emperor tetra

Question
QUESTION: I have a emperor tetra that i believe is sick. I can't see anythin on his body but he is swimming funny. it's like he's struggling to swim properly. He is swimming almost vertical. it's weird i have a 60 gallon tank and clean it regularly and the ph is fine. I want to know what should i do? should i take him out the tank just in case into another tank and wut else should i do??? wut kinda treatment do you think? wut do u think it can be?"

ANSWER: Hi S.,
 That is very difficult for me to say.  He certainly does not sound healthy.  When you say that you clean your tank "regularly", I'm not sure what that means.  You should be changing 25% of the water once a week, every week.  Are you doing that?

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes i am i also use the vaccuum once a week too to get the dirt out of the gravel. Some one suggested it was bladder problems but Im not too sure.

Answer
Hi S.,
  It could be a swim bladder problem.  The swim bladder is the organ that many fish have that allow them to maintain buoyancy.  If something goes wrong with the swim bladder, then a fish will either swim in a funny way, float or sink.  Swim bladder problems are very difficult to treat.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>