downward but it is slightly towards the sides but not anymore than any of the other fish. I'll try and take a picture when I get home.

[masroberts9]

I hope everything is alright!

masroberts9 added 1 Minutes and 20 Seconds later...

he's in the 135....right? I know you have that thing well filtered and established. what do you feed them?

masroberts9 added 3 Minutes and 6 Seconds later...

i know he is just starting to develope his colors......so, maybe its a part of puberty. you know its like the voice cracking or facial halr and its like oh my god whats happening to me!

[Incaico]

lol...that would be great if thats what it is. I feed him NLS and romaine lettuce and he is in the 135.

[masroberts9]

which nls?

[Incaico]

I don't remember the type off the top of my head but I remember it has and A+ on it and has a frontosa on it. it says sinking pellets.

[masroberts9]

that could be the problem. frontosas are carnivores. so i bet that nls has a lot of protiens......more that a red empress needs. so it could cause bloat. i dont know foresure how much red empress eat. I know it would probably be worse on mbunas.

[Incaico]

hmmmm i thought red empresses are omnivores thats why I also feed them lettuce. My mbunas i feed veggie flakes and romaine lettuce

[masroberts9]

my red empress eat dainichi veggie fx and nls cichlid formula. i bet this nls has some protien but not nearly as much as the one you are feeding them.

masroberts9 added 1 Minutes and 26 Seconds later...

yeah i bet romaine is fine. and some protien is fine. i just think that the frontosa food might be too high in protien. does he eat the pellets?

masroberts9 added 13 Minutes and 2 Seconds later...

http://www.newlife.ipbhost.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=131

straight from new life themselves.

[Incaico]

he use to eat the pellets. I'll wait and see how he acts when I get home. I think i'm going to switch b/w nls types from time to time. I really like how they sink b/c I lost a front that I was feeding floating type foods to float. I don't want to go down that road again.

[masroberts9]

sure i understand. I believe that you can feed you fronts cichlid formula.

[Incaico]

I'm sure I can. I'll just change it up a bit. I hope I don't lose him b/c as you said he was just starting to color up.

[tsunderl]

My red empresses will eat as much as I give them. They are not shy eaters.

BTW, let me know if you'd like a few dozen more. I'll hook ya up. :hehe:

[Incaico]

I think it may be bloat b/c he looks like he is starting to swell. I may just have to take you up on your offer if he doesn't make it. I'm trying to catch him and put him in hospital tank by himself. I've added aquarium salt and epsom salt. So far I've added 4 tablespoons for 8 gallons of water. I've read that anywhere from 1 tablespoon per gallon to 2 tablespoon per 5 gallons so I decided to go for something in between.

[kewlkatdady]

raise the temp slowly up to about 87...

this should speed the metabolism to help jar something loose...

[Incaico]

will do. I'll add an air pump as well.

[kewlkatdady]

good idea...

[Incaico]

he died :(:(

[kewlkatdady]

bloats a bitch...

but i've seen it more times than not, others will have it aswell...

I'd treat the tank with metro.

It cost me 4 fish before I treated the whole tank and after i did, no more problems.

[Incaico]

what sucks is yesterday a female red empress died as well. you said treat it with metro?

[kewlkatdady]

metro yeah...

I think I saw some at Dane's shop in Lewisville... Rift 2 Reef.

[alta678]

The Fish Gallery also has it if that is closer.

[biggin]

Clout will work as well..