Brolyfanatic777 Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 (edited) Hello everyone of aquarium co-op! Just wanted to say I'm a big fan and appreciate all of the youtube videos! Ive come here with a bit of a problem. My black ghost knifefish is sick! It looks like a bacterial infection going by the white patches on his gills and I'm treating it with a combo of melafix and kanamycin according to their instructions. But his behavior seems to insinuate something other than a bacterial infection. His behaves as though he's drunk for lack of a better description plus today he isn't eating, and every so often he comes to the top and gulps air which tells me it could be nitrate poisoning which I've read that they die really quick after nitrate poisoning and he has been this way for a couple weeks now. If it is nitrate poisoning I think methylene blue will help but I won't assume anything. It is also noteworthy to mention that this happened very shortly after I added some cory cats to his tank as a clean up crew which could mean he got pricked by their spines and aren't catfish poisonous? What I've done so far to try and help: I've attached a dimmer to his aquarium light to reduce his stress a bit I've added 2 brand new air stones to help his breathing as well as I put a small circulation pump at the top to break the waters surface to aid gas exchange In the water My water test results: Ph - 7.6 Kh - 4 (about 60ppm) Gh - 17 (about 340ppm) Ammonia- 0.25 Nitrite- 0 Nitrates - 40ppm - 80ppm Edited July 29, 2021 by Brolyfanatic777 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 (edited) High levels of nitrates can cause swim bladder problems I wouldn't treat with melafix at the same time as Kanaplex how long have you had the fish what are the nitrates in your tap water is your tank heavily planted Edited July 29, 2021 by Colu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brolyfanatic777 Posted July 29, 2021 Author Share Posted July 29, 2021 My tank is entirely non planted and I use rodi water for water changes. I've had the fish for aba year and a half Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brolyfanatic777 Posted July 29, 2021 Author Share Posted July 29, 2021 When he rests on his side during the day as knifefish do, he tends to flip upside down and his belly is a bit plump though he has no trouble righting himself while in his tube Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brolyfanatic777 Posted July 29, 2021 Author Share Posted July 29, 2021 The plump belly could be a problem with the swim bladder right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jungle Fan Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 Whatever it is, my first course of action to anything water parameters related would be anywhere from 50% to 80% repeated water changes because if your tests are off and it does happen to be nitrite, or ammonia they function as blood toxins binding to the hemoglobin and turning it into methemoglobin which cannot transport oxygen to the cells. Repeated water changes will work quicker than methylene blue if you really suspect it might be nitrate cycle related unless you know there's a problem with your tap water to begin with. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HH Morant Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 I don't think 80 ppm nitrates is going to poison any fish. It is something else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jungle Fan Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 That's exactly what I was saying, but if you don't trust the tests and have any reason to think your parameters are off in regards to nitrite, or ammonia then always do a few large water changes first before you start adding anything else to the water. If you suspect infection then a whole different approach is warranted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brolyfanatic777 Posted July 30, 2021 Author Share Posted July 30, 2021 Ok, I've done a 15 gallon water change he is in a 40 gallon grow out tank. Tomorrow morning I'll be doing another 15 gallon water change which should get all of the melafix and kanamycin out of the water as well as the carbon I've put in. I've got one more question, could he be constipated? As a knife fish I've assumed that all he needs are pellets and meaty things. Maybe I've been feeding him wrong. God I'm so embarrassed he is such a special fish I want him to be well! In my research I've found that things like insects with their exoskeleton or canned vegetables can help him relieve himself, or an Epsom salt dip? I feel like I could do all the research in the world but it means nothing without the prior experience! Lol never thought I'd get so attached to a fish! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 Ghost knife fish like blood worms brine shrimp tubifex worms small fish if you have guppys maybe put a couple of fry in his tank every now and then earth worms canivore pellets mysis shrimp for a balanced diet 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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